Syria warns of consequences following Israeli missile attacks on Damascus Xinhua) 08:51, July 15, 2024 Charred and destroyed cars are pictured after an Israeli missile attack in Damascus, Syria, July 14, 2024. A series of Israeli attacks hit targets in the Syrian capital after midnight Sunday, causing explosions to reverberate across the city. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates cautioned on Sunday that Israeli attacks on Syrian soil could lead to uncontrollable consequences and serious repercussions. In a statement released hours after Israeli missile attacks on a residential neighborhood in the Syrian capital of Damascus and military sites, the ministry reaffirmed Syria's legitimate right to defend its sovereignty and liberate its occupied land through all legitimate means guaranteed by international law. The ministry warned against the escalation of Israeli attacks on Syrian soil, adding that persistent international silence regarding such attacks would undermine the ability of the international system to confront violations of its charter and international laws. Smoke rises following an Israeli missile attack in Damascus, Syria, July 14, 2024. A series of Israeli attacks hit targets in the Syrian capital after midnight Sunday, causing explosions to reverberate across the city. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) Israeli strikes in Damascus earlier in the day resulted in casualties among the Syrian military and fires in the targeted areas, as reported by the Syrian Ministry of Defense and relevant sources. The Defense Ministry said a military personnel was killed, and three others were injured during the attacks. The ministry added that the attacks were launched from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan and aimed at several military sites in the southern region and a residential building in the Kafr Sousa area of Damascus. The Syrian air defense systems responded to the "enemy's missiles" and shot down a considerable number of them, the ministry said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Mugling, Chitwan, Nepal, July 15, 2024: At least 54 people are still missing in the Trishuli River after two passenger buses were swept away by a mudslide at Simaltal of the Narayanghat-Muglin road section on Friday morning. A Kathmandu-bound Angel Deluxe Bus and a Ganapati Deluxe Bus, en route to Gaur of Rautahat district from Kathmandu, were swept away at around 3:30 am on Friday. MILWAUKEE (AP) Former President Donald Trump has arrived in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention a day after he was targeted in an attempted assassination at a campaign event. Trump's airplane touched down Sunday, the day before the four-day event kicks off with thousands of Republicans coming together to formally elect him as their 2024 presidential nominee. The shocking scenes of violence at his Saturday campaign rally that injured his right ear, killed a spectator and injured another set a dark backdrop for the convention, which is typically four days of party pageantry, political speeches, policy platforms and the presidential nominee's keynote address. The attack on Trump has put a heightened focus on safety and security of the event. When sudden water damage caused Alexandria Brown and her three children to move out of her Richmond home and into a hotel, she didnt know where to turn. Between balancing single parenthood, working and finishing her degree, the stress became unbearable. I was at a really low point where I was like, I need a community or Im gonna fall apart, said Brown. Browns church introduced her to the Forward Foundation, a Richmond-based organization dedicated to changing the stigma around single parenthood. The Forward Foundation assists single parents who are working full time, going to school, or a combination of both. These individuals typically dont qualify for state assistance in Virginia due to earning too high of an income. The Forward Foundation fills that gap for families that fall in between. I reached out and said I dont know what to do, but I cannot live in a hotel with three kids, Brown said. The foundation helped Brown get an Airbnb to provide a home and a backyard for her kids. Knowing that you have someone that you can reach out to; that you dont have to do everything alone. I think its an invaluable resource to have, Brown said. Brown took that support and recently graduated with a Master of Science in bioethics from Harvard Medical School in May. She plans to use her public health and ethics background to contribute to ethical policy decision-making in the government sector and ensure all populations have the ability to flourish where they live. Brown and her kids travelled to Boston by train so they could see her walk the stage. Having my children witness me receive two master degrees, complete leadership programs, and work at the White House, all while being a single parent, shows them they dont have to put limits on themselves and its never too late to become the person they always wanted to be, said Brown. Hands-on help for single parents Single parents deal with many challenges, including stigmas and stereotypes that can make it difficult to feel accepted and supported, Andrea Starr, CEO of the Forward Foundation, said. Starr, who was raised by a single father and is a former single parent herself, knows the challenges that single parents, especially single moms, face. They are professional and educated women who have ended up in a circumstance that was not planned, said Starr. Nonetheless, circumstances changed and this is where they are. These are parents who are doing everything they are supposed to do. They are working their tails off, they are proud, they are resilient. They are not wanting to ask for help, because their mindset is I will find a way to work it out. The Forward Foundation offers financial assistance such as child care subsidies and workshops that teach life skills like resume building, cooking, fitness and more. The organizations 12- to 18-month programs focus on support, education and empowerment. According to the Pew Research Center, almost a quarter of U.S. children under the age of 18 live with one parent and no other adults. In Virginia, the average annual cost to have a child in day care costs $12,000-$16,000 depending on the childs age and type of care, according to Child Care Aware of America. The median income for a single parent family is $40,021, which means center-based child care for an infant would use 41% of a single parents income, vs. 11.8% of a married couples income. Starr says that the lack of access to childcare can result in significant challenges for a single parent; from hindered career advancement to increased stress and difficulty balancing work and parenting responsibilities. If single parents arent making enough money to afford quality childcare, many parents feel their only option is to quit their jobs and find a lower paying one to be eligible for state assistance. When this happens, it negatively impacts everyone in the long term: the parent, the children, and the taxpayers. Single, working parents should not have to be put in this position to care for their children. Instead, opportunities need to be put in place for them to be able to increase their earning potential without being penalized for earning a higher wage, said Starr. I would be lost without them, one single parent said The organizations staff is small, Starr being the only full-time employee with three other part-time staff. The close-knit atmosphere makes it easier for parents to feel comfortable asking for help. Soliel Lindsey, 33, currently works as a coordinator for the Forward Foundation, but she originally found the organization while looking for reliable childcare. Knowing that you can share confidentiality and in a safe space with people who are walking in your shoes, its just different. You can vent to other people, but if theyre not in the same situation, they just dont get it, Lindsey said. Michelle Davis, 37, found the organization when she needed support after her mother had a stroke. I wasnt receiving child support and then I had to take on her bills. I didnt want to ask for any help, though. I think thats very common for single parents. We dont want to ask for help, well always figure it out, said Davis. Davis says the foundations child care subsidy helped her to work toward more opportunities. It allowed me to take some classes and get certifications so that I could progress in my professional career, which was wonderful, she said. Davis now sits on the board of directors and writes grants for the foundation to receive funding. The Forward Foundation is a safe space for those that dont have the necessary support system during a difficult time of transition or simply a time of need. For Kimberly Manley, 39, that time of need came after her marriage ended and she became a new single parent. She had left her family in Pennsylvania to move to Richmond in 2015 for her ex-husbands job. I literally lost everything, Manley said. I had a pack n play and that was it. I had nothing. Manleys boss noticed her struggling to make ends meet and suggested the Forward Foundation. I worked three jobs at the time. I had 50% custody of my son while going through a court battle. No matter how much I worked or how much I did, it just felt like things werent reachable, but she knew I would never ask for help, Manley, now 39, said. The organization gave Manley a sense of community and people to count on. I would be lost without them, she said. Voices of Virginia champions policies for children whose needs are often overlooked. The organizations CEO, Rachel Deane, says that economic stability is key to having a thriving family. What we are seeing is that families are increasingly struggling economically, whether they are multiple income families, or single parent families, said Deane. Theres not a big safety net. Missing a paycheck could mean the difference between youre doing okay and youre seeing a catastrophe. In terms of the policy landscape, we are just not doing enough to support the economic security of families across Virginia. About this story Do you know an unsung hero? A friend or neighbor whose good deeds benefit the region? Or a colleague doing extraordinary work? He or she may be featured in our upcoming Making a Difference feature that highlights the great community efforts of central Virginians. Send your nominations to david.ng@timesdispatch.com. Entries should include a brief description of the good deeds as well as contact information for you and your nominee. Please label entries with the phrase Making a Difference in the subject line of your email. TO HELP The Forward Foundation office is at 3751-A Westerre Parkway, Suite 103, Richmond. Find more information on the Forward Foundation, call (804) 840-8687 or visit forwardfoundationva.org. Priorities for Voices of Virginia include establishing a state-level Child Tax Credit to provide a refundable $500 tax credit per child under 18 years old in households earning less than $100,000 and fostering financial security by strengthening safety net resources for families such as TANF cash assistance and SNAP nutrition benefits. There are so many misconceptions of single parents not working enough or that you cant own a home or have good credit or a good job, Lindsey said. We have all of those things and were trying to advocate for ourselves. Were trying to model something different for future generations. Dinella Ashby can still remember the excitement she felt stepping off the train at Broad Street Station, now the Science Museum of Virginia, in 1942. Id never seen so many lights in my life, she said. Ashby was 17 years old and had just moved away from her family farm in Darlington, South Carolina, where she worked picking cotton for 40 cents a day. Last week, Ashby turned 100. She lives with her daughter Diane in Richmonds East End. She enjoys having coffee and toast with jam for breakfast, she doesnt eat pork, and shes tried beer only once, and thought it was nasty. I stay at home and go to church, said Ashby, who considers herself a homebody. Ashby recalls spending a few months at Navy Hill High School, which served African American students before it was shuttered in the 1960s. She left school for a job at Langford Cafeteria, a popular Richmond restaurant, where she was trained on how to use the wringer washer. Her first paycheck for a week was $8.80. Langford Cafeteria was also where she met her husband, Reginald. They got married in March 1945 and had their first child in 1947. In total, Ashby has six children and 15 grandchildren. If you go What: Richmond Times-Dispatch Mobile Newsroom When: Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: The Kitchens at Reynolds, 2500 Nine Mile Road, Richmond Once her youngest children were old enough to watch themselves, Ashby began traveling. She would regularly take weeklong bus trips to Orlando, Florida; Dutch Country, Pennsylvania; Chicago; and more. She also loved taking her children to Buckroe Beach in Virginia. I loved to travel, she said. If someone said a bus was going somewhere, I said put my name down. Ashby loved traveling so much that when she needed to undergo surgery about eight years ago after discovering she had breast cancer, her only concern was if her procedure would be done in time for her next trip. She went on the trip, said her daughter Diane. The doctor said, Youve lived your life; go ahead on the trip. Well do the surgery when you get back. Ashby also loved to read the Richmond Times-Dispatch daily. She would read the paper from beginning to end every day, her daughter said. And if she couldnt read it that day, she would save it for the week. Ashbys grandson Reginald remembers how much his grandmother used to get around. My grandma was always active, he said. I remember as a little kid seeing her cut hedges and stuff with the manual trimmers. He also recalls her big Sunday dinners and late-night breakfasts she would make for him as they watched classic shows like Murder She Wrote and In the Heat of the Night. She is the reason why breakfast is my favorite food. I was a night owl; I stayed up all night. And she stayed up all night. She would have a look at the time when she started doing the full thing, sausage and bacon, some eggs and some toast. Shed let me have a sip some of her coffee. I asked, How do you stay up all night and still be the first person up in the morning? Ashby has seen many things over the past 100 years in Richmond, including segregation. She recalls going to movie theaters and having to sit away from designated whites-only sections. We grew up with wood-burning stoves, her daughter said. When we finally moved to a house with a furnace, she was able to turn on a switch. She said shed never live anywhere again where she would have to get coal or wood. That was a big excitement for her. Ashby says there are no secrets to making it to 100. I dont plan anything. If the Lord lets me, I get up in the morning and put my clothes on, she said. Occasionally, she still curls her own hair with an old-school curling iron that heats up on the stove before attending a church service at Triumphant Baptist Church, where shes been a member since 1942. Ashbys daughter and grandson say the secret to her longevity is being a blessing to others. Ashby would regularly care for elderly women in their time of need by helping to cook, clean or pay bills. Her daughter said she would never accept money for the help. She just did it out of the kindness of her heart, Diane said. Cancun police capture suspect in abduction and rape of minor Cancun, Q.R. A man was taken into police custody Sunday on charges of kidnapping a minor. Since his arrest, those charges now include rape. On Sunday, the State Attorney General (FGE) reported on the detainment of Pedro N after rescuing a 12-year-old Colombian girl. In their statement, the Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) said they opened an investigation against the alleged aggressor of the minor identified as Pedro N The victim lived with her mother who passed away, so she was left in the care of her grandmother and aunt, a situation that Pedro N, who is of legal age, possibly took advantage of. According to the FGE, Pedro N is likely to have fallen in love with her, even asking her to be his girlfriend and take her to his house to live as a couple. Given this situation, the girls relatives reported her disappearance. The girl was reported missing from her home Sunday around 10:15 a.m.. Home security cameras captured the man believed to be Pedro N putting the girl into his car before driving off. Home security captured a man matching the description of the arrested leaving the home with the girl Sunday morning. Later that morning, the girl was located tied to a tree in the Los Corales neighborhood of Cancun from where she was rescued by police. The area where she was found is close to the home of the man who allegedly kidnapped her. The girl was found tied to a tree near the suspects home. It was early Sunday afternoon that police located the vehicle seen on the home security camera. The car was found parked outside a residental building on Calle 2 Sur where he was arrested. The suspect was arrested outside his car Sunday. With the support of the Colombian Consulate and personnel from the Benito Juarez Municipal DIF System, the victim was incorporated into the family nucleus with her father, who resides in Colombia, the FGE reported. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Robert Seltzer, a former member of the Express-News Editorial Board, is the author of two memoirs: Thursday Night at the Mall and Amado Muro and Me: A Tale of Honesty and Deception. Juanito M Garza/San Antonio Express-News The shots came out of nowhere pop, pop, pop and Donald Trump dropped to the ground, holding his bloody face as he disappeared behind the lectern. Trump lowered himself gently, as if ducking rather than collapsing, but there was nothing gentle about the scene that unfolded: The former president had been wounded. Whether from a gunshot or the debris that scattered in the aftermath of the shot, it was impossible to tell in the moment. The only certainty was that horror had visited a presidential campaign that was already ugly, laced with cruel insults and toxic barbs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As Secret Service agents escorted Trump off the stage in Butler, Pa., he raised his fist behind the small, human blockade, his face clenched in defiance. Most of the rally attendees remained seated, their fear and anxiety palpable, but reassurances came almost immediately after the assassination attempt, both at the rally and on television: The ex-president was fine, taken to a nearby hospital to treat his wounds. The gunman was killed, along with one spectator, with two others in critical condition, according to the Secret Service. What had started out as a pleasant gathering morphed into a grotesque display of violence and panic, with armed law enforcement officers patrolling the area in front of the stage. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Trump issued a statement of condolence to the victims, while President Joe Biden offered prayers to Trump and his family; both men called for unity, the bitterness of the campaign fading amid barbarity. Theres no place in America for this kind of violence, Biden said from his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Del. Its sick. Its sick. Some Trump supporters blamed the president for the shooting. Today is not just some isolated incident, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, wrote on social media. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trumps attempted assassination. We know it is hard for politicians to cease being politicians, even in situations like this, when humanity demands restraint. Vance does not seem to understand that. The shooting was a human tragedy, not a point to be made in a presidential campaign. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Law enforcement officials are investigating. They should be allowed to do so without political commentary. FBI agents identified the suspect as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pa. This has been a brutal campaign, and one rally attendee has died, and the ex-president could have suffered the same fate. All of the flash points of this race the June 27 debate, the interviews, the felony conviction seem unimportant in the moment. They will be resurrected, but compassion and dignity call for a moratorium of the political hostilities. As moral clarity has become moral murkiness, it has become popular to declare, This is not who we are. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fair enough. But, then, who are we? We should not be a nation that wishes the ex-president ill, no matter how disagreeable so many find his ideology. We should not be a nation seeking to score political points from the horror in Butler, Pa. We should not be a nation that allows an act of violence to further sully our social conduct. Political strategists have said the tragedy will turn Trump into a martyr. So be it. The next president will be determined by voters who will view the shooting and its aftermath in their own way. We have seen too many prominent Americans killed by assassins from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King Jr. to John and Robert Kennedy. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pair seen on plastic jugs 100 nautical miles off Quintana Roo coast rescued by Navy Isla Mujeres, Q.R. Two men found floating on plastic jugs were rescued by the Navy of Mexico. The rescue took place late Friday 100 nautical miles (approximately 185 kilometers) north of Isla Mujeres. In a statement, the Secretariat of the Navy reported functioning as Coast Guard, personnel belonging to the Ninth Naval Region rescued two people in territorial waters of the state of Quintana Roo. This action was carried out after receiving a call from the Regional Port Captaincy of Puerto Juarez that a smaller vessel with two male crew members on board, had a leak and was about to sink 80 nautical miles (approximately 148 kilometers) north of Isla Mujeres. The Uxmal Coastal Patrol (PC-335) belonging to the Naval Command was immediately ordered. They were found floating on some drums approximately 100 nautical miles (approximately 185 kilometers) north of Isla Mujeres, Q. Roo. Both men were transferred to a port aboard the Coastal Patrol. The Secretariat of the Navy did not provide information on where the youths were from or where they were headed. Texas delegates are seen during the Republican National Convention Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Julia Nikhinson/Associated Press Texas delegates stand for the National Anthem during the first day of the Republican National Convention, Monday, July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Evan Vucci/Associated Press A color guard comprised of veterans rehearses ahead of the 2024 Republican National Convention, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Milwaukee. Matt Rourke/AP MILWAUKEE, WIS. If there was any question that the Republican National Convention would continue as planned after this weekends assassination attempt, it was quickly put to rest on Monday as Donald Trump was officially nominated as the GOP presidential pick. I would have crawled through glass to get here, said Randall Dunning, a Garland Republican who was one of Texas 161 delegates on the convention floor in Milwaukee. READ MORE: Texas lawmakers pray for former President Donald Trump after gunshots rang out at a Saturday rally Advertisement Article continues below this ad If anything, the shooting appeared to invigorate the state delegates, a cowboy hat-clad slice of the Fiserv Forum floor that erupted in cheers as their votes officially went to Trump on Monday afternoon. If Trump can get here after what he just went through, we were determined to get here, Dunning said. Trump, who said he was nicked in the ear by one of the assailants bullets, has said the convention will move ahead as planned. It kicked off with a moment of silence in recognition of the shooting over the weekend. But the arena was aroar by the time Trump had the delegate count necessary to nab the nomination. The shooting appeared to have brought a stronger sense of unity and resolve, said Cindy Siegel, the Harris County Republican Party chair. We cant buckle, Siegel said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She said people who might have thought about not coming were even more determined to get to Wisconsin. There is a lot more resolve here, she said. State Sen. Tan Parker, a North Texas Republican, said for all the divisions the party can have at times, something is different this week at the convention. The Republican party is more unified than Ive seen it in years, Parker said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Federal investigators were still searching on Monday for a motive behind the attack. The convention site in Milwaukee a locked-down section of the citys downtown was buzzing Monday morning as vendors set up and attendees began to make their way through long security lines. Officials have stressed they believe the convention will be safe and secure after the shooting. Law enforcement swept vehicles entering the premises and armed law enforcement members could be seen watching from the roofs of several buildings. I am confident in the security plan our Secret Service RNC coordinator and our partners have put in place, which we have reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturdays shooting, said Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. The security plans for National Special Security Events are designed to be flexible. Several Texans are slated to address the crowd this week. Among them is U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, one of several Texas Republicans who quickly pointed a finger at the Biden administration for not having better security in place for Trump, and for more broadly attacking Trump as a threat to democracy. He said the calls for unity from President Joe Biden and other Democrats in the wake of the assassination attempt were ironic, given their past statements about Trump. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I want Joe Biden defeated at the ballot box. I believe his policies are harmful, Cruz said. But there's a difference between saying his policies are harmful and saying he's Hitler, saying he's Mussolini, saying he's the devil, which is what the Democrats have been doing, literally, for a decade. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Houston Republican set to speak at the convention this week, said on Fox News that he thought Trumps courage under fire was absolutely unprecedented. Hunt, a former Apache helicopter pilot who served in Iraq, said he knows what its like to get shot at and feel a reinvigorated spirit for life afterward. Were going to see that this week with President Trump, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was one of the few official delegates who announced he won't be traveling to Wisconsin because of the ongoing hurricane recovery in Houston. Gov. Greg Abbott, who returned to Texas over the weekend from a trade mission to Asia, said he was still deciding whether to attend the convention as the hurricane recovery continued. t At a pancake breakfast in the southwest Ohio city of Loveland in late September, I waited through 90 minutes of speeches for J.D. Vance. As the much-discussed Senate candidate finally strode down the hallway to the ballroom where he would be speaking, an old-timer next to me turned his head. J.D. Vance, he muttered. So he does exist. The breakfast was in a 1980s-vintage event center off a long country road past farm fields and old churches. The carpet was a mix of swirly beige patterns, and there were fluorescent lights lining the 20-foot drop ceiling. Republicans live here, the surroundings said. The event opened with a presentation of the United States flag by an honor guard, the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem, and a blessing. As the Senate candidate finally strode to the stage, an old-timer next to me turned his head. J.D. Vance, he muttered. So he does exist. There was a pleasant social buzz that was barely dampened by the monotony of hearing 14 speakers say the same two or three things about Joe Biden, the price of gas, and the crazy stuff Democrats are doing with gender transitions and vaccine mandates. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced himself by saying: Im Dave Yost. I sue Joe Biden, and I win. Former Trump press secretary Hogan Gidley was there, identifiable as the most famous person in the room because he was wearing clothes that were at once less formal and more expensive looking than everyone elses. I made small talk with some of Vances staffers, including his press secretary, a very tall, amiable young man named Luke. (Unlike many Republican campaigns in the Trump era, the Vance team stays on professional terms with the press.) The only kind of coffee available was hazelnut. Advertisement Then Vance showed up, with just enough time to shake a few hands before giving his stump speech. He mentioned that hed brought his son along with him. If anything spontaneously catches fire or gets destroyed, I have a 5-year-old whos probably involved, he said. He visibly enjoyed telling an opening anecdote about how his Mamaw had hidden 19 loaded guns in her house as she became less ambulatory in her old age. Said Vance: She wanted to make sure that no matter where she was, she was within arms reach of a loaded handgun so that nobody that she didnt want coming into her house came into her house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was less animated when discussing more typical Republican-skewing concerns. Joe Biden and my Democratic opponent have borrowed and spent trillions of dollars we dont have, he said, putting it on the backs of our grandchildren and driving up the cost of goods. Standard stuff, and mandatory in the current race, but probably not something of deep interest to Vancehes said many times that he thinks the fiscal-conservative obsession with cutting taxes and spending is of no interest to the kind of people he grew up around. Advertisement As his speech wound down at the breakfast, I realized I was extremely overdue to get back to my own children. (I was in the area, in part, for a baptism.) As I sprinted for the parking lot, I passed the hallway table where a small boy, whom I assumed to be the younger Vance, was passing time with a minder. Why are you running? he asked me brightly. It was the question on everyones mind, but not about me. Advertisement I had spent weeks in various parts of Ohio while visiting in-lawsmine, not J.D. Vanceswandering around and asking what was up with J.D. Vance. A baby-faced 38-year-old, Vance had come to prominence as a friendly, Trump-skeptical conservative intellectual and coastally based venture capitalist. Then he moved back home and did a seeming heel turn to secure Trumps endorsement for his 2022 primary campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But despite being vouched for by the MAGA king in a state that went for Trump over Biden by a nearly 8-point marginand then narrowly winning the primaryVance has struggled in the general election race. What was expected to be an easy Republican victory has turned out to be a tight competition with a Democrat, the Youngstown-area Rep. Tim Ryan, who has cast himself as a quasi-independent who agrees with Trump on trade, and who has an easier time claiming Ohio bona fides because he has served as a representative there for 20 years. Advertisement The enthusiasm with which Ryan has praised Trump and attacked the national Democratic Party seems to have taken the Ohio GOP by surprise. In press releases, in TV commercials, and in person, they seem almost hurt by it, as if they cant believe he wouldnt just play fair and tell everyone that hes a regular old liberal. But it was not outlandish of J.D. Vance to think that he could win this race from the start. (Indeed, he very well may.) When Hillbilly Elegy came out in 2016, it was a gigantic hit, spawning a movie, selling several million copies, and making him a star on the ideas-conference circuit. Its publication was perfectly timed with a surge of national angst about the countrys white working class. (Im not arguing that we deserve more sympathy than other folks, he made sure to note in the book. This is not a story about why white people have more to complain about than black people or any other group.) Advertisement After Elegy was published, Vancewhose day job was in San Francisco at the timeannounced hed be moving back to Ohio. When he resurfaced last year as a competitor in the states overcrowded Republican primary, he was running with a nastier crowd. He appeared on Tucker Carlsons show, did an interview with 2020 election conspiracy theorist Dinesh DSouza, and did a campaign appearance with Marjorie Taylor Greene. He complained online that eBay had stopped letting users buy Dr. Seuss books that included racist caricatures, suggested that QAnon believers might be right that many celebrities and politicians are pedophiles, and signed a pledge to subpoena Anthony Fauci for numerous and demonstrable lies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although hes stopped short of endorsing DSouza or Greenes more florid theories about events in 2020, he nonetheless said that the 2020 election had been stolen from Trump, said that he had been wrong to believe Trump would be a poor president, and flew to Mar-a-Lago to successfully seek the big mans endorsement. He suggested in a tweet that some feminists believe its bad for women to become mothers but liberating for them to work 90 hours a week in a cubicle at the New York Times or Goldman Sachs. He defended comments hed made in 2021 about the potential upside, for ones children, of sticking out an abusive marriage. Advertisement Maybe it was really a simple story: Having become unsatisfied with the life of a thought leader, Vance adopted the MAGA personality to pander to a different audience and get his hands on some real power. It was probably the right strategy for winning the primary in Ohio, at least. I spoke to the Columbus Dispatchs longtime political columnist, Darrel Rowland, about the states recent history not long after he announced that his newspaper job had been cut after 31 years. He reminded me that Ohio had been the quintessential bellwether state for decades. (Everyone else from Ohio will also tell you this.) It cast its electoral votes for the winning presidential candidate in every election held between 1900 and 2016 besides two. Those two were 1944, when the states lieutenant governor was on the Republican ticket running against FDR, and 1960, when Nixon carried the day. Advertisement For years, Ohio was balanced, roughly speaking, between urban and/or union Democrats, suburban chamber of commerce types, and conservative farm voters. This did not necessarily mean that every politician and person in the state was an even-tempered centristhave fun on Jim Traficants Wikipedia pagebut it tended to mean that blue-collar moderate Dems and avuncular, fiscally oriented Republicans won statewide. Goings-on in the state capital of Columbus usually accorded with the latter groups interests. There were some hard-right conservatives in the legislaturethe so-called Caveman Caucusbut, in Rowlands telling, they were generally treated with endearment because they had no power. He said onetime state representative and senator Jim Jordan, a member of that caucus, was known to reporters as one of the nice ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was still the state of affairs in 2012, when Barack Obama beat Mitt Romney in Ohio by 3 points, just barely underperforming the national margin. But by 2020, the state was 12 points redder than the country as a whole. The cavemen, and cavewomen, had taken over. Ohio is holding its current elections using gerrymandered maps that the states own Supreme Court has ruled are illegal under the terms of a voter-passed referendum, and it passed a law which made all abortion illegal once the Dobbs decision went into effect (though that one is currently blocked in the courts). One state senator asked during a COVID hearing in 2020 whether the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups, while a state rep cited the Holocaust as the kind of divisive concept that should be taught, in schools, from multiple points of view. Jordan was the House of Representatives most vocal promoter of the effort to challenge election results on Jan. 6. Not so nice! Advertisement I asked Rowland if he knew how such a hostile takeover happened so quickly, or whether there was anything he looked back on as a portent that he had missed. Im just gonna admit up front: I dont know, he said. Its one of the questions that perplexes me. He seemed shell-shocked to have realized that individuals this extreme had been circulating in his midst this entire time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are high-level explanations for what happened. One is the depopulation of cities and towns across the state: Even small pockets of urban density in Ohio, towns with names like Portsmouth and Lorain, still skew Democratic, but those pockets have been shrinking for years. In July, the Census Bureau released detailed information about migration patterns in state-by-state commuting zones among individuals born between 1984 and 1992, a subset that happens to include J.D. Vance. Fourteen of the 17 zones in Ohio lost population. The other explanation frequently given is the rise of the tea party, whose populist anger about welfare queens and immigrants and political correctness was cashed in on, electorally, by Donald Trump, who swung the votes of white union members (and those from families that used to belong to unions) toward the Republican Party by campaigning on euphemism-free talk-radio griping. Nine heavily white counties in Ohio flipped from Obama to Trump. Put simply, a lot of people in Ohio got angrieror were able to connect their anger to their votes in a new wayat the same time that the electoral math was starting to disincentivize moderation. Vances book observed the beginning of this phenomenonand for all that it posited that there exists a white, working-class epidemic of personal laziness and self-indulgence, its probably not entirely fair to say, as a recent piece by Sam Adler-Bell in the New Republic did, that Vances career was built by ridiculing his people for the delight of coastal elites. A certain amount of his attention has always gone toward defending some of their tendencies. In the book, for example, Vance describes the spread of birtherism and other conspiracy theories about Obama as an essentially coherent reaction to factors that have nothing to do with skin color, such as distrust of the news media and the absence of collective economic opportunity. After joining the Marines, flying through Ohio State, and graduating from Yale Law School, Vance worked for right-wing venture capitalist Peter Thiel, who infamously wrote that he does not believe freedom and democracy are compatible in an essay that identified welfare beneficiaries andI am not making this upwomen as intractable obstacles to enlightened (i.e., business-friendly) public policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is not a stranger to misanthropy, in other words, or the rationalization of extreme beliefs. But those impulses are more pronounced, and less tempered by the spirit of generosity, in his Senate campaign. His book describes Obama as a brilliant figure who overcame adversity in his own right, and says conspiracy theories are ultimately a destructive response to the absence of community. His website platform, by contrast, asserts that Democratic leaders believe America is an evil and racist country, blows a dog whistle toward individuals who chose to take a knee as radicals ransacked our cities, and makes six pejorative mentions of the Chinese. This rhetoric has currency in Republican politics, but it hasnt been sufficient for Vance to achieve a normal level of popularity for a Republican in this election cycle. Over the summer, a number of polls showed him flat-out trailing Ryanwho would, if he were to beat Vance, become the first Democrat besides longtime Sen. Sherrod Brown to win a statewide legislative or executive race in Ohio since 2010. Vances fundraising was poor, and he was making relatively few campaign appearancesexcept, in one eyebrow-raising July move, at a conference in Israel. Tim Ryan is talking about kitchen-table issues, and J.D. Vance is out there going to fucking CPAC in Israel, a strategist told the Daily Beast. Another added, Republicans are like, Are you out of your fucking mind? This isnt some fucking book tour, dude. Vances pace of campaigning is now appropriately frantic, and its possible to justify or at least explain his low-key summer. Tim Ryan didnt have a competitive primary, and came out of it with a lot of intraparty goodwill and money to spend on television ads; Vance didnt have much cash left and was dealing with a divided GOP base. But the poll numbers were what they were. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the worst of all worlds: Vance had sold out, but no one was buying. Over Labor Day weekend, I attended a downtown-revitalization street fair in Middletown, where Vance lived (more or lessit wasnt a stable childhood) until he went to law school. Its a city of 50,000 with a classic heartland Main Street, two rows of old stone and concrete buildings lining a wide avenue. A cheerful business-district sign urges passersby to visit establishments named Merkels, Grandpa Joes, and Bretts Butts. The event was being put on by a group called Downtown Middletown Inc., and there was a DJwho is also Downtown Middletown Inc.s executive directorplaying 70s film soundtrack cuts from a little cupola in a grass lot. The organization exists to address the citys economic struggles, but neither of the two women staffing its tent knew that a city native who wrote a bestselling book about that subject was running for Senate. They seemed only vaguely familiar with who Vance was at all, and may have just been being polite. One of them, Sylvia, urged me to participate in a door-prize giveaway drawing, in which I was delighted to win a peach-colored T-shirt that commemorated something called The Womens Wine and Chocolate Walk. The other said, When is the Senate race? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also unaware that someone from Middletown was running for Senate were two women minding the racks of clothing outside a boutique across the street, as were the proprietor of the adjacent stained-glass gallery, Linda, and her husband and co-owner, Jay. The four of them huddled and called over another friend, who was a librarian, because they thought she would know. (She did.) On another sunny day, I drove through Cincinnati and met many others who did not know J.D. Vance was running for Senate, or who he was at all. They included three baristas at the coffee shop around the corner from his giant house in Cincinnati, a bartender (who resembled Freddie Mercury) at a restaurant underneath a coworking space where Vances fund has a registered address, and three young people eating lunch in a food-truck plaza across from the downtown skyscraper where Vances fund is also registered. A man and woman about my age (low 40s) in the plaza did know about Vance and what he was running for, but said they were from out of state. Hes a moron, said the woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, OK. Its notoriously hard to get Americans (especially young ones) interested in midterms. But a top-down pursuit of Vanceheads was also unsuccessful. Most of Middletown is in Butler County, which is famously Republicanformer Speaker of the House John Boehner lives thereso I asked the Butler County Republican Party organization if it could connect me with any major Vance supporters in its ranks. I wanted to speak to someone who was enthusiastic about him, even during the early days of his campaign, I told them. They declined to furnish such a person. My former colleague Rachael Larimore, a longtime resident of suburban Cincinnati who works for the conservative publication the Dispatch, said she did not know anyone who fit that description either. A fact that is potentially related to the palpable absence of Vance Fever: The places he has lived as an adult are occupied by the people he has made his new political career out of describing as weirdo scumbags. East Walnut Hills, the neighborhood where his family lives in Cincinnati, is dotted with Victorian houses that have been renovated in pastel colors and are often adorned with Pride flags; the coffee shop I stopped at there sold nut-free granola out of consideration for allergies and advertised that its organic ingredients are delivered in electric vehicles. (The neighborhood business associations website celebrates the areas diverse, eclectic, and inclusive spirit.) Joe Biden won Vances precinct in 2020 at 453 votes to 197. Two hours away, across the street from his old apartment in Columbus, there was a house decorated with a modern liberal trifectathe flag of Ukraine, a rainbow flag, and a Black Lives Matter poster. (The homes were in German Village, a classically walkable neighborhood that is Ohios ground zero for restaurants that serve $14 cocktails and, like, molasses-glazed Brussels sprouts.) Near the coworking space where his company had been registered, over the bar, there is a trans-inclusive club called Bloom that advertises drag performances. (Vance asserted on a February podcast with Steve Bannon that the U.S. military is allied with Ukraine because Vladimir Putin doesnt support transgender rights.) On the wrought-iron fence outside Vances impressive house and lawn, there is a sign that says, Drive like your kids live here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, when I attended the pancake breakfast, I had this exchange with the two friendly blond women in their 50s working the check-in table for the state Republican organization, the Central Committee. Can I ask you guys a couple questions about J.D. Vance? Oh, no, sorry. Were from Central Committee, but were new. Id just like to talk to someone about what people like about him. Oh, what people like about him [sympathetic noise]. Thatd be really good. This event was promoted with the tagline We need to run up the score in Clermont County and send JD Vance to Washington DC! If none of Vances ostensible supporters were going to explain what he was doing, I had to look elsewhere. And what cracked the case for me was something I probably should have done right away: reading Hillbilly Elegy. The extent of Vances promotional juggernaut, the poor reviews for the movie version, what I thought was his subsequent exposure as an opportunist, the disappointment of having read other nonfiction bestsellers that turned out to be paint-by-numbers commodity contentit all added up to the assumption that Elegy was just a disposable component of the J.D. Vance Advancement Plan. When I got the thing out and started power-skimming it for the business of writing this article, I was alarmed to find that it was quite good. So then I actually read it. Its a compelling story with two arcs. One is the large-scale operatic tragedy of the migrants, including Vances grandparents, who radiated outward from Appalachia to industrial towns and cities in the Midwest and elsewhere throughout the 1950s. They got work at, for example, the Armco steel mill in Middletown, and often resettled their Appalachian social networks in such towns in a chain-migration pattern. (Armco gave hiring preference to the family members of employees.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second arc is about Vance and his mother and sister. His mom is a smart womanhe writes that he was never prouder than when he could tell her he finished a bookand a registered nurse. But she leaves home early, in part because of her fathers drinking, carousing, and vicious fighting with her mother, and never settles in a functional relationship. She and Vances father break up soon after hes born, and they become so estranged that Vances father legally cedes his right to have a relationship with his son. I remember the early September day in kindergarten when Mom and Lindsay picked me up from school and told me that Id never see my dad again, Vance writes. He was giving me up for adoption, they said. It was the saddest I had ever felt. Men come and go; the family moves around. Vances mother gets in trouble with the police, gets hooked on painkillers, threatens to kill him when hes 12, and loses her nursing license. Vance keeps himself sane by staying close to Mamaw, who keeps her home in Middletown functional as the area declines, and her husband, Papaw, who has now cleaned up his act and lives down the road. Mamaw keeps the peace in part by threatening to kill anyone who doesnt follow her rules, and it is widely believed that she is capable of doing so because she shot a man who was trying to steal her familys cow in Kentucky when she was around twelve. Eventually, in high school, Vance just moves in with the old woman, and does enough to graduate. From there on out its relatively smooth sailing, but Mamaw dies when hes in the Marines. I teared up a bit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The root of American societys current predicament vis-a-vis J.D. Vance, I think, is mostly in the part of the book that comes after thisthe denouement of Yale Law and the highly coveted jobs that he and his wife, Usha, whom he meets at Yale, seek out after they graduate. Vance is put off by both the hypercompetitiveness of the aspiring corporate law world and the way advancement within it depends on social signals that dont have anything to do with intellectual capabilityhaving a fashionably trim suit, making small talk with partners, knowing which order to use silverware in at a fancy meal, and so forth. He takes a Yale person to Cracker Barrel and theyre appalled, purportedly, by how unhealthy the food is. It makes him angryas angry as hed been at the self-destructive losers in his hometown who half-assed their jobs and got high and blamed their problems on other people. (At one point in the book, he describes feeling resentment directed both toward the wealthy and my own kind.) He thinks that there are still plenty of people in Middletown who could achieve at this level if there werent so many practical, but essentially trivial, barriers to doing so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps this kind of anger is what drew him toward Trumps movement, in the end: Its not so much that he supports Donald Trump as that he doesnt like the way certain people talk about Trumps supporters. As the Washington Posts Simon van Zuylen-Wood wrote in a February piece, Vance was annoyed by 2016 election postmortems that attributed Trumps success with blue-collar white voters to racism rather than to their economic predicament. Vances Yale friend Jamil Jivani, who is mentioned in the book, told van Zuylen-Wood that the last strawthe offense that fully convinced Vance to reject the ruling eliteswas that snotty critics gave the Ron HowardGlenn Close Elegy adaptation, which has a good audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, bad reviews. It seems doubtful that the most recent chapter in his life is a mere advancement tactic rather than his latest effort to figure out who, exactly, he wants to be. Vance writes in Elegy that his angerhis temperis the biggest problem in his relationship with his wife, a subject that is also addressed in an essay he wrote in 2020 for a publication called the Lamp about becoming Catholic. I realized that there was a part of methe best partthat took its cues from Catholicism, he wrote. It was the part of me that demanded that I treat my son with patience, and made me feel terrible when I failed. That demanded that I moderate my temper with everyone, but especially my family. The word incisive is overused in reference to intelligence, but thats what kind Vances is: He opens things up, gets inside them, and figures out what makes them workor more often than not, concludes that they dont. He has a temper, you might say, as a writer and critic. Theres an especially interesting section in Elegy in which he reconnects with his father and begins visiting him on weekends in large part because he likes being a part of his fathers fundamentalist church. But just as quickly as he finishes explaining what the church meant to him, he unpacks its problems: The downside of his theology was that it promoted a certain segregation from the outside world, he writes. I was a curious kid, and the deeper I immersed myself in evangelical theology, the more I felt compelled to mistrust many sectors of society. Observes Vance, I heard more about the gay lobby and the war on Christmas than about any particular character trait that a Christian should aspire to have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance is quick to understand, but also quick to reject. It makes him an interesting thinker but also a perpetually agitated onesomeone likely to, for example, write off a countrys worth of liberal Democrats permanently because of the behavior of a few snobs at Yale Law School. (What, he couldnt find anyone else in a college town who liked high-fat breakfast food?) In Elegy and his Lamp essay, Vance tracks himself moving through a multitude of ideological and cultural phases: burnout Black Sabbath fan, born-again Christian, proud patriotic Marine, disillusioned atheist humanities student, eager law student, disillusioned law student and fiscal libertarian, disillusioned fiscal libertarian and Catholic convert, etc. Many of these phases are tied to his attraction to the ideas or personality of a specific individual, among them his dad, Christopher Hitchens, Amy Chua, and Peter Thiel. He has, in part, tied his own adoption of succeeding personalities to the succession of father figures who rotate through his life: With Steve, a midlife-crisis sufferer with an earring to prove it, I pretended earrings were coolso much so that he thought it appropriate to pierce my ear, too. With Chip, an alcoholic police officer who saw my earring as a sign of girlieness, I had thick skin and loved police cars. With Ken, an odd man who proposed to Mom three days into their relationship, I was a kind brother to his two children. In this context, it seems doubtful that the most recent chapter in his life is a mere advancement tactic rather than his latest effort to figure out who, exactly, he wants to be. It likewise may not be excessively speculative as a matter of psychoanalysis to guess why the importance of a cohesive family unit, and the destructiveness of divorce, has been the one priority of his thats remained consistent from the startfrom his middle-school Pentecostal period up through his July attack on the childless left and women who work at demanding white-collar jobs. Vance says hes running for Senate because he remembers a time when Ohioans could live content, middle-class lives on single incomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the most tangible elements of Vances platform, like corporate tax increases and tariffs on Chinese-made goods, would not make this arrangement possible for most people, and the idolization of a tranquil, single-income household format iswell, its the kind of campaign rhetoric a nerdy Catholic intellectual would come up with, and a bit out of phase with the rowdy impulses of the Republican bases ascendant activists. It would also seem like a strange setup to be applauding when you and your wife are both active professional overachievers. (Usha works for a top law firm that lists her as being based out of San Francisco and D.C.) But it makes sense if the thing youd wish for, if you had just one wish, was a dad who stays married to his childs mother and a mom who is home to read books with her little boy. On some level, Vance seems to understand that he has more criticisms of America in 2022 than ideas about how to fix it. What social progressives have accomplished over the last couple of decades is to deprive our country of any real sharedany real shared anything, right? Vance complained to the Posts van Zuylen-Wood. We dont have a shared sense of our own history. We dont have a shared sense of our own great monuments and figures. We do not have a shared religion. When the reporter pressed him on how hed achieve those things, he gave the best and funniest answer of this or, perhaps, any election cycle: Ah, I mean, honestly, he replied, I dont know. J.D. Vances life choices involve at least a subconscious acknowledgement that liberals have figured some things out. One might argue that those social progressives Vance complains about have, in fact, found their own answer to that question by clustering together in neighborhoods, like East Walnut Hills and German Village, that are heavy on public spacesby pursuing a way of life that is explicitly framed by its advocates, even, as an effort to recapture some of what was lost during the period of alienating deindustrialization that preoccupies Vance. A literal attempt to reconnect to a shared history. (The typical New American restaurant or gastropub one finds in these neighborhoods is really just a Cracker Barrel with a liquor license and marked-up prices. Recall that the godfather of modern food culture advises one not to eat anything their mamaws mother wouldnt recognize.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance and other conservative intellectuals tend to have convinced themselves that the liberal ruling elite discusses values like tolerance and inclusion only as a matter of virtue signaling. Perhaps this is true of some sociopaths on Twitter, rich members of Congress, and corporate executives. But for many millions of people in much of urban and suburban America, they are simply actual values, a faith that the way to have a shared community in a world of difference is to simply share ones community. J.D. Vances choices about where to live involve at least a subconscious acknowledgement that some of the liberals have figured some of the things out. After all, Hillbilly Elegy was published in 2016. His essay on the appeal of simple Catholic communitarianism was published in 2020. Why, then, is he still living, in 2022, around the corner from rainbow flags and sustainably delivered coffee? Perhaps its just that Vance is a wealthy person who likes having a sprawling house and eating fancy food in an expensive neighborhood. He may despise elite privilege, but he certainly has it. Being well-connected is what allowed him to jump to the front of the line to win the Republican nomination, but in many ways its the problem dogging him now, to the extent that hes sweating through a Senate race in a Republican state during the presidency of a Democrat whose approval rating is 10 points underwater. The organizer of the pancake breakfast event in Clermont County was Michael Logue. He was, finally, someone who was willing to speak to me about why he liked and supported Vance. The two have a lot in common: Theyre about the same age, theyre both from small-town southwest Ohio, and they both returned to Ohio to go to college (Ohio University, in Logues case) after serving in the Marines. Being in the Marine Corps, you see good and bad leadership at different points, Logue told me. Vance, he said, struck him as someone who had learned to model the good kind during his stint, as well as someone who had the intelligence to discuss complicated issues using principles the average voter would understand. He described the primary debates as a series of other candidates describing their positions as what J.D. said. The two men had met at a brewery in July 2021 and discussed their common concerns about the geopolitical threat presented by China, and Logue has been a supporter since. (Logue works in military procurement now and is very concerned about the national security and supply chain threat presented by Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, which he brought up three times in the 20 or so total minutes we talked at the breakfast and on the phone.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the similarities in their backgrounds, though, Vance is running for Senate on the heels of a Netflix movie, while Logue is a township trustee. Vance got to cut to the front of the line, partly because of merit, partly because thats the way things work. The flip side of that, though, is that the people he says he is running on behalf of regard him without much enthusiasm, if they know who he is at all. He isnt one of them anymore. And if were to take his comments about professional women and urban liberals seriously, he doesnt really like where he is now, either. Its a sad story, and someone like J.D. Vance would be good at telling it. Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 felony counts in the New York hush money casebut theres a lengthy appeals process ahead. And what ever happened to the other three cases against himJack Smiths federal election interference and classified documents cases, and Fani Willis Georgia election interference case? All three have hit various roadblocks. To make it easier to follow all of Trumps ongoing legal entanglements, each Monday, well keep you updated on the latest developments in Keeping Up With the Trump Trials. In a stunning move, Judge Aileen Cannon completely dismissed the federal classified documents case against the former president, arguing that Jack Smiths appointment as special prosecutor violated the Constitution. Meanwhile, Trumps lawyers are pushing for a judge to vacate his conviction in the New York hush money case. And according to a report in the Guardian, theyre going to try to block hearings in Smiths federal election interference case that could surface potentially damaging information about Trump before the election. The classified documents case is dismissed In a nearly 100-page order issued Monday morning, Cannon states that special counsel Jack Smiths appointment by the attorney general violates the appointments clause of the Constitution, which she says mandates that officers of the United Stateswhether inferior or principalmust be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Cannon concluded that there isnt any statute in the United States Code that authorizes Smiths appointment, so he therefore cannot legally conduct his classified documents prosecution. Advertisement Here she echoed Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas argument from his concurring opinion in the Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision earlier this month. I am not sure that any office for the Special Counsel has been established by Law, as the Constitution requires, Thomas wrote. If there is no law establishing the office that the Special Counsel occupies, then he cannot proceed with this prosecution. A private citizen cannot criminally prosecute anyone, let alone a former President. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cannon, a Trump appointee, has been extraordinarily sympathetic to the former presidents arguments in the classified documents case since it was filed in her court last year in Miami; she eventually pulled the case from her calendar. Its likely that Cannons decision will be appealed. Jack Smith could view Cannons decision as a golden opportunity to refile this case in D.C., where the alleged theft of classified documents began, and escape Cannons courtroom for good, Slates Mark Joseph Stern noted. Advertisement Related From Slate What the Supreme Court Immunity Decision Means for All Four Trump Trials Read More Trump wants his New York conviction vacated Since the presidential immunity decision came down, the former president has been pushing to have his felony conviction for making hush money payments to Stormy Daniels overturned. His lawyers filed a motion with New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan last week that seeks to vacate the jurys conviction and dismiss the charges. Trumps lawyers argue that the testimony of Hope Hicks, Trumps former White House communications director, now relates to official acts and thus cant be used as evidence per the Supreme Courts immunity ruling. They also argued that the hush money case forced jurors to assess Trumps actions while he was president, something the Supreme Courts immunity decision also prohibited. As a result, the harms caused by DANYs course of action are irreparable. The appropriate remedy is dismissal, they wrote. Advertisement Merchan already delayed Trumps sentencing from July 11 to Sept. 18 to allow time to consider how the immunity decision will impact the hush money case. But some experts believe that because the bulk of the hush money case is about Trumps actions pre-presidency, the Supreme Courts decision will have limited impact on this particular case. Advertisement Trumps lawyers are reportedly preparing to fight the mini-trial Currently, the special counsels federal election interference case is back with District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, who must go through the special counsels entire indictment and decide which of Trumps acts are officialwhich SCOTUS has ruled are actions having to do with core constitutional powersand which are unofficial. The process is sure to be complex and could even result in Chutkan holding a mini-trial in order to decide, which is something Trump really does not want to happen before November. Anonymous sources familiar with Trumps legal deliberations told the Guardian that his lawyers are planning to argue that its unnecessary to bring in witnesses to distinguish between Trumps official and unofficial conduct. They anticipate that prosecutors will request that former Vice President Mike Pence or White House officials testify about Trumps actions, which could produce damning headlines before voters head to the ballot box. After the second failed Trump impeachment, reporters often asked me, as an impeachment scholar, if this would now become a routine tool of partisan political conflict. I responded, first, that despite two failures to convict, neither Trump case was a mere partisan exercise because both involved impeachable high crimes and misdemeanors, and second, that I hoped neither party would initiate a cycle of constitutionally groundless tit-for-tat impeachments. But, of course, as soon as Republicans gained control of the House in January 2023, they did exactly that. They launched an unsuccessful impeachment inquiry on President Joe Biden. They actually impeached Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, only to have the effort fizzle in the Senate. And various noisy Republican members threatened impeachment against a grab bag of other administration officials. Democrats and a bipartisan array of impeachment scholars (including me) decried the Republican impeach-a-palooza for what it wasa constitutionally baseless retaliation for the Trump impeachments and a cynical strategy for influencing the 2024 election. I had hoped that Democrats would not join their Republican adversaries in the mud pit of dubious impeachments. Alas, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a handful of left-flank Democrats have yielded to temptation and filed articles of impeachment against Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Advertisement I wish they had not. First, this is a foredoomed exercise. There will be neither impeachments in the House nor convictions in the Senate. Second, while I think the House may sometimes be justified in embarking on an impeachment investigation to uncover official wrongdoing even if it knows conviction by the Senate is a political impossibility, here Republican control of the House will bar even an investigation. Third, with one arguable exception, the substantive allegations in the articles do not in their present form make a compelling constitutional case for impeachment. Hence, the AOC impeachment resolutions are a mere performative exercise, a kind of cri de coeur against unrebuked judicial misbehavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In general, it is a bad idea to clothe political messaging in the outward form of a critical constitutional mechanism. Advertisement The case against Alito The essence of Ocasio-Cortezs charge against Alito is that by repeatedlyover a period of multiple yearsflying flags associated with Trumps effort to overturn the 2020 election, Alito displayed a bias toward Trump and others involved in the insurrection and thus should have disqualified himself from all cases arising from those events. The first problem with this claim is evidentiary. There is dispute about when these flags (an upside-down U.S. flag and the Revolutionary-era Appeal to Heaven flag) were flown, what they signified to Alito, and whether Alito or his wife was responsible for their display and removal. One can fairly argue that a politically savvy figure like Alito would have known of the association between the flags and the Trump-inspired insurrection, and that, even if Alitos wife put them up, Alito should have taken them down. Advertisement Nonetheless, on the facts, what we have is, at best, a tangle of uncertainty and assumption. One does not file articles of impeachment based on that sort of gossamer foundation. Advertisement The larger difficulty is that even if it were proved that Alito personally raised flags over his residences intending to convey sympathy with a political cause and then sat in cases involving that cause, there is no clear ground in either the text of the Constitution or prior precedent for impeaching a judge based on such behavior. The most relevant prior case is that of Justice Samuel Chase, who was impeached in 1804. Chase was an ardent Federalist, a political ally of Presidents George Washington and John Adams, and a vocal critic of Thomas Jeffersons Republicans. Supreme Court justices of the time not only heard appellate cases, but rode circuit and occasionally sat as trial judges. During several politically charged trials and while instructing a grand jury, Chase made rulings and statements suggesting a Federalist bias. For these, the House impeached him. Advertisement Advertisement The Senate, however, acquitted Chase. The verdict has ever since stood for the proposition that although judges must not base their decisions on their political affiliations, Congress will not impeach judges for their political opinions. For its part, the federal judiciary, as Justice William H. Rehnquist later observed, took from the Chase impeachment the lesson that it would thereafter be scrupulous in abstaining from political activities and alliances. Advertisement Advertisement The real problem with Alito is not simply that he has shown poor judgment in his recent displays of pennantry, but that he has forgotten (or never learned) the lesson of the Chase impeachment and has become increasingly prone to statements suggesting political partisanship. But, at least if precedent is to be a guide, that alone is not an impeachable instance of treason, bribery, or other high crime or misdemeanor. Advertisement The case against Thomas Ocasio-Cortez filed three articles of impeachment against Justice Thomas. Article I charges that Thomas violated 5 U.S.C. 13103 and 13104 by failing to disclose gifts from Harlan Crow, a wealthy conservative and patron of the American Enterprise Institute, which frequently files amicus briefs in the Supreme Court. Article II charges a refusal to recuse in matters involving the financial interests of the justices wife, Ginni Thomas, on the ground her consulting businesses received substantial sums from conservative donors and organizations who file amicus briefs with the court. The first two articles raise different aspects of a single question: Is it an impeachable offense for a judge to benefit financially from his own or a spouses association with representatives of an ideological and political movement? Advertisement Advertisement There is no allegation that Thomas has ever taken a bribe in the classic sense of money paid in a quid pro quo exchange for a vote in a case. Still, the Thomases have received a lot of money and extravagant perks from conservative, and only conservative, people and organizations who have intense, ongoing interests in what the Supreme Court decides. It is undoubtedly true that Thomas has always been a conservative and could be expected to rule in accordance with that general disposition without financial inducement. But it is also undeniable that the Thomases live the luxe life they live because conservatives, and only conservatives, pay for them to do so. Advertisement The symbiotic financial relationship between the Thomases and the institutional right wing would be immediately recognizable by the founders as a form of corruption. They wrote the foreign and domestic emoluments clauses into the Constitution because they knew that crass case-by-case bribery is unnecessary if one simply showers the powerful with valuable gifts. Advertisement However, neither the Constitution nor federal statutes expressly prohibit gifts to judges from private persons (absent actual bribery). Moreover, Ocasio-Cortez doesnt allege in Article I that Thomas receipt of gifts was impeachable, only that he violated a statutory requirement to report them. But assuming Thomas did violate the statute, doing so is not even a misdemeanor; its a civil infraction subjecting the violator to a fine. Standing alone, this is hardly a high crime. Advertisement Advertisement As for Article II relating to Ginni Thomas, while the known facts certainly suggest that conservative figures sought to curry favor with Justice Thomas by funneling money to his wifes consulting entities, there is no allegation that any of these transactions were illegal or directly connected to any case pending before the court. Advertisement In effect, Ocasio-Cortez maintains that Thomas should have recused himself in any case in which the entities who paid Ginni Thomas consulting companies filed amicus briefs. Perhaps so. But, at present, we lack proof even that the justice had contemporaneous knowledge of the sources of his wifes consulting income. Moreover, we live in a world in which judicial spouses often have their own careers in law, politics, or business. Hence, one would have to think very carefully about the proper relationship between spousal employment and judicial recusal, and collect a great deal more evidence about Ginnis business and her husbands knowledge of it, before impeaching the justice based on the sources of his wifes professional income. Advertisement Advertisement Both Thomases have behaved disgracefully. They are ideologues who live high on the largesse of the movement of which they are unapologetically a part. Their tawdry example plainly demands systemic responses: enforceable recusal standards for the Supreme Court, laws regulating receipt of outside income by judges, and perhaps more. Related From Slate The Assassination Hypothetical Isnt Even the Scariest Part of the Supreme Court Immunity Ruling Read More I understand Democrats frustration at Republicans parochial resistance to such measures. Neither party should tolerate judicial grifting of the Thomas sort. But translating the Thomases financial lives into an impeachable offense against Justice Thomas would require both a thorough factual investigation (impossible with a Republican House) and the development of a theory of constitutional corruption more expansive than that underlying any previous impeachment (which AOC and company do not offer). That said, AOCs Article III against Thomas is a horse of a somewhat different color. It alleges that Thomas improperly refused to recuse in cases involving Trumps attempt to overturn the 2020 election because Ginni Thomas personally supported, and provided advice to high-level participants in, the Trump campaign to remain in power. Even if (improbably) Justice Thomas did not know of her activities at the time, they had become public knowledge by the time Thomas participated in a variety of cases concerning Trumps attempted legal coup. Advertisement Article III contends that Thomas was legally obliged by 28 USC 455 to recuse in any 2020 election-related case because his impartiality is plainly questionable. I agree. But a mere improper failure to recuse is not itself an impeachable offense. Three considerations push Thomas refusals to recuse into arguably impeachable territory: Advertisement Advertisement They were not merely instances where his wifes business activities suggested a generalized financial bias. Rather, Ginni Thomas was both an actual witness to and a potential defendant in criminal cases arising from Trumps campaign to reverse the election results. The appearance of improper bias is solidified by the fact that, in the cases in which Thomas should have recused, he has repeatedly voted in favor of Trump or his supporters. Given the nature of the casesan alleged effort to overthrow the national governmentflagrant disregard of ordinary judicial ethics arguably becomes a dereliction of constitutional magnitude. But face it. If the Senate would not convict Trump for leading a constitutional coup, it is hardly likely to convict a Supreme Court justice for failing to recuse due to his wifes peripheral involvement in that coup. The Republican House will not even investigate such allegations, much less impeach Thomas. AOCs resolution wont secure even a formal debate. Worse, the AOC impeachments transparently partisan character contributes to the public impression that neither party takes impeachment seriously. Likewise, the leap past ordinary House processes to hastily drafted articles of impeachment against multiple justices is likely to have the perverse effect of trivializing both mens genuinely bad behavior. Alito and Thomas have both discredited their offices. But they will not be removed nor their faults remedied by the filing of doomed clickbait impeachment resolutions. AOC and her friends should find more productive uses of their time. The dust of Saturdays assassination attempt of Donald Trump has mostly settled, but theres still one online response to it thats rattling around in my brain. Attached to the now iconic photo of Trump pumping his fist with blood smeared on his cheek, journalist Olivia Messer wrote, this is one of those horrifyingly clear moments in history when you immediately know everything has changed but you cant see how yet. No better way to crystalize how fast things can change on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Once, we lived in the before, and now we are in the after. Messer is rightthe assassination attempt has turned Trump into a martyr without him actually having to have been martyred. Trump himself agrees, and with the election just a few months away, its very likely that hell experience a bit of a bump in the polls as a result of the action, and that unforgettable photo. But among Democrats and leftists, there has been a kind of despairing resignation around what might happen on Election Day now. Hes going to win was an immediate reaction online and offline, as if only through an attempted murder could a politician like Trump become popular enough to win a second term after being convicted of a felony. Dont worry, the reality is actually a little darker than that, and a little less responsive to what happened last weekend. While his stock price has surged since the assassination attempt, and he continues to edge out President Joe Biden in the polls, most of our current political reality is the exact same. Martyred or not, this is just what Trump does. Despite the way half of the country laughs at him, or derides him, or campaigns against him, Trump gets one thing right: Hes a winner, and he knows it. Thats why he thrust his fist into the air, apparently on now-genius instinct. Advertisement Everything feels different, but really, nothing is. Were still in the same place we were last week, even while it feels like our world has been irrevocably upended. Biden remains woefully unequipped to handle this campaign, this news cycle, and perhaps even a second termhe continues to poll behind his vice president, Kamala Harris, and its increasingly predicted that only an October Surprise could swing the election in his favor. (On Saturday evening he announced he had halted campaigningas if it would make any impact at all!) The Democratic Party, meanwhile, continues to buckle from deep fissures among its members. Socialist darlings like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have continued to back Biden even as hes continued to operate as a centrist, leaving leftists forgotten in this election. The Democrats continue to suffer because they fail to speak to their own voters; Biden, and many other establishment Democrats, continue to be uninspiring choices for left-of-center voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans, meanwhile, are happy to use the assassination attempt to further sow division; Trump acolyte (and vice presidential pick) J.D. Vance suggested Bidens campaign rhetoric was responsible for the attempt before any actual information became available. There are plenty of conspiracy theories floating around online too, from liberal ones (that the shooting was staged, an inside job to boost Trumps chances in November) to conservative ones (that the Democratic institution couldnt beat him in November, and so they had to kill him instead). Occams razor likely wins out here: It was not a conspiracy, it was just an act of violencea school shooting at a Trump rally. But that act doesnt change things as much as we think it does. In modern North American parlance, assassination attempts are indeed rare; the last one the public saw was in 1981, when President Ronald Reagan was shot while leaving a hotel in Washington. No wonder were trying to ascribe value to a valueless act. Some online response has been in relation to how handily Reagan won his second term after getting shot, as if an assassination attempt was the only way he garnered support. Indeed, the attempt on Reagans life did have a unifying effect on the country, and there are a few similarities between his case and Trumpsboth were shot by lone gunmen, both were able to avoid real injury. Both also used the slogan Make America great again, but our political landscape isnt what it used to be. Reagan wasnt the same kind of Republican candidate Trump is. In fact, the entire Republican Party is unrecognizable to the one it was 40 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Besides, Trump didnt need an assassination attemptrelated boost in the polls anyway. He didnt need anything at all, really. He could have sat back and let Biden continue to get flustered in press conferences, accidentally calling his opponent his VP. No doubt Biden will also continue to alienate his base with centrist politics and his refusal to take his age and lousy debate performance seriously. But politically, in terms of how it benefits Trump and his party, the assassination attempt itself changes very little. The Democrats continue to flounder, the Republicans continue to weaponize their own harmful rhetoric against their political opponents, and the polling remains largely unchanged. Were not yet at a place where we can definitively say a second Trump term is inevitable, but its clear that hes a strong enough candidate that something as galvanizing as a murder plot barely moves the needle. That was already the problem. Update, Sept. 15, 2024: On Sunday, a Secret Service agent fired on a would-be gunman at Donald Trumps golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, thwarting an apparent second assassination attempt on Trumps life in three months. The man is now in custody. After the first attempt in July, David Faris wrote about political violence and Trumps reelection bid. The original article is below. The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was a horror. Trump remains as dangerous as he has ever been, the shooting already feeding his galactic martyrdom complex and the cult of personality that has arisen around him. He could, in theory, try to bring the country together this week at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. But we know he wont do that, because his campaignindeed his entire political careerthrives on anger, fear, and chaos. He alone can fix it, he will almost certainly say again, even though he has spent years slyly glorifying or joking about violence against his political adversaries. Without chaos, he is nothing but an aging showman. Trumps repugnant nature and malignant influence on our politics, however, cannot justify an attempt on his or anyone elses life. Political violence erodes faith in the key feature of democratic politicsthe ability to resolve our differences without recourse to killing each other. All human societies will have deep, perhaps even unbridgeable differences. The magic of democracy is not that it smooths everything over but that it creates a mechanism that allows us to compete peacefully over power and to transfer authority seamlessly and routinely between rival parties and individuals. Democracy gives the losers a future horizon that they can gaze upon as they plan a new electoral strategy. The constitutional rules bind those political forces together even if they have virtually nothing else in common. Advertisement Political violence deliberately subverts this formula. By unsettling and terrifying large numbers of people, it almost inevitably leads to calls for authoritarian measures to restore order. And like an ordinary murder, political violence fuels thirst for retribution, triggers a cycle of revenge, and causes even otherwise rational, well-meaning people to lose perspective and endorse things they only recently would have found abhorrent. At a certain point, it causes members of different communities to feel safe only around one another, then to believe that safety can be achieved only by the elimination of their adversaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem is that democracy is hard, frustrating, and imperfect, while violence is swift and easy. Threatening it is practically costless. I have spent time in societies on the verge of major upheaval, including precivil war Syria and Egypt right before the Arab Spring, as well as in postconflict countries like Lebanon. These were places where temporary tranquility was either an illusion or maintained at gunpoint. In Bashar al-Assads Syria, during the Iraq war, the mere mention of politics was enough to trigger a wide-eyed fear. In Egypt, the heavy hand of coercion was everywhere, and people had good reason to fear participating in what we would consider to be ordinary political activities. These were places where tyranny had become almost impossible to dislodge. Advertisement I remember seeing a piece of graffiti in a Beirut bathroom stall in 2003 that read, Die of natural causes. It was a plea, not a threat. The audience was whoever stumbled into the toilet to read it and to think about the kind of trauma that would lead someone to hope in vain for what should be the ordinary end to a well-lived human life. Over a 15-year period, 150,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Lebanon. That was roughly 5 percent of the prewar population, and the country, although ostensibly at peace, has never really recovered. Buildings that survived the war were still riddled with bullets. People who had only recently been firing at one another across a divided city were now trying to figure out how to share it again. No one won that war. An entire society lost. Advertisement Once the tenuous bonds that hold individuals and groups together in a society are broken, they are very difficult to repair. Widespread communal violence traumatizes generations of those who survive the maelstrom, and each act of inhumanity makes restoring the trust required to operate a democratic political system more challenging. As Kirsten Dunsts war reporter remarks in Alex Garlands Civil War, Every time I survived a war zone, I thought I was sending a warning home: Dont do this. But here we are. Advertisement Here we are indeed. The United States lacks some of the obvious precursors for widespread political violence of the kind that can lead to civil war. There are not large gangs of rival militias or would-be state-makers competing for power in the streets. Despite all the Second Civil War talk and secessionist cosplaying, there has not been incessant violence between either Democrats and Republicans, nor anything like meaningful threats between red and blue states. Very few people actually want to break up the country, and even fewer really want to fight each other in the streets. Advertisement But there are worrying signals. In 2020 the United States failed to transfer power peacefully between political parties for the first time since the Civil War. The outgoing president whipped up a mob of furious supporters, sharing a delusion about a stolen election, who then swarmed the U.S. Capitol, many of them hoping to harm members of Congress and disrupt the certification of the election. The attack left several people dead. That man, the subject of Saturdays assassination attempt, refused in 2016 and 2020 to say he would accept the results of the election, and he refuses to do so today. He has made common cause with other dictators, courted and flattered them, and plainly wishes to emulate them. He has convinced tens of millions of rank-and-file Republicans that the president is a fraud who stole the 2020 election. He has threatened, in word and deed, to further erode the nations beleaguered democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American political system failed comprehensively to head off this threat. Senate Republicans declined to convict him after his second impeachment, the justice system moved molasses-like, allowing Trump and his allies time to regroup, and the Supreme Court disgracefully thwarted every conceivable avenue to hold him accountable. Those who want to avoid a descent into Lebanon-style chaos must now work together to finish the job that Americas political institutions could notpeacefully, at the ballot box, while standing up for the core values of liberal democracy. Anything else is madness. And you truly do not want to experience where that madness leads. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240714/colombia-professor-faces-firing-after-pro-israel-social-media-pile-on-1119375084.html Colombia Professor Faces Firing After Pro-Israel Social Media Pile-On Colombia Professor Faces Firing After Pro-Israel Social Media Pile-On Sputnik International Pro-Israel lawmakers and Zionist accounts on social media caused a firestorm after law professor Katherine Franke questioned the conduct of ex-IDF members on Columbias New York City campus. 2024-07-14T23:03+0000 2024-07-14T23:03+0000 2024-07-14T23:33+0000 americas us elise stefanik palestinians columbia palestine israel israel defense forces (idf) national guard columbia university https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/06/1118798863_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_92d42adbdf353e7baeb6fff017155a13.jpg A tenured professor at New Yorks Columbia University faces firing after a pro-Israel online campaign criticizing comments the academic made on behalf of pro-Palestine demonstrators at the Ivy League school.The controversy stems from an interview Franke granted to Democracy Now! on January 25. The professor sharply criticized Columbias response to an incident in which pro-Palestine protesters were sprayed with an unknown chemical substance by two alleged veterans of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).University administrators initially blamed the students for conducting an unsanctioned protest before finally banning the perpetrators from campus while police conducted an investigation of the incident.Columbia has a program, Its a graduate relationship with older students from other countries, including Israel, Franke noted on the radio program. Its something that many of us were concerned about because so many of those Israeli students who then come to the Columbia campus are coming right out of their military service. And theyve been known to harass Palestinian and other students on our campus, and its something the university has not taken seriously in the past.The comment was subsequently mischaracterized by pro-Israel accounts on social media, who alleged that Franke advocated banning Israeli citizens from the Columbia campus.This @Columbia professor has a problem with former IDF soldiers being on campus, read one post typical of the outrage, shared by Columbia Business School professor Shai Davidai, who identifies on the X platform as Jewish Israeli and Zionist.She doesn't have a problem with ex-soldiers from any other place, he complained. Her only problem is with Israelis. @ProfKFranke I served in the IDF. Do you think I also shouldn't be allowed on campus?Davidai publicly criticized a wave of pro-Palestine protest on US college campuses earlier this year, calling the students Nazis and terrorists and calling for the National Guard to be deployed to break up the demonstrations. The demand implies a deadly threat against protesters in the United States, where National Guard troops shot and killed several antiwar demonstrators at Ohios Kent State University in 1970.The business professors comments have been shared by official Israeli government accounts online as the country has invested significant effort in defending its cause on social media. It emerged last month that Israel has set up fake accounts online to lobby US lawmakers to continue supporting its military operation in the besieged Gaza Strip, which a study recently claimed could kill as many as 186,000. In 2013 it was revealed the country pays students to defend it on Facebook and Twitter.Columbia administration released a statement defending Israeli students in response to the firestorm, which was championed by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The following month Franke was informed a complaint had been lodged against her by two Columbia law professors for discrimination, and in April Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik called for disciplinary action against her during a House hearing with controversial Columbia University President Minouche Shafik.A number of college professors and other faculty have been fired or faced disciplinary action in the United States for expressing pro-Palestine sentiments. Dr. Ameer Loggins is filing a defamation suit against Californias Stanford University after being fired for giving a lecture that discussed Israel in the context of historical acts of settler colonialism.Whats of greatest concern is not really my 20-year-plus career at Columbia, but what this says about peaceful protest on our campuses around the lives and dignity of Palestinians, Franke said about the investigation into her comments, which remains ongoing. "Whats happening to me is happening to our students, its happened to people on many other campuses. And its, to me, shocking at a place like Columbia which prides itself on being a home for, if not only tolerating, maybe welcoming student engagement with public events or public affairs like the crisis in the Middle East. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240707/israeli-protesters-proclaim-resistance-day-to-government-9-months-after-hamas-invasion-1119274432.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240519/revealed-us-oligarchs-demanded-police-crackdown-on-pro-palestine-protests-1118524190.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/threats-against-campus-pro-palestine-demonstrators-echo-deadly-violence-of-kent-state-1118117114.html americas columbia palestine israel gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg katherine franke firing, katherine frank investigation, columbia professor idf comments, law professor israeli students on campus, pro-palestine professors fired us https://sputnikglobe.com/20240714/trump-shooting-complicates-matters-for-struggling-biden-campaign-1119375354.html Trump Shooting Complicates Matters for Struggling Biden Campaign Trump Shooting Complicates Matters for Struggling Biden Campaign Sputnik International President Bidens reelection campaign is reconsidering the tone of its messaging after yesterdays incident. 2024-07-14T23:45+0000 2024-07-14T23:45+0000 2024-07-14T23:56+0000 analysis us joe biden donald trump israel democratic party republican cnn white house republican party https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/08/1118330236_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_6d90ed21c558dec76e66b201e7babb68.jpg Two weeks after his shaky performance during a televised debate raised serious questions about his age and mental acuity, yesterdays assassination attempt on Donald Trump has complicated President Joe Bidens plans to relaunch his campaign taking a harder line against his Republican opponent.Reporting from CNN described his campaigns efforts to calibrate its political messaging amid the delicate national moment.Complicating matters further, the Republican National Convention is set to start Monday in Wisconsin, where Trump will likely be greeted to a heros welcome by throngs of adoring supporters. Advisors have reportedly been formulating Democratic messaging in response to the event for some time. Those talking points and attack lines are now under reconsideration as renewed focus is brought to the level of political polarization in the United States.There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy, posted former President Barack Obama on the X social media platform Saturday. Although we dont yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasnt seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.Biden made similar comments in the hours after the attack.The president also rejected claims online suggesting the Secret Service had denied Trump additional protection, claiming the former president had already received a heightened level of security. The federal agency has faced criticism over its perceived shortcomings amid the first attack on the life of a presidential candidate in the United States in several decades.The incident has brought renewed attention to political divisions in the country during an election year like no other. Biden has cast the former president as a unique threat to US democracy, a framing that has drawn criticism from some observers after yesterdays shooting. Trump and several of his advisors have faced indictment on charges they conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 election over allegations of a fake electors plot to certify the former presidents victory in several states won by Biden.Much of the Trump campaigns messaging has taken a similar tone, in turn claiming the former president faces political persecution by Democratic Party officials.Recent polling suggests a broad lack of trust in the United States electoral system amid a wider institutional crisis in the country. One poll conducted last year showed about a third of Trump supporters agree with the statement that democracy is no longer a viable system and America should explore alternative forms of government to ensure stability and progress. Almost a quarter of President Bidens supporters endorsed the statement.Another survey showed only half of Americans have faith in democracy while a poll in 2022 revealed 44 percent believe the country is headed toward a second civil war.Journalist Dan Lazare claims the United States lockstep support for Israel in its campaign in the Gaza Strip has eroded Americans confidence in the US government as polling reveals voters increasingly sympathize with the Palestinian cause. Antiwar activists are reportedly planning to stage large demonstrations outside of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240714/biden-urges-public-to-not-make-early-assumptions-of-motives-of-trump-assassination-attempt-1119374793.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231018/growing-portions-of-americans-now-believe-democracy-no-longer-viable-system---poll-1114304414.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/record-low-number-of-americans-happy-with-democracy-in-the-united-states---poll-1116022739.html israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg biden campaign recalibration, biden campaign after trump shooting, trump assassination attempt complicates biden campaign, biden campaign tone, biden campaign messaging, trump threat to democracy, us elections, 2024 elections, killing of trump, assassination attempt, trump wins, trump survived https://sputnikglobe.com/20240715/at-least-90-palestinians-killed-by-israeli-airstrike-as-idf-targets-hamas-top-commander-1119374970.html At Least 90 Palestinians Killed by Israeli Airstrike as IDF Targets Hamas' Top Commander At Least 90 Palestinians Killed by Israeli Airstrike as IDF Targets Hamas' Top Commander Sputnik International Meanwhile, Hamas officials have denied the Israeli militarys claim and said Deif was in good enough health to actually listen to Netanyahus press conference about Saturdays attack. 2024-07-15T00:02+0000 2024-07-15T00:02+0000 2024-07-15T04:04+0000 world israel palestine egypt hamas palestinians middle east israel defense forces (idf) genocide civilian casualties https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1c/1118671577_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_ad058ea34f343078d36b70457eca8c3c.jpg After at least 90 Palestinians were killed in an airstrike, Israel is still struggling to assess whether or not their military successfully eliminated Hamas top commander, Mohammed Deif, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing military officials.Meanwhile, Hamas officials have denied the Israeli militarys claim and said Deif was in good enough health to actually listen to Netanyahus press conference about Saturdays attack. Yossi Kuperwasser, a former head of research for Israeli military intelligence, said the IDF will likely seek proof that the Hamas leader was killed.At least 90 Palestinians were killed in the al-Mawasi area - in what was supposed to be a designated humanitarian zone in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it remained unclear whether Deif was killed in the strike, and vowed further military pressure against Hamas.More than half of those killed in Saturday's attack were women and children, Gaza officials added. It was reported that the attack sent large plumes of smoke into the air and a crater was left where it struck.After three days of intense ceasefire talks, communication between the two parties has ceased. Two Egyptian security sources told Reuters on Saturday that Israel lacked a genuine intent to reach an agreement. They also accused Israeli mediators of behavior that revealed internal discord.The death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached 38,584 since last October, while over 88,800 have been injured, according to the Palestinian enclave's health ministry's estimates. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240714/hamas-denies-unilaterally-withdrawing-from-gaza-ceasefire-talks---political-bureau-member-1119373055.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240708/israel-accused-of-purposefully-delaying-gaza-ceasefire-proposal--1119281396.html israel palestine egypt Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg idf, israel, hamas, military attack, netanyahu, palestine, idf, idf airstrike, mohammed deif, genocide, ethnic cleansing, humanitarian disaster, humanitarian catastrophe, humanitarian ceasefire, israel-hamas conflict, gaza strip crisis, shelling of gaza, gaza devastation, israel-palestine conflict, palestine-israel conflict, israeli-palestinian conflict, palestinian-israeli, killings of civilians, civilian infrastructure, civilians dead, civilians die, israel kills civilians, civilian casualties, civilian deaths, indiscriminate shelling, indiscriminate killing, war crimes, indiscriminate shelling https://sputnikglobe.com/20240715/french-left-may-nominate-prime-minister-this-week-1119377550.html French Left May Nominate Prime Minister This Week French Left May Nominate Prime Minister This Week Sputnik International France's left New Popular Front (NFP) may nominate its candidate for prime minister as soon as this week, the leader of the allied Socialist Party said on Monday. 2024-07-15T09:32+0000 2024-07-15T09:32+0000 2024-07-15T09:32+0000 world olivier faure europe jean-luc melenchon france https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/08/1119286474_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_688e0f531e55686b020dca8b9ce4cf13.jpg "I hope that this week, as the mood is good we have people trying to get a result so I think we will get to that and I don't have any concerns about that," Olivier Faure told France 2 TV channel. Le Monde newspaper reported last week that France Unbowed, the largest party in the NFP coalition, proposed four candidates for the prime minister, including its leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, national coordinator Manuel Bompard, Clemence Guette and Mathilde Panot. The list reportedly got a cold reception in the coalition. Faure proposed himself as the next prime minister. The results of the French polls left the country facing a hung parliament, with no party holding a majority. The NPF, a broad alliance that includes France Unbowed, the Socialists, the Greens and the Communists, came out on top in the runoff, seizing 182 seats in the lower-house National Assembly. PResident Emmanuel Macron's centrist Ensemble came in second with 161 seats, while Marine Le Pen's right-wing National Rally won 142 seats. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240710/why-frances-snap-election-proves-eus-warmongering-agenda-flopped-1119322976.html france 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 france, french parliament, french parliamentary elections, french snap legislative elections, new popular front (nfp), left-wing, french prime minister https://sputnikglobe.com/20240715/hundreds-of-thousands-of-texans-still-without-electricity-one-week-after-storm-1119376234.html Hundreds of Thousands of Texans Still Without Electricity One Week After Storm Hundreds of Thousands of Texans Still Without Electricity One Week After Storm Sputnik International The US state is struggling to respond in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall Monday. 2024-07-15T02:47+0000 2024-07-15T02:47+0000 2024-07-15T04:50+0000 americas us greg abbott texas houston gulf coast hurricane hurricane season electric grid natural disaster https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/08/1119302841_0:127:3070:1854_1920x0_80_0_0_f841ed343671ab27e0f604605b276b4c.jpg Texas Governor Greg Abbott is pressuring a local utility company amid criticism of its response as 270,000 homes and businesses are still without power nearly one week after Hurricane Beryl made landfall.Abbott announced he has directed the states Public Utility Commission to launch an investigation into why the restoration of power for hundreds of thousands of residents has fallen behind schedule. The governor blamed local CenterPoint Energy for lacking a sufficient number of workers near Houston to respond to damage caused by the storm. Houston, noted as a hub for oil production and a NASA flight control complex, is the United States fourth largest city.The private company claimed over 2,100 utility polls were damaged in the storm while 18,600 trees fell on power lines.Texas, known for its secessionist tendencies, is unique for having its own power grid separate from the systems serving the rest of the country. The states electric utilities have struggled in recent years to respond to inclement weather such as winter storms. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231110/brittle-us-power-grid-faces-threat-of-winter-blackouts---report-1114857663.html americas texas houston gulf coast Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg texas hurricane power outages, texas weak electricity grid, texas without power after storm, texas power grid https://sputnikglobe.com/20240715/orban-hands-over-to-eu-plan-for-resolving-ukraine-conflict-1119379045.html Orban Hands Over to EU Plan for Resolving Ukraine Conflict Orban Hands Over to EU Plan for Resolving Ukraine Conflict Sputnik International Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has handed over the plan for resolving the conflict in Ukraine with "realistic goals and deadlines" to EU leaders, the political director of the Hungarian prime minister's office, Balazs Orban, said on Monday. 2024-07-15T11:21+0000 2024-07-15T11:21+0000 2024-07-15T11:21+0000 world viktor orban dmitry peskov josep borrell hungary ukraine moscow european union (eu) kremlin europe https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1a/1118644276_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_3add6953c0006503e3b76b8b6c93dd5b.jpg "As a matter of fact, we are talking about Orban's plan, which is now on the table of all EU prime ministers. A realistic assessment of the situation, real goals and deadlines are what our approach is based on," Orban told the Magyar Nemzet newspaper.According to the official, the role of Hungary should not be overestimated, but neither should it be underestimated that Orban managed to hold several meetings in two weeks that most countries wait years for.As Balazs Orban stated, Budapest will use its EU presidency period "to create conditions for peaceful negotiations," proposing "political initiatives." He emphasized that if Europe is serious about peace, it can create a plan that has "at least a minimal chance of being implemented." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in turn said Monday that Moscow is unaware of the specifics of Orban's proposal for resolving the Ukrainian conflict, which was sent to EU leaders. Viktor Orban arrived in Moscow on July 5 and met with Vladimir Putin. He called his visit to Moscow the next stage of a peace mission, which began with a trip to Kiev on July 2. The Hungarian Prime Minister expressed his intention to hold several such unexpected meetings soon. He then visited Beijing, where he stated that Hungary opposes confrontation with China and supports EU-China cooperation. After Beijing, Orban went to Washington for the NATO summit, where he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines. He then held talks with former US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.After visiting China, Orban stated that the parties to the conflict should resolve the crisis around Ukraine, but the US, China, and the EU have a decisive influence on its resolution. Russian President's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov noted that Orban demonstrated his political will for dialogue, which Moscow considers very positive and useful. EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said that Orban does not represent the EU on the international stage and does not have a European mandate for his visit to Russia, despite Hungary's six-month presidency of the EU Council. Orban responded to Borrell's criticism by saying that due to the "nonsense of Brussels bureaucrats," efforts to establish peace in Ukraine are not yielding results. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240707/orbans-realpolitik-approach-to-putin-talks-enraged-eu-warmongers--1119271018.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240708/orban-reveals-three-reasons-why-russia-cannot-be-defeated-1119288527.html hungary ukraine moscow 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 russia, ukraine, ukrainian conflict, ukrainian crisis, war in ukraine, viktor orban, europe, european union, ukrainian settlement, ukrainian peace https://sputnikglobe.com/20240715/poland-does-not-plan-to-bolster-border-with-russia-like-with-belarus-1119382083.html Poland Does Not Plan to Bolster Border With Russia Like With Belarus Poland Does Not Plan to Bolster Border With Russia Like With Belarus Sputnik International Poland's authorities are not planning on strengthening the border with Russia's Kaliningrad Region by putting up the same fencing as was installed on the border with Belarus, Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said on Monday, adding that there was no threat of irregular migration from the Russian side. 2024-07-15T17:44+0000 2024-07-15T17:44+0000 2024-07-15T17:44+0000 military tomasz siemoniak poland belarus russia european union (eu) europe border border security https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1e/1119197924_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7969e4a7c6a3e6a03c26d4051b1a8e34.jpg "There are no signals about the threat of illegal migration from that [Russian] side," Siemoniak told local media. Poland, however, is monitoring attentively this part of the border, the minister said, adding that barbed wire had been installed there. Poland had previously built a fence with an electronic tracking system on its border with Belarus to curb migration flows. The issue goes back to mid-2021, when tens of thousands of undocumented migrants crowded on the border between Belarus and Poland from the Belarusian side in an attempt to enter the European Union. Several hundred migrants have since been trying to enter Poland every month. The Polish authorities tightened border controls, deployed troops, and accused Belarus of orchestrating the migrant crisis. Minsk rejected the accusation and accused Warsaw of abusing the migrant crisis narrative to aggressively push migrants into Belarusian territory. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240607/polish-troops-to-get-legal-right-to-use-weapons-on-border---prime-minister-1118842352.html poland belarus 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 poland, poland border, polish-russian border, kaliningrad region, polish-belarussian border, border security https://sputnikglobe.com/20240715/security-service-will-not-bring-reinforcements-to-gop-convention-after-attempt-on-trump-1119378887.html US Secret Service Will Not Bring Reinforcements to GOP Convention After Attempt on Trump US Secret Service Will Not Bring Reinforcements to GOP Convention After Attempt on Trump Sputnik International The US Secret Service will not change security plans in place for the Republican National Convention following an assassination attempt on the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the Secret Service coordinator for the event said on Monday. 2024-07-15T11:09+0000 2024-07-15T11:09+0000 2024-07-15T18:36+0000 americas donald trump donald trump assassination attempt joe biden the secret service https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/0e/1119371102_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_9e3694de861bf31c2852a7922a3789e0.jpg "We're not anticipating any changes to our operational security plans for this event," Audrey Gibson-Cicchino told reporters in Milwaukee, which will host the convention starting Monday. The Secret Service coordinator said the gathering already had the highest level of security designation that the federal government could determine. She stressed that the security plan took 18 months to prepare. "We are confident in these security plans that are in place for this event and we're ready to go," Gibson-Cicchino said. On Saturday afternoon, shots were fired during Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The former president sustained a gunshot wound to his right ear and was briefly hospitalized. The gunman killed a member of the audience and critically injured two others in the crowd before the Secret Service neutralized him. The FBI is treating the incident as an assassination attempt and potential domestic terrorism. The suspected gunman was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The US presidential election is slated for November 5. The main contenders expected on the ballot are incumbent US President Joe Biden and Trump, who have both won enough delegates' votes to be their respective Democratic and Republican parties' presumptive nominees. Trump and Biden are set to have the second presidential debate on September 10. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240715/did-american-liberals-and-lefties-invite-trumps-wannabe-assassin-1119378297.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240714/how-secret-service-failed-trump-and-why-responsibility-could-lie-with-top-dems-1119370306.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 donald trump assassination attempt, us security service, us trump, gop convention security, us security gop https://sputnikglobe.com/20240715/ukraine-loses-up-to-585-soldiers-in-clashes-with-russias-zapad-battlegroup-1119380484.html Ukraine Loses Up to 585 Soldiers in Clashes With Russia's Zapad Battlegroup Ukraine Loses Up to 585 Soldiers in Clashes With Russia's Zapad Battlegroup Sputnik International The Ukrainian armed forces have lost up to 585 soldiers in battles with Russia's Zapad Battlegroup of forces in the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. 2024-07-15T13:33+0000 2024-07-15T13:33+0000 2024-07-15T15:36+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine kiev russian defense ministry https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/07/07/1119273628_0:0:3301:1858_1920x0_80_0_0_102237ffd2c572158745c2e0e1ba1f0c.jpg "The Ukrainian armed forces have lost up to 585 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, and seven motor vehicles," the ministry said. Russias Yug Battlegroup have repelled three Ukrainian attacks, making Kiev lose 540 soldiers, and the Tsentr Battlegroup have repelled six Ukrainian attacks and Kiev has lost up to 340 soldiers in battles, the ministry said. Ukraine has lost up to 200 soldiers in battles with Russia's Sever Battlegroup, the ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240618/ukraine-loses-up-to-455-soldiers-in-clashes-with-russias-western-group---mod-1119008450.html russia ukraine 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 special military operation, ukraine, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukraine, ukrainian losses https://sputnikglobe.com/20240715/ukraines-manpower-ammunition-depot-hit-in-kharkov---underground-network-1119377178.html Ukraine's Manpower, Ammunition Depot Hit in Kharkov - Underground Network Ukraine's Manpower, Ammunition Depot Hit in Kharkov - Underground Network Sputnik International A strike was launched against Ukrainian troops and an ammunition depot in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkov overnight, a resistance coordinator told Sputnik on Monday. 2024-07-15T06:15+0000 2024-07-15T06:15+0000 2024-07-15T06:15+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russian armed forces russian army ukrainian crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/09/1117228523_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_74edfe813f118a6bd5c5c4c63456f042.jpg No further details were provided."In Kharkov, there were hits ... on [Ukrainian] manpower, and an ammunition depot was hit significantly," Sergey Lebedev, coordinator of the pro-Russian underground network in Nikolaev, wrote on Telegram. Russian troops have been striking at infrastructure and critically important assets across Ukraine in response to attacks by the Ukraine military on civilian targets in Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was not targeting civilian assets. 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 special military operation, ukrainian crisis, russian strikes on ukraine, ukraine kharkov strikes, russian precision strikes https://sputnikglobe.com/20240715/us-shifts-back-to-far-larger-strategic-manned-bomber-force-with-b-21-aircraft-1119383417.html US Shifts Back to Far Larger Strategic Manned Bomber Force With B-21 Aircraft US Shifts Back to Far Larger Strategic Manned Bomber Force With B-21 Aircraft Sputnik International The US Air Force will again greatly expand the depleted manned bomber element of the strategic nuclear Triad - the land, undersea and airbase legs of its nuclear deterrent - when it deploys the B-21 aircraft, General Andrew Gebara said on Monday. 2024-07-15T18:55+0000 2024-07-15T18:55+0000 2024-07-15T18:55+0000 military us air force air force us b-21 b-52 b-1 https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/17/1118599023_0:50:1024:626_1920x0_80_0_0_4e4ba20fab9e359eb6e9e07e1e36a24d.jpg "We are shifting from 20 low observable [Stealth-capable] bombers to far larger numbers [with the B-21 program]," US Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Gen. Gebara told a Mitchell Aerospace Institute podcast. "The B-21 is succeeding in its flight tests but it still isn't there yet. We still have a lot of work to do." Gebara said the Air Force was looking at deploying a force of 140 to 175 B-21 bombers. The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is being developed as a long-range, stealth intercontinental strategic bomber that can deliver conventional and thermonuclear weapons. It is designed to replace the Rockwell B-1 Lancer and Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth aircraft by 2040, and possibly the Boeing B-52 after that. The aircraft, which made its maiden flight in November 2023, is widely seen as the US equivalent of the Russian Tupolev PAK DA and it is expected to be capable of subsonic flight at Mach 0.8, according to published reports. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240523/b-2-vs-b-21-will-pentagons-new-big-budget-bomber-be-another-wedge-shaped-waste-of-money-1118599180.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us air force, b-21, n-52, b-1, strategic nuclear triad https://sputnikglobe.com/20240715/zelensky-expects-russia-to-attend-second-ukraine-conference-in-november-1119382588.html Zelensky Expects Russia to Attend Second Ukraine Conference in November Zelensky Expects Russia to Attend Second Ukraine Conference in November Sputnik International Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that he expected Russia to attend the second conference on Ukraine, which is scheduled to be held in November. 2024-07-15T18:14+0000 2024-07-15T18:14+0000 2024-07-15T18:16+0000 world ukraine volodymyr zelensky russia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/0a/1118896145_0:0:3000:1688_1920x0_80_0_0_307050d7aee61f4ca9acfa6a4c66c0f6.jpg Earlier in July, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Sputnik, commenting on the new conference on Ukraine, that Moscow does not accept ultimatums and is not going to participate in such events. "After these three points, if they work out, a plan for the implementation of all points will be completed. I set the task so that in November, we will have a drawn-up plan ... Everything will be ready for the second summit ... We will be ready to hold the second summit as soon as possible, and I believe that Russian representatives should be present at the second summit," Zelensky said. The US has consulted with Ukraine on inviting Russia to the second Ukraine summit and will back Kiev's decision on the matter, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday. "Thats something that we discussed with them but as we said before any decisions around diplomatic negotiations are decisions that Ukraine has to make," Miller stated. "Its for Ukraine to decide when and how and in what shape to undertake diplomatic negotiations. As their partner, as their backer, we will support them if thats the path that they choose to take."Switzerland hosted a high-level conference on Ukraine at the Burgenstock resort outside of Lucerne from June 15-16. Russia did not receive an invitation. The Russian officials have said that they would skip the event in any case. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240616/decisions-of-swiss-hosted-summit-cannot-be-implemented-without-russia--top-swiss-diplomat-1118988377.html ukraine 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 russia, ukraine, zelenskyy, peace talks, peace negotiations, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukraine, ukraine settlement Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel hosted eight $136,986 finals of the Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) for two- and three-year-olds on Sunday, July 14, with the track record for three-year-old trotting fillies destroyed when odds-on choice Woman Of Passion won her KYSS final convincingly early on the card. Woman Of Passion (Scott Zeron) zipped for the lead out of post six and cleared to the top past a :26.3 first quarter before gearing down for a breather to a :55.3 half. As the tempo softened, Black Velvet As (Marvin Luna) angled first over out of third and marched after Woman Of Passion moving to three-quarters in 1:23.4. Black Velvet As remained persistent around the final turn but begrudgingly gave way off the turn to Woman Of Passion, who then strode in a winner by one length in 1:51.4. Tove Palema (Andy Miller) settled for third in a tight photo with Black Velvet As and Stella Volo (Dexter Dunn) checked in fourth. The winner's 1:51.4 mile lowered the track record for sophomore trotting fillies of 1:53 previously held in a three-way tie between Blue Bayou Deo, Mambacita and Youhadmeathalo. Carter Pinske trains Woman Of Passion, a daughter of Walner out of the Donato Hanover mare Womans Will, for owner/breeder Al Libfeld. Woman Of Passion won her seventh race from 16 starts and has now banked $210,797. She paid $3.70 to win. Zeron led all drivers in KYSS action with a total of three wins in the finals. After scoring with Woman Of Passion, he capitalized off a heated tempo with Defining Moment to win the three-year-old filly pace in 1:50.2. Getting away fifth, Defining Moment stayed steady while odds-on favourite Bath Bomb (Yannick Gingras) and Direction (Todd McCarthy) quarrelled through opening fractions of :26 and :53.4. Defining Moment moved wide to catch Direction's cover briefly up the backside before pouncing to grab the lead from Bath Bomb past three-quarters in 1:21.4 and draw away from her competition. Defining Moment strolled in a 2-3/4-length winner over Capytreach (Andy Miller) rallying down the center of the track for second. Real Deal Lindy (Marcus Miller) caught the live tow to take third and Bath Bomb held fourth. A filly by JK Endofanera out of the Bettors Delight mare Crucial Moment, Defining Moment collected her fifth win from 16 starts and has now earned $158,230 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Larry Karr. She paid $11.02 to win. Defining Moment was the second of trainer Ron Burke's three wins in KYSS finals. Zeron's third KYSS win of the day came in the three-year-old colt pace when he powered off a pocket ride with Eric Patalan trainee Arson to a 1:50.1 score. Arson pushed for position from the pylon post and perched into the pocket behind Total Stranger (Yannick Gingras) while he cut a quick clip of :26.2, :54.2 and 1:22. Zeron pulled Arson out of the pocket midway up the backstretch, powered to the lead through the final turn and carried his speed all through the lane to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Swaggy Cal (Dexter Dunn), who closed from second over for second. Better Is Nice (Andy McCarthy), the 6-5 favourite, also closed to take third and Copperfield (Marcus Miller) came from near last for fourth. Arson, a colt by Captaintreacherous out of the Western Hanover mare Western Montana, has now won 13 races from 20 starts and banked $293,606 for owners TheStable Arson Group and Hutchison Harness LLC. He paid $4.80 to win. Burke's KYSS hat trick began in the first final of the afternoon when Lew Hauber (Dexter Dunn) lasted on the lead to take the two-year-old colt pace in 1:52.3. Dunn secured the top with Lew Hauber to a :27.3 first quarter and carved a sensible tempo of :56.2 and 1:24.3 while then withstanding a late charge from first-over Docs Buddy (Andy McCarthy) to win by a half length at the beam. Realmenwearblu (Yannick Gingras) sat a pocket trip for third and Dark Soul (Lewayne Miller) took fourth. A homebred Sweet Lou colt out of the Third Straight mare Lakeisha Hall, Lew Hauber races for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Jack Piatt II. He's now unbeaten from three starts and has earned $102,739. Lew Hauber paid $3.42 to win. Burke's other win came as a stunner when Karma (Todd McCarthy) surged by 1-9 favourite Skywalker Sea to win the two-year-old filly pace in 1:52.1. Skywalker Sea failed to settle once clearing the lead past a :26.4 first quarter and remained headstrong through a :55 half and 1:22.2 three-quarters. On fumes into the lane, Skywalker Sea endured a blitz from Karma as she kicked out of third and went by the weary pacesetter to win by 2-1/4 lengths. Accede (Dexter Dunn) finished third and Hip Shot (Scott Zeron) faltered off a pocket trip for fourth. Karma, a daughter of Tall Dark Stranger out of the American Ideal mare Alexis Faith, won her first race in just her second start and has now earned $72,877 for owners Thomas and Scott Dillon. She paid $52.26 to win. Todd McCarthy also scored back-to-back KYSS final wins when he guided Carter Pinske trainee Bank On Me to a narrow front-stepping win in the two-year-old colt trot. McCarthy secured the lead with Bank On Me out of post six past a :27 first quarter and held command as he slowed tremendously to a :58 half. He accelerated up the backside to click past three-quarters in 1:27.3 but soon faced a fierce pocket-popping challenge in the stretch from Memento Mori (Scott Zeron). Bank On Me kept chugging through the lane as Memento Mori surged and clung to a nose win at the beam in 1:57.1 with Louises Legacy (Marcus Miller) saving ground to grab third from Shoe Shine Willie (Dexter Dunn) in fourth. Bank On Me, a gelding by Chapter Seven from the Yankee Glide mare Overdraft Volo, broke his maiden in his second start and has now earned $82,192 for owners Pinske Stables, Enzed Racing Stable Inc. and Lizanne Waples. He paid $14.08 to win. Hung Over (Marvin Luna) notched a front-stepping win in the three-year-old colt trot with a 1:54 mile. Luna swooped to the point past a :27.3 first quarter and cruised through middle sectionals of :57.4 and 1:25.4 while Mister Dad (Dexter Dunn) climbed first over from third to try and cut into the loose leader's margin. Mister Dad eventually levelled off from his bid through the final turn, leaving Hung Over to coast in a two-length winner over Mister Dad with International Law (Marcus Miller) closing for third and Crown Monarch (Andy McCarthy) finishing fourth. Bob Stewart trains Hung Over, a colt by Creatine out of the Yankee Glide mare Drunkard's Dream. He's now won seven times from 15 starts and earned $264,694 for owners Bluestone Farms LLC and Lynda Stewart. He paid $7.76 to win. Verlin Yoder also survived on the lead with Yo Tillie as she rolled in a 1:54.2 winner in the two-year-old filly trot. Yo Tillie took control from Stacking Green (Scott Zeron) past a :27.3 first quarter and motored on an uncontested lead to a :56.4 half and 1:25.2 three-quarters. Voguish (Yannick Gingras), the 6-5 favourite, attempted to make inroads first over but folded turning for home as Yo Tillie gathered her speed and set down for the line. Aperfect Annie (Todd McCarthy) uncoiled a wicked rally down the center of the track late, prompting Yoder to give Yo Tillie a few taps of the whip to keep her to task and to hold on by a half length at the beam. Stacking Green took third and Sound Judgement (Jim Oscarsson) finished fourth. Yo Tillie, a daughter of Tactical Landing out of the Triumphant Caviar mare Consolidator, races for owner/trainer Verlin Yoder. She's now unbeaten from four starts and has banked $129,451. Yo Tillie paid $6.58 to win. Chase H Hanover (Todd McCarthy) rolled down the road in the $82,192 Open Handicap Pace, going insurmountable speed in progress to a 6-1/2 length win in 1:49 and earn millionaire status. McCarthy slid to the lead with the Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee past a :26 first quarter and chopped a :54 half an 1:21.1 three-quarters to win over Western Era (Marcus Miller) and pocket-chaser For Once Inmy Life (Andy McCarthy). Little Rocket Man (John DeLong) came from near last to finish fifth while Admiral Hill (Yannick Gingras) took back from his outside post, but settled for seventh after a trip mired in traffic. Chase H Hanover, a six-year-old gelding by Captaintreacherous out of Calgary Hanover, races for owners Odds On Racing and Carl Howard. Burke led all trainers on Sunday's card. Along with his hat trick in the KYSS finals, Burke won in the opener with Kimpanzee (Yannick Gingras) in 1:56.3 to make it four wins on the day. Live harness racing resumes at Oak Grove on Monday, July 15 with a first-race post time at 3 p.m. (EDT). Monday's card will feature a Late Pick 4 carryover, starting in Race 9, of $2,066.07 and a Super High-5 carryover, in Race 12, of $400.80. (With files from Oak Grove) A blind hiker and his guide dog were rescued from an Oregon trail on Monday after being stranded for days due to heat exhaustion, the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest said Wednesday. The 55-year-old hiker and his guide dog began their hike with a friend in the Rogue Wilderness area on Wednesday, July 3, and on Saturday, July 6, he began to show signs of heat exhaustion while on the Rogue River Trail. Due to the lack of cell service in the area the hiker's friend left him food and water and continued on toward Gold Beach to call 911, which took a day. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office said two deputies set out early Monday morning to hike six miles to reach the stranded hiker. "They found him alive and well but too exhausted to hike themselves out," the sheriff's office said. "Due to the remoteness of the location, an extraction plan was needed." The sheriff's office, Oregon Department of Emergency Management, and the federal Bureau of Land Management developed a rescue plan, and called in the Coast Guard to assist with a helicopter crew. "The man could not walk and the terrain was too rough for a wheel litter," the Coast Guard said. A video shared by the Coast Guard shows the helicopter crew dropping a rescue swimmer to prepare the man and his guide dog, who were then hoisted to safety. They were transported to awaiting EMS at Grants Pass Airport. The helicopter could not fit the deputies, however, and they "were forced to hike back out in the over 100-degree weather while encountering several rattlesnakes along the trail," the sheriff's office said. "As a side note, the hiker was very experienced, but at the end of the day, the extreme heat got to him," the sheriff's office said. "In fact, it was so hot, that his expensive hiking boots were slowly disintegrating as he was hiking along the hot rocks. Please make sure you are prepared when heading out to explore our beautiful wilderness areas!" -With reporting from TMX. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A new joint study by Fraunhofer ISI and Amazon provides critical insights as to the optimal number and location of public fast-charging stations required to enable the widespread electrification of long-haul trucking in Europe. Using traffic flow estimates for 2030, the study built on Amazon's open-source CHALET tool to analyze 20,000 potential public truck charging locations along the major European highways and a large data set of 1.6 million truck trip combinations. The results suggest that just 1,000 charging stations equipped with Megawatt Charging System (MCS) outlets could enable about 91% of expected long-haul trucking traffic. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport in general and from heavy-duty trucks in particular, it is mandatory for all EU Member States to deploy infrastructure for alternative fuels in the coming years. This includes the deployment of public fast-charging infrastructure for trucks along motorways. An EU regulation has already set concrete minimum targets regarding public truck charging infrastructure for all EU Member States: for instance, Germany must have a total of approximately 300 locations by 2030 and more than 2,000 truck charging locations are required across the whole of Europe by 2030. However, the limited range of battery-electric trucks compared to today's diesel vehicles, raises the question of how many fast-charging locations are needed in Europe. To date, little is known about optimal truck charging locations for long-haul trucking in Europe. To shed some light on this, the study suggests optimized truck charging networks consisting of publicly accessible locations across the continent. Based on European truck traffic flow estimates for 2030, and actual truck stop locations, a long-term minimum charging network was created that covers the expected charging demand. The study also considered local capacity constraints and calculated an optimized step-by-step network expansion along the routes with the highest demand in Europe. About 1,000 charging locations could cover almost all truck traffic in Europe The key findings show that for an electrification target of 15% battery electric truck (BET) share in long-haul, 1,000 optimally selected charging locations could enable 91% of truck traffic while 500 locations would allow for about half of truck flows. This result is particularly surprising, as the number of suggested locations is smaller than the minimum infrastructure targets required by the European Union. In addition, the authors assumed no depot charging and only 400 km of real-world range which some newly available commercial battery truck models already exceed. In terms of the optimal locations for truck charging hubs in Europe, the study recommends high-traffic routes, with locations concentrated at major intersections and corridors. As the network expands, additional locations would be added to cover less trafficked routes. The need for fewer but higher power stations for fast battery truck transition Dr. Patrick Plotz, Coordinator of the Business Unit Energy Economy at Fraunhofer ISI and author of the study said, "These results show that even fewer locations than required by the European Union would enable almost all European truck traffic. However, the locations that are built will need to secure sufficient grid power, with some sites requiring up to 12 megawatts of grid capacity to support up to 20 MCS outlets. "This highlights the significant energy requirements and grid infrastructure needed to support the electrification of Europe's commercial trucking sector at scale; several European Governments are already actively working on this challenge." Patrick Plotz concludes that a strategically planned network based on megawatt charging could significantly support the adoption of battery electric trucks in Europe: "This research suggests that industry needs to accelerate development and adoption of megawatt charging systems like MCS, as this enables logistics operators who do not have access to depots to effectively electrify their fleets. "Commercialization of MCS can avoid the cost and complexities of securing external real estate and power, which are critical barriers to the total cost of ownership for battery electric trucks." The analysis used Amazon's open-source CHALET tool which was developed to help industry, governments, and local authorities identify optimal locations for electric truck charging infrastructure. It takes into account factors such as traffic flows, vehicle range, and transit times to identify priority locations for eHGV charging points to accelerate the move to sustainable transportation. The open-source code is available on GitHub. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This image shows an aviation version of a smartphone navigation app that makes suggestions for an aircraft to fly an alternate, more efficient route. The new trajectories are based on information available from NASAs Digital Information Platform and processed by the Collaborative Departure Digital Rerouting tool. Credit: NASA Just like your smartphone navigation app can instantly analyze information from many sources to suggest the best route to follow, a NASA-developed resource is now making data available to help the aviation industry do the same thing. To assist air traffic managers in keeping airplanes moving efficiently through the skies, information about weather, potential delays, and more is being gathered and processed to support decision making tools for a variety of aviation applications. Appropriately named the Digital Information Platform (DIP), this living database hosts key data gathered by flight participants such as airlines or drone operators. It will help power additional tools that, among other benefits, can save you travel time. "Through DIP we're also demonstrating how to deliver digital services for aviation users via a modern cloud-based, service-oriented architecture," said Swati Saxena, DIP project manager at NASA's Ames Research Center in California. The intent is not to compete with others. Instead, the hope is that industry will see DIP as a reference they can use in developing and implementing their own platforms and digital services. "Ultimately, the aviation industrythe Federal Aviation Administration, commercial airlines, flight operators, and even the flying publicwill benefit from what we develop," Saxena said. The platform and digital services have even more benefits than just saving some time on a journey. For example, NASA recently collaborated with airlines to demonstrate a traffic management tool that improved traffic flow at select airports, saving thousands of pounds of jet fuel and significantly reducing carbon emissions. Now, much of the data gathered in collaboration with airlines and integrated on the platform is publicly available. Users who qualify can create a guest account and access DIP data at a new website created by the project. It's all part of NASA's vision for 21st century aviation involving revolutionary next-generation future airspace and safety tools. Learn about NASAs Collaborative Digital Departure Rerouting tool and how it uses information from the Digital Information Platform to provide airlines with routing options similar to how drivers navigate using cellphone apps. Credit: NASA Managing future air traffic During the 2030s and beyond, the skies above the United States are expected to become much busier. Facing this rising demand, the current National Airspace Systemthe network of U.S. aviation infrastructure including airports, air navigation facilities, and communicationswill be challenged to keep up. DIP represents a key piece of solving that challenge. NASA's vision for future airspace and safety involves new technology to create a highly automated, safe, and scalable environment. What this vision looks like is a flight environment where many types of vehicles and their pilots, as well as air traffic managers, use state-of-the-art automated tools and systems that provide highly detailed and curated information. These tools leverage new capabilities like machine learning and artificial intelligence to streamline efficiency and handle the increase in traffic expected in the coming decades. Digital services ecosystem in action To begin implementing this new vision, our aeronautical innovators are evaluating their platform, DIP, and services at several airports in Texas. This initial stage is a building block for larger such demonstrations in the future. "These digital services are being used in the live operational environment by our airline partners to improve efficiency of the current airspace operations," Saxena said. "The tools are currently in use in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and will be deployed in the Houston airspace in 2025." The results from these digital tools are already making a difference. Proven air traffic results During 2022, a NASA machine learning-based tool named Collaborative Digital Departure Rerouting, designed to improve the flow of air traffic and prevent flight delays, saved more than 24,000 lbs (10,886 kg) of fuel by streamlining air traffic in the Dallas area. If such tools were used across the entire country, the improvements made in efficiency, safety, and sustainability would make a notable difference to the flying public and industry. "Continued agreements with airlines and the aviation industry led to the creation and expansion of this partnership ecosystem," Saxena said. "There have been benefits across the board." DIP was developed under NASA's Airspace Operations and Safety Program. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An OpenAI logo is shown on May 29, 2024, in Los Angeles. OpenAI whistleblowers have filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission and asked the agency to investigate whether the company illegally restricted workers from speaking out about the risks of its artificial intelligence technology.Credit: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File OpenAI whistleblowers have filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission and asked the agency to investigate whether the ChatGPT maker illegally restricted workers from speaking out about the risks of its artificial intelligence technology. A letter to SEC Chair Gary Gensler representing "one or more anonymous and confidential" whistleblowers asks the agency to swiftly and aggressively enforce its rules against non-disclosure agreements that discourage employees or investors from raising concerns with regulators. The July 1 letter references a formal whistleblower complaint recently filed with the SEC. The Washington Post was the first to report on the letter. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley's office shared a copy of the letter with The Associated Press, noting it was provided to his office by legally protected whistleblowers. "OpenAI's policies and practices appear to cast a chilling effect on whistleblowers' right to speak up and receive due compensation for their protected disclosures," said Grassley, an Iowa Republican, in a written statement. "In order for the federal government to stay one step ahead of artificial intelligence, OpenAI's nondisclosure agreements must change." OpenAI and the SEC didn't immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Scientists have unveiled a sci-fi-inspired spacesuit that can recycle urine into clean drinking water while astronauts are in space. The prototype is modeled after the "stillsuits" from the sci-fi film "Dune" and collects and purifies urine and then returns it to the astronaut through a drinking tube. It's intended to allow astronauts to perform lengthy spacewalks on upcoming missions. Its creators hope it could be implemented before the end of the decade in NASA's Artemis program, which is focused on learning how to live and work for extended periods of time on another planned. The design includes a "vacuum-based external catheter" leading to a an "osmosis unit" that will provide a "continuous supply of potable water," Cornell University researcher and co-designer Sofia Etlin told the Guardian, While urine and sweat are recycled on the International Space Station (ISS), Etlin said a similar system is necessary for when astronauts are outside of the station. "Astronauts currently have only one liter of water available in their in-suit drink bags," she explained. "This is insufficient for the planned longer-lasting lunar spacewalks, which can last 10 hours and even up to 24 hours in an emergency." The current suits are also known to leak, be uncomfortable and be unhygienic. That causes some astronauts to limit food and drink before spacewalks. "If you're giving NASA billions of dollars, you'd think they wouldn't keep the diaper," Etlin quipped. The stillsuit system includes a silicone cup, shaped differently to fit around the genitalia for men and women, and is contained within a multi-layered flexible fabric undergarment. The cup connects to a moisture-activated vacuum pump that starts automatically when the astronaut urinates. The collected urine is then filtered and recycled into water with 87% efficiency using an osmosis system and a pump to separate water from salt. Collecting and purifying 500 ml of urine takes only five minutes. The team intends to recruit 100 volunteers in New York in the fall to test the system for comfort and functionality, the Guardian reported. NASA is preparing the Artemis III mission for 2026 to land a crew on the lunar south pole and aims to launch crewed missions to Mars by the 2030s. As many Republicans come up reasons other than the supply of guns in America helping to fuel violence like the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is pointing to another motivaton: Critical race theory. The conservative senator speculated that the attempt on Trump's life Saturday by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks was somehow sparked by "identity politics" like critical race theory, but failed to clearly explain himself. Critical race theory, which cannot be mentioned in many schools due to Republican policies, recognizes the continuing powerful social and economic impact of slavery on American history. Shooter Crooks was white, as is Trump. Identity politics is indentifying with a certain group of people, like Blacks identifying with other Black people Trump obviously currently indentifies with conservative Repubicans. Investigators don't yet know enough about Crooks to speculate about his sympathies. "The greatest threat to our nation right now is we're horribly divided," Johnson explained Sunday to CNN news host Jake Tapper. "In general," he claimed, "we share the same goals, so why are we so divided?" There "are political figures, there are political groups. I would argue that's what identity politics is about, that's what critical race theory is about, so there are people who are purposely trying to divide us for political advantage," Johnson added, using his own politically divisive point to make his case. Sen. Ron Johnson on CNN reacts to Trump's shooting by calling out identity politics and critical race theory pic.twitter.com/963k5OxzC0 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 14, 2024 Tapper took a sobering view of most of America in his monologue on his "State of the Union" program. "I keep hearing from politicians this morning that political violence has no place in America," Tapper began. "We are living in an era of political violence," he insisted. Tapper pointed to the shootings of former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords in 2011 and Louisiana Republican Rep. Steve Scalise in 2017, and the murder of countereprotester Heather Heyer in the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, along with several other instances of violence. "There is something troubling the American soul right now," he added. "Too many Americans see those with whom they disagree as the enemy to be shunned, to be banned, to be ostracized, to be threatened with violence or even to have that violence carried out," he added. He called for settling political differences by "ballots and votes, not by bullets." Several Republican lawmakers on Sunday blamed what they characterized as harsh rhetoric by President Joe Biden about Trump, calling him a danger to democracy, as the reason behind the assassination attempt. But across the aisle, Trump himself is no stranger to violent rhetoric. He told his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, to "fight like hell" the day they stormed the Capitol, hung a noose outside, and chanted "hang Mike Pence" because the then-vice president refused to overturn the election in Trump's favor. House Republicans are demanding to know how a gunman was able to wound former President Donald Trump during a deadly sniper attack at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Oversight Committee chairperson James Comer called for a Secret Service briefing on the incident, he said in a statement posted on the committee's website. The Kentucky Republican also invited Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to voluntarily appear at a July 22 hearing. "There are many questions and Americans demand answers," Comer said. Rep. Mark Green, who chairs the Homeland Security Committee, said in a Sunday letter to committee Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that Trump might have been killed if the trajectory of the bullet that hit him had been "slightly different." "The seriousness of this security failure and chilling moment in our nation's history cannot be understated," wrote the Tennessee Republican. House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed the GOP-controlled chamber would conduct a "full investigation" and have Cheatle and other officials from the Department of Homeland Security and FBI testify "before our committees ASAP." The Secret Service didn't have a speaker at a late-night Saturday news conference at which FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said it was "surprising" that the gunman was able to fire at the stage before being killed by the Secret Service, according to the Associated Press. The Secret Service didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday, but a spokesperson denied reports that it turned down Trump campaign requests for additional security at the rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds. "This is absolutely false. In fact, we added protective resources & technology & capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo," Anthony Guglielmi wrote on social media Sunday morning. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, opened fire with an AR-style semiautomatic rifle from a rooftop less than 165 feet from where Trump was speaking around 6:15 p.m. Saturday. Trump was shot through his upper right ear, and rally spectator Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed, with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro saying Sunday that he "died a hero" while shielding his family from the gunfire. Two other men were critically wounded and remained hospitalized. Two unidentified law enforcement officials told AP that members of the Secret Service's counter-sniper team and counterassault team were at Trump's rally. The heavily armed counterassault team, code-named "Hawkeye," is responsible for neutralizing threats so other agents can shield and remove the person or people being protected. The counter-sniper team, code-named "Hercules," uses powerful binoculars and sniper rifles to do the same thing from a distance. The FBI said Saturday night that it was leading the law enforcement probe into Saturday's shooting and Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department "will bring every available resource to bear to this investigation." Thailand eliminates over 200 betting websites in Euro 2024 tournament By Vietnam News Agency Mon, July 15, 2024 | 6:00 pm GMT+7 Law enforcement agencies of Thailand have shut down 224 betting websites linked to illicit gambling activities in the Euro 2024 football tournament, according to their announcement. As many as 3,863 suspects are arrested in connection with various gambling-related offences. Photo courtesy of thethaiger.com. The announcement follows the conclusion of Euro 2024, which took place from June 14 to July 14, revealing a crackdown that targeted both on-site and online gambling, disrupting over 2.4 billion baht ($66.3 million) in illegal gambling flows. Starting from the tournaments onset, a special police task force was deployed to curb the spike in gambling expected with this large-scale sporting event which is held every four years. Assistant National Police Chief Akradet Pimolsri detailed that 3,863 suspects were arrested in connection with various gambling-related offences, including operators and participants. Efforts were not limited to digital platforms; raids on physical gambling dens led to 3,017 arrests. Akradet noted that these included 50 bookmakers and 2,944 punters. On the digital front, the crackdown led to 846 further arrests from the shutdown websites, including 145 operators running these illegal gambling hubs. A 37-year-old man was charged with kidnapping and sexual battery after allegedly forcing a teenage girl out of a San Francisco subway station and into a car. The victim was heading into the Powell Street station downtown when she was abducted, Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Chief Kevin Franklin told CKPIX-TV. Police were called about the incident around 8 p.m. Tuesday and it was confirmed by witnesses and surveillance video, according to a BART statement. The girl's parents also reported her missing a short time later. San Francisco police arrested Jamall Ali Blue around 3 a.m. Wednesday and the teen was also found early Wednesday and turned over to juvenile authorities. The girl and Blue "likely knew each other," and she isn't believed to have been targeted at random, Franklin told KPIX. Blue waived arraignment on Friday and was being held without bail after prosecutors said they sought to have him locked up pending trial as a risk to public safety. He's due in court again on July 25. The girl's kidnapping marked the second serious incident at the Powell Street station in as many weeks, according to the SFGate website. It followed the fatal shoving of a 74-year-old woman who hit her head on a train and fell onto the platform on July 1, SFGate reported at the time. Trevor Belmont, aka Hoak Taing, 49, was charged with murder and inflicting injury on an elder or dependent adult in that case. He's being held without bail in a jail ward at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals, through its Chryso subsidiary, has completed the acquisition of WinChem Middle East Chemical Industries, a manufacturer and supplier of concrete admixtures serving the construction industry in the UAE. A unit of global sustainable construction leader, the Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals offers cement additives, concrete admixtures and specialty building materials, through the combined activities of Chryso and GCP. Its recent technologies for sustainable construction help reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint of cements and concrete, and foster the circular economy. Established in 2014, WinChem offers a broad portfolio of products and services for the ready-mix and precast concrete industries. The company currently employs 17 people. It has a plant located in Umm Al Quwain. and a sales office in Dubai. WinChem's products will complement those of the Chryso and Weber brands, strongly recognized in the UAE. This will also be an excellent opportunity to accelerate the development of Chryso technologies such as new-generation superplasticizers, decorative ranges, and screed solutions in the local market. At a time when the transition to sustainability is becoming a major challenge in the construction sector, WinChem will benefit from all Chryso's expertise, innovation, and R&D capabilities to support its customers in the development of low-carbon materials, said the company. Together with Chryso, Weber and WinChem, Saint-Gobain will accelerate its growth in the UAE by enriching its range of solutions for light and sustainable construction, it added. Leveraging its global manufacturing presence, Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals serves its customers through local sites in 41 countries, employing over 3,000 people.-TradeArabia News Service The construction industry in the GCC, which hosts the worlds largest 3D-printed villa, is poised to witness a transformation with the increasing use of 3D printing. This technology unlocks potential for design innovation, efficiency and sustainability, a top official of 3DXB Group tells Gulf Construction. 3D construction printing technology will fundamentally transform the building industry in the Arabian Gulf region within the next five to 10 years, according to Badar Rashid AlBlooshi, Chairman of 3DXB Group, a leading innovator in 3D printing construction solutions. Dubais ambitious target of having 25 per cent of new buildings 3D printed by 2030, along with similar initiatives in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, underscores this transformative potential, AlBlooshi says in an exclusive interview with Gulf Constructions Bina Goveas. 3D printing offers a compelling array of benefits that align perfectly with the regions aspirations for innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. Construction costs and times plummet with the use of this technology, which also dramatically reduces reliance on concrete, a major carbon emitter, and allows for the integration of sustainable materials, slashing the carbon footprint by 30 per cent, AlBlooshi points out. The technology also unlocks new avenues for design innovation. It also provides rapid, cost-effective solutions for tackling housing shortages and assisting in disaster relief efforts. 3D printing also automates elements of construction, reducing the need for manual labour and improving safety on job sites. The global 3D construction printing market is expected to balloon, he states. We believe that with the right support from concerned parties, the Arabian Gulf can become a global leader in 3D printing construction, AlBlooshi remarks. 3DXB Group is pushing the boundaries of this transformative technology in the Arabian Gulf region. One of its most impressive achievements is the construction of the worlds largest 3D-printed villa in Dubai. The villas printing time of just 180 hours highlights the incredible speed and efficiency this technology offers, achieving a 60 per cent reduction compared to traditional methods, he states. The companys commitment to innovation is further solidified by its current project in the Fujairah Free Zone. Here, it is constructing 12 villas and an office building a project poised to become the worlds largest 3D-printed structure upon completion. Additionally, AlBlooshi points out that 3DXB Group has pioneered projects with inclined structures exceeding 6 m in height. Looking ahead, 3DXB Group is taking a bold step towards self-sufficiency by constructing its own 3D printers in a new Dubai factory, a move which will not only enhance its production capabilities but also fuel further technological advancements in the field. Beyond construction, 3DXB Group recognises the importance of making this technology accessible to a wider audience. By offering a range of products, including 3D printable materials and printers, it is breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive future for 3D printing construction. Sustainability is also a core focus for 3DXB Group. By developing concrete mixes with lower cement content, it is significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Its 3D printing processes are also designed with sustainability in mind, minimising waste and energy consumption throughout the construction process. Reem Finance has signed an agreement with Appro Onboarding Solutions to implement Appro's state-of-the-art onboarding journey as a Software as a Service (SaaS). The collaboration aims to revolutionise the customer onboarding process, ensuring a seamless, efficient, and secure experience for Reem Finance's clients. Signed at Reem Finance's headquarters in Abu Dhabi, the agreement marks a significant milestone in the company's digital transformation journey. The signing ceremony was attended by key executives from both sides, including Seraj Faidi, CEO of Reem Finance PJSC, Fadel Mansour, Head of Retail Clients Reem Finance PJSC, Iftekhar Salim, CEO & Co-Founder of Appro Onboarding Solutions FZ LLC, Gurdeep Singh Kohli Board Member Appro Onboarding Solutions FZ LLC & Member SC Ventures, Gautam Jain Member SC Ventures. Key highlights Enhanced Customer Experience: The integration of Appro's onboarding solution will streamline the customer onboarding process, making it faster and more user-friendly. Cutting-Edge Technology: Appros SaaS platform utilises the latest in digital identification and verification technologies, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and enhancing security. Scalability and Flexibility: The SaaS model allows Reem Finance to scale operations efficiently, catering to growing customer demands without compromising on service quality. Operational Efficiency: Automating the onboarding process will significantly reduce the time and resources spent on manual procedures, allowing staff to focus on more strategic tasks. Significant milestone Faidi said: This partnership marks a significant milestone in our digital transformation journey and builds on the momentum from our recently announced collaborations with key industry partners." Salim said: "Our cutting-edge onboarding platform is specifically designed to meet the growing needs of modern financial institutions. We look forward to supporting Reem Finance in achieving its digital transformation goals and enhancing customer satisfaction." The agreement is set to boost Reem Finance's journey towards adopting innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The implementation of Appros onboarding journey is set to commence immediately, with a phased rollout.--TradeArabia News Service Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has announced the unveiling of its new corporate identity as the Fund marks its 53rd anniversary. The new identity embodies the core values of the UAE community, laying emphasis on the efforts to assist beneficiary countries in achieving their development objectives. ADFD said this milestone reflects its ambitious strategic directions, based on global best practices, and aims to support sustainable development ensuring a more prosperous future for the next 50 years and future generations. The new identity integrates key elements aimed at enhancing ADFDs brand recognition, reflecting its expanding scope of operations aligning with the visions of partner governments and national institutions to achieve sustainable development goals. Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, said: The launch of the new corporate identity marks a milestone in the funds achievements over the past 50 years, under the guidance of our leadership and its commitment to international efforts on promoting sustainable development. The identity reflects our ambition and determination to continue our progress, improve the quality of life in communities, and maintain the UAEs position as a global leader in development work. He further emphasised that the corporate identity would serve as a roadmap for the funds future and strengthen ADFDs position as a leading global development institution. It is derived from the UAEs national goals and its development and economic policies, he said. The corporate identity was launched under the theme Shaping the Future Together, aligning with the UAEs strategic vision to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. This slogan highlights the importance of anticipating the future for a sustainable national economy and fostering global prosperity. TradeArabia News Service Freshman Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance will be former President Donald Trump's running mate in the November election against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump announced Monday. "After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio," Trump wrote on his Truth Social website. The move, on the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, came despite Vance's past criticism of Trump as an "idiot" and his assertion that he was a "never Trump guy" during Trump's 2016 campaign statements he disavowed after he launching his Senate campaign in 2021. "I ask folks not to judge me based on what I said in 2016 because I've been very open about the fact that I did say those critical things, and I regret them," he told Fox News at the time. "And I regret being wrong about the guy. I think that he was a good president." Vance also wore Trump's signature outfit of a blue suit, white shirt, and red tie when he showed up to support Trump at the Stormy Daniels "hush money" trial in New York City in May, and he blamed Biden for the deadly sniper attack at a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. "The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination," Vance wrote on social media about two hours after the shooting. Vance, 39, gained fame for his bestselling 2016 memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," which was turned into a 2020 Netflix movie and recounted his family's history of poverty, alcoholism, and abuse, and the decline of his hometown of Middletown, Ohio. It also revealed how Vance's mother struggled with drug addiction, and how he was primarily raised by his grandparents, joining the Marine Corps after graduating high school and serving as a public affairs officer in Iraq. He later graduated from Ohio State University and Yale Law School, where he met his future wife, lawyer Usha Chilikuri, with whom he has three kids. Vance worked as a venture capitalist in San Francisco for Mithril Capital, co-founded by billionaire PayPal founder Peter Thiel, before returning to Ohio, where he founded his own investment firm and became a conservative political commentator. In 2022, he beat Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan for an open Senate seat with the help of more than $10 million in donations from Thiel and a Trump endorsement. The construction industry in the Middle East is witnessing a transformation, thanks to technological advancements. WakeCap, a leader in smart solutions for construction site management, shares key trends shaping the future of construction technology in the region. These innovations enhance safety and efficiency on sites and pave the way for cost savings and improved project execution. Enhanced collaboration through IoT The rise of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is fostering increased collaboration within construction sites. Real-time insights into worker activity and equipment usage are now possible, enabling project managers to make data-driven decisions that enhance site safety, streamline workflows, and optimise project execution. Strategic partnerships are expanding the suite of IoT solutions available, making cutting-edge tools globally accessible. WakeCap is at the forefront of forging these kinds of strategic partnerships to harness the potential of the latest technologies, including collaborations with EarthCam, the leading provider of construction camera solutions based in the US; Novade, a global leader in cloud-based field management software based in Singapore; and OpenSpace, a US-based leader in reality capture and AI-powered analytics; amongst many others. Most recently, WakeCap has acquired Crews by Core, marking one of the first acquisitions of a Silicon Valley tech startup by a Saudi company. Crews by Core is an AI-powered field scheduling platform for the construction industry, and this strategic move allows WakeCap to create the most comprehensive suite of hardware and software tools to increase job site safety, productivity, and profitability. In Saudi Arabia, where the company has its headquarters, WakeCap is contributing its industry expertise to drive opportunities across construction technology. Digital passport systems To streamline site access and maintain up-to-date worker training records, digital passport systems are increasingly being introduced across the region. These digital IDs ensure compliance with safety protocols, offering an efficient and secure method to manage personnel on construction sites. This implementation is particularly crucial in a region where large-scale sites are the norm, such as those in the UAE where there is a big workforce on site, and gigaprojects in Saudi Arabia. Digitisation of toolbox meetings The traditional toolbox meetings, essential for daily briefings on work plans and safety issues, have been digitised. This modern approach reduces wasted time and promotes a consistent and informed approach to maintaining site safety, making the process more efficient and effective. Advanced vehicle tracking Moving beyond traditional speed cameras, new vehicle tracking technologies offer 100% monitoring of vehicles across construction sites. These systems have significantly reduced overspeeding violations by providing continuous tracking rather than point-based speed detection, enhancing overall site safety. AI and Video analytics for smarter monitoring AI-powered analytics and video AI are revolutionising how projects are managed and monitored. These technologies provide enhanced visibility into construction progress and detect safety hazards in real time. Automation of safety monitoring tasks reduces the need for manual inspections, improves site safety, and boosts productivity. Partnerships with companies specialising in AI and video analytics are equipping construction firms with tools for smarter, safer, and more efficient operations. On a mission to continue setting the industry standard for data-powered site visibility, Dr Hassan Albalawi, Founder and CEO of WakeCap, said: These trends showcase the dynamic evolution of construction technology in the Middle East, driven by a commitment to innovation, safety, and efficiency. As the industry continues to adopt these advanced solutions, the future of construction looks brighter and more promising than ever. WakeCap provides real-time insights into worker activity and equipment usage through its smart hard hat solution. These data are designed to help project owners make informed decisions to enhance site safety, streamline workflows, and optimise project execution. To complement its own IoT solutions, WakeCap has been forging strategic partnerships with international firms to expand its suite and make cutting-edge technologies available worldwide accessible to Saudi and beyond.--TradeArabia News Service The construction industry in the Middle East is witnessing a transformation, thanks to technological advancements, according to WakeCap, a leader in smart solutions for construction site management. These innovations enhance safety and efficiency on construction sites and pave the way for cost savings and improved project execution. WakeCap is an IoT-based enterprise solution to monitor workforce activity and collect profit-impacting data on actual hours, progress, and safety. It gathers data through a knob that attaches to a standard hard hat worn by site workers. It is live on 30+ mega sites and giga sites in Saudi Arabia and the US with an average 2,000+ workers per project, and has logged over 70 million worker-hours. According to WakeCap, the key trends shaping the future of construction technology in the region are: *Enhanced collaboration through IoT: The rise of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is fostering increased collaboration within construction sites. Real-time insights into worker activity and equipment usage are now possible, enabling project managers to make data-driven decisions that enhance site safety, streamline workflows, and optimize project execution. Strategic partnerships are expanding the suite of IoT solutions available, making cutting-edge tools globally accessible. WakeCap is at the forefront of forging these kinds of strategic partnerships to harness the potential of the latest technologies, including collaborations with EarthCam, the leading provider of construction camera solutions based in the US; Novade, a global leader in cloud-based field management software based in Singapore; and OpenSpace, a US-based leader in reality capture and AI-powered analytics; amongst many others. Most recently, WakeCap has acquired Crews by Core, marking one of the first acquisitions of a Silicon Valley tech startup by a Saudi company. Crews by Core is an AI-powered field scheduling platform for the construction industry, and this strategic move allows WakeCap to create the most comprehensive suite of hardware and software tools to increase job site safety, productivity, and profitability. In Saudi Arabia, where the company has its headquarters, WakeCap is contributing its industry expertise to drive opportunities across construction technology. *Digital passport systems: To streamline site access and maintain up-to-date worker training records, digital passport systems are increasingly being introduced across the region. These digital IDs ensure compliance with safety protocols, offering an efficient and secure method to manage personnel on construction sites. This implementation is particularly crucial in a region where large-scale sites are the norm, such as those in the UAE where there is a big workforce on site, and the gigaprojects in Saudi Arabia. *Digitization of toolbox meetings: The traditional toolbox meetings, essential for daily briefings on work plans and safety issues, have been digitized. This modern approach reduces wasted time and promotes a consistent and informed approach to maintaining site safety, making the process more efficient and effective. *Advanced vehicle tracking: Moving beyond traditional speed cameras, new vehicle tracking technologies offer 100% monitoring of vehicles across construction sites. These systems have significantly reduced overspeeding violations by providing continuous tracking rather than point-based speed detection, enhancing overall site safety. *AI and Video analytics for smarter monitoring: AI-powered analytics and video AI are revolutionizing how projects are managed and monitored. These technologies provide enhanced visibility into construction progress and detect safety hazards in real time. On a mission to continue setting the industry standard for data-powered site visibility, Dr. Hassan Albalawi, Founder and CEO of WakeCap, said: "These trends showcase the dynamic evolution of construction technology in the Middle East, driven by a commitment to innovation, safety, and efficiency." The automation of safety monitoring tasks, he stated, reduces the need for manual inspections, improves site safety, and boosts productivity. "Partnerships with companies specializing in AI and video analytics are equipping construction firms with tools for smarter, safer, and more efficient operations. As the industry continues to adopt these advanced solutions, the future of construction looks brighter and more promising than ever," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Palm, luxury five-star hotel nestled in the heart of Palm Jumeirah, has appointed new directors for revenue management and gastronomy services, who it said bring a wealth of global experience and expertise to their respective roles, promising to elevate the resorts success and guest experience. In her new role as Director of Revenue Strategy, Elena Blinova will be responsible for developing and implementing innovative revenue management strategies to maximise profitability for the hotel. With nearly two decades of experience, she has demonstrated outstanding proficiency in revenue management, most recently serving as the Cluster Director of Revenue for Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort, Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort, NH Collection Dubai The Palm, and Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat. Moreover, Blinova also gained valuable experience in her roles in hotels in Russia, Slovakia, Croatia, and Germany to name a few. Blinova holds an Economist Diploma from Ural State University in Russia, as well as having completed the CRME certification by Hsmai, Kempinskis Master Trainers Academy and E! Essential Kempinski Training Program. Faustyna Dziewonska joins as the Director of Beverage and Food, bringing extensive expertise from her tenure at notable establishments around the world. Dziewonska has managed operations at Nobu Hotel Warsaw, Four Seasons Hotel Doha, and W Dubai - Al Habtoor City to name a few. Her global experience spans restaurants in acclaimed hotels across Poland, Hungary, Qatar, and Bahrain, where she has demonstrated outstanding leadership and operational skills. She holds an Executive MBA in Global Hospitality Management from Les Roches Global Hospitality Education in Switzerland and a BBA in Hotel Management from Hotelschool The Hague in the Netherlands. In her new role, Dziewonska will oversee all B&F operations at W Dubai The Palm, aiming to bring exceptional dining experience and service standards as well as innovative culinary concepts to enhance the overall guest experience. Blinova and Dziewonska said they were eager to contribute to the propertys continued success. They said they aim to solidify the hotels position as a market leader in the UAE and ensure its continued growth in the competitive GCC landscape. TradeArabia News Service China sees continuous decline in hepatitis B incidence rate Xinhua) 09:12, July 15, 2024 BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- China has seen declining incidence rates of hepatitis B and related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to Chinese health authorities. China has achieved significant progress in increasing the rate of hepatitis B vaccination, containing new hepatitis B infections, and preventing and controlling HCC related to hepatitis B, said Li Bin, deputy head of the National Health Commission, at a conference on the matter on Saturday. Data shows that China's three-dose hepatitis B vaccination rate among newborns has been maintained at over 95 percent and reached the 2030 goal set by the World Health Organization. In 2022, around 367,700 new cases of liver cancer were reported in China, with a standardized incidence rate of approximately 15.03 per 100,000 people, revealing a downward trend when compared to historical data. Zhuang Hui, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has called for continued efforts to improve hepatitis B diagnosis and treatment rates. The key to eliminating hepatitis B and reducing its mortality rate is vaccinating susceptible adults that do not have immunity against the virus and other groups at risk, Zhuang suggested. China still faces challenges as it works toward the goal of eliminating hepatitis B by 2030, Li said, adding that more will be done to promote vaccination and optimize testing strategies. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A fraud investigator with the New York City Department of Homeless Services and a co-conspirator pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing homeless New Yorkers' identities and fraudulently applying for unemployment benefits and keeping the proceeds, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York announced. Olabanji Otufale and Marc Lazarre pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on Monday, as jury selection in their trial was set to begin. They each face a minimum of two years in prison, up to a maximum of 32 years. At the time of the scheme, which began in the fall of 2020, Otufale was a fraud investigator with the New York City Department of Homeless Services. His job was to ensure those applying for homeless services such as housing in shelters were eligible to receive benefits. "The defendants shamefully stole vulnerable homeless victims' personal identifying information for their own personal gain," U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement. "Instead of investigating fraud, as the City of New York trusted Otufale to do, the defendants abused Otufale's position and access to sensitive data to commit fraud. That the defendants face a mandatory prison sentence of two years should serve as a deterrent message to others who think about corruptly stealing identities and taxpayer funds." According to court filings, the defendants conspired to steal identifying information from homeless individuals who provided it when applying for services. Otufale and Lazzare used the information to apply for unemployment insurance benefits in their names without their knowledge or consent, and split the fraudulent benefits they received. "Leveraging his position within the New York City Department of Homeless Services, Olbanji Otufale stole homeless individuals' personal information and enlisted a co-conspirator to use these sensitive details for his own financial benefit. The defendants' actions exemplify the harmful abuses of power the FBI is dedicated to preventing, and we applaud the efforts of our office and the Department of Investigation in bringing about this verdict," said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Curtis. --with reporting by TMX The Ken Hoffman sandwich at Kenny & Ziggy's New York Delicatessen Thursday Feb. 26, 2015. Dave Rossman/For the Chronicle Longtime columnist Ken Hoffman died suddenly Sunday morning. Many Houstonians will remember him for his quirky columns about life in Houston and his fast food reviews. His legacy also includes menu items named after him. In the span of almost 10 years, Hoffman managed to get at least five dishes named after himself at Houston institutions he loved. He worked at the Houston Post before the Houston Chronicle, where he spent 22 years. He continued his career most recently at CultureMap Houston. Here are the food items that pay tribute to Hoffman. Advertisement Article continues below this ad NEW RESTAURANTS: 15 new Houston restaurants and bars to check out now Demeris Bar-B-Q A sign at Demeris Bar-B-Q promotes the Ken Hoffman Hoffy Burger. Ken Hoffman It all started with a burger at Demeris Bar-B-Q. Hoffman said he spent several long nights in the Demeris test kitchen in 2008, where he worked with Yonny Demeris to develop the "Hoffy Burger." The result was a half-pound Angus beef patty, topped with Demeris' secret barbecue sauce, thick-cut bacon, a big slab of cheddar and a crispy deep-fried onion ring on a sweet sourdough bun. Demeris Bar-B-Q is honoring Hoffman by offering the "Hoffy Burger" for half off at $7 this week only. "I'll put this monster up against any burger in Houston," Hoffman wrote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Minute Maid Park The Ken Hoffman New York City Dog named for Houston Chronicle Reporter Ken Hoffman at Minute Maid Park showcasing a sneak peak of the new progressive food choices this baseball season, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston. Michael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle In 2010, Hoffman was asked to help create a New York-style hot dog for Astros games. It was part of a lineup of "extreme hot dogs" sold behind section 154 at Minute Maid Park. It consisted of an all-beef frank with sauerkraut and mustard on a bun. Soon after, he would get the stadium to buy Gulden's Spicy Brown Mustard to ensure his dog was topped with it over other mustard brands. To Hoffman's delight, they named the New York dog after him. "It took more than a year of hard work, constant craving and sleepless nights, but I have finally achieved my greatest journalistic triumph," Hoffman wrote, referring to getting Gulden's Spicy Brown Mustard on his namesake hot dog. Shipley Do-Nuts Glazed cinnamon twist with chocolate frosting at the Shipley's Do-Nuts on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, in Houston. Shipley's named the doughnut after columnist Ken Hoffman. J. Patric Schneider/For the Houston Chronicle Hoffman said he had been experimenting with different flavors and textures alongside Lawrence Shipley III until he figured out the perfect doughnut to put his name on. He decided on a cinnamon-laced twist, dipped in chocolate icing but huge. It's still on the menu today, known as the Hoffy Twist, or chocolate iced cinnamon twist. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Total calories: about a billion. Fat grams: 10 to the 23rd power. Flavor: in the words of Buzz Lightyear, to infinity and beyond," Hoffman wrote in his 2013 column. The Chocolate Bar Ken Hoffman is Totally Nuts ice cream at the Chocolate Bar. Ken Hoffman/Houston Chronicle Unlike the other creations up to this point, Hoffman didn't have a hand in "Ken Hoffman is Totally Nuts" ice cream from the Chocolate Bar, which has since rebranded to Winfield's Chocolate Bar. It features a milk chocolate ice cream base with warm chunks of milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate candy swirled in, along with almonds, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts and macadamias. "To celebrate, I ate four scoops last week. I almost had to stop for a nap halfway home," Hoffman wrote in his 2014 column. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kenny & Ziggy's Owner Ziggy Gruber makes the Ken Hoffman sandwich at Kenny & Ziggy's New York Delicatessen Thursday Feb. 26, 2015.The sandwich is chicken salad on toast with a lot of bacon. Dave Rossman/For the Chronicle New York delis have the "Woody Allen," a double-decker with pastrami and corned beef. Houston's Kenny & Ziggy's, has the Ken Hoffman sandwich: chicken salad with lettuce, tomato and lots of bacon. In his 2014 column, Hoffman said he was the first low-level personality to get a sandwich named after them at Kenny & Ziggy's. He chose the sandwich ingredients with great thought. It can still be ordered today off menu. "I wish to be remembered between two slices of bread," Hoffman wrote. Nine years ago, on July 15, 2015, President Barack Obama visited Durant High School. The visit was to announce his administration's effort to bring greater internet access to schools and homes outside metropolitan areas. Obama introduced Connect Home, a program that works through internet providers and other private businesses to bring free or subsidized high-speed internet service to low-income households in 27 communities nationally and the Choctaw Nation. The next day, on July 16, 2015, Obama visited the federal prison in El Reno where he again spoke out against harsh mandatory minimum sentencing for non-violent offenders. See photos from his visit here: Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Society -- Vietnamese people have an average life expectancy of 74.5 years, according to the Ministry of Health. -- An earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale struck Kon Plong District, Kon Tum Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands, around 3:21 pm on Sunday, with the epicenter at a depth of approximately 8.1km and posing no risk of disasters. -- Since the beginning of the year, more than 660 outbreaks of African swine fever have occurred in 44 provinces and cities in Vietnam, leading to the culling of over 42,400 pigs. -- Due to adverse weather conditions, the fast ferry service from Rach Gia City to Nam Du Island was temporarily suspended for two consecutive days, on Saturday and Sunday, leaving approximately 700 tourists stranded on the island in An Son Commune, Kien Hai District, Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. -- Quang Tri General Hospital in the namesake north-central Vietnamese province on Sunday reported a successful surgery to remove a right kidney that had accumulated 4.5 liters of pus over the past three years, resulting in a loss of functions for a female patient from Laos. -- Five Vietnamese childrens groups will engage in exchanges with Chinese children in Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China, as part of a bilateral childrens exchange program scheduled for Monday to Friday. Business -- Seventeen Vietnamese shops on Shopee and TikTok Shop generated over VND12.6 billion (US$495,770) by selling 63,000 plush toys of the trending capybaras giant cavy rodents that are native to South America in the first half of the year, according to Ho Chi Minh City-based e-commerce data analysis firm YouNet ECI. Lifestyle -- Thousands of people and tourists enjoyed a jubilant and impressive night of music and light festivities, marking the conclusion of the 2024 Binh Dinh Essence of Sea and Land Festival in Quy Nhon City, south-central Binh Dinh Province on Sunday night. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Five delegations of Vietnamese children will engage in exchanges with their Chinese peers in Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China, as part of a bilateral childrens exchange program scheduled for Monday to Friday. Nguyen Pham Duy Trang, secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and president of the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organizations Central Council, met with these Vietnamese delegations in Hanoi on Sunday afternoon before they headed for China for the event. The program is aimed at promoting common perceptions between the two Parties, states, and the Party Committees of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China and four northern Vietnamese border provinces, including Cao Bang, Lang Son, Ha Giang, and Quang Ninh. During the program, the Vietnamese delegations are scheduled to participate in various activities, such as exploring intangible cultural heritage at the Guangxi Museum of Nationalities, visiting the Guangxi Puppet Theater, and joining cultural exchanges as well as many fun-filled events with their Chinese peers. Speaking at the meeting, Trang said that both sides had successfully co-held three editions of the Vietnam - China Youth Festival and 22 Vietnam - China peoples friendship meetings in a hybrid format. Such events have reaped fruitful results, consolidating the traditional friendship among the children and people of the two nations, as well as further promoting the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership, Trang elaborated. She also extended congratulations and presented gifts to the Vietnamese delegations, expressing her hope that the participants would prioritize their safety and deliver outstanding performances during the program. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Many foreign visitors showed their interest in dishes from the sea at a fair, part of the 2024 Binh Dinh Essence of Sea and Land Festival, which wrapped up in Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province, south-central Vietnam on Sunday. The festival attracted thousands of tourists and residents. The fair featured more than 100 booths from restaurants, food and One Commune, One Product (OCOP) produce traders, and traditional craft villages in Binh Dinh Province as well as other localities. Both local and foreign visitors enjoyed dishes prepared by chefs from Binh Dinh and various other regions of the country. Typical dishes were banh xeo (Vietnamese sizzling crepes) filled with tuna and seafood, and banh it la gai (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in ramie leaves). Visitors choose 'banh it la gai' (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in ramie leaves). Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre James, a traveler from the UK, said, I love dishes here, especially seafood and grilled food. The taste is delicious. Fantastic. Foreign visitors and children were also excited about local artisans showcasing their flair at folk toy booths. Nguyen Thi An Binh, a resident of Quy Nhon City, said in addition to the dishes, the folk toys thrilled the children. Such toys made her reminisce about her childhood. Chefs prepare a giant 'banh xeo' (Vietnamese sizzling crepe) filled with tuna, a highlight of the festival. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre A Japanese chef makes tuna fillets at the festival. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre Foreign visitors are curious about folk toys at the festival. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre Grilled squid stuffed with meat attracts visitors. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre Eye-catching dishes on display at the festival. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre Many visitors gather at food booths. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre Seafood attracts many visitors. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre A visitor takes photos of colorful folk toys. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre Vo Tan Sy, chairman of the Saigon Bartenders Association, prepares five types of cocktail from Bau Da wine, a famous kind of alcohol in Binh Dinh, to serve visitors. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Owner and chef David Skinner lights a smudge salad in the dinning room at Ishtia, a new restaurant in Kemah. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Houstonians have shown their eagerness to return to what they love: dining out. After Hurricane Beryl blew through town, locals were quick to hit their favorite spots for a meal, especially as many were without electricity at home. There are plenty of new restaurants to try this summer, too plus expansions of popular options such as Duck N Bao (now in Rice Village), El Bolillo (now in the Galleria) and Phat Eatery (now in The Woodlands). Here are some of the most exciting recent openings in Houston. It's a great time to support restaurants as they recover from the hurricane. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Aye Candy The bar at Aye Candy in Spring Branch George Villa Aye Candy is an upscale, speakeasy-esque bar in Spring Branch housed in a former insurance office. Customers enter through a room designed to look like an old-school candy shop. The bar is inspired by underground bars in Mexico City. It offers classic and creative cocktails, some garnished with candy. A host also sells candy. 1849 Bingle; instagram.com/ayecandyhtx Azumi Flounder Crudo at Azumi. Atlas Restaurant Group River Oaks District has a snazzy new offering from Atlas Restaurant Group, the company behind Marmo and Loch Bar. Azumi is a Japanese restaurant that leans into premium bites (think tasting menu options for nigiri and A5 wagyu). The kitchen is led by chef Timur Fazilov, who has worked in Michelin-star restaurants and alongside Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. The rest of the menu highlights an extensive nigiri, sashimi and maki roll selection. Large plate items include wagyu short rib and yakisoba noodles. Choose your seating between the main dining room, sushi bar, cocktail bar, chef's table and two outdoor terraces. 4444 Westheimer; azumirestaurant.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fiji Snacks and Smoothies Fiji Snacks and Smoothies is now open. Courtesy of Fiji Snacks Fiji Snacks and Smoothies is your stop for refreshing summer drinks. It has a menu of fresh fruit smoothies, boba, coffee and tea, along with Mexican-inspired snacks. Inside the tropical pink building, a fruit bar offers fruit cups with chamoy and Tajin. Smoothies come in a wide variety of flavors like coconut, sakura lychee and Nutella. There are also blended coffees, Italian ice, plus mangonadas, strawberrynadas and watermelonadas. Jelly, extra boba and candy can be added to most drinks. 10085 Long Point; instagram.com/fijismoothies Granger's Food and drinks at Grangers Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer The opening of Granger's comes from couple Ryan and Josephine Granger, the minds behind Park Grill, Bodegas Taco Shop and Fia's Pizzeria. This is their most upscale concept. Chef Manny Velasquez is at the helm of the kitchen. Find a "timeless menu for the timeless interior" (their words) with seafood towers, burgers and steaks. The Grangers aim to keep prices affordable, but you'll still find premium options like caviar. 1200 Binz; grangershouston.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad Haywire Pork chop at Haywire Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Dallas-born Haywire runs a Texas-to-Table menu with lots of meat and some Gulf Coast seafood; think elk tacos, a nearly 3-pound tomahawk rib-eye and chicken-fried steak. Haywire is one of the new additions to the Memorial area; this is the largest of Haywire locations. It's also the biggest Houston project from FB Society (Velvet Taco, Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines). The space features lots of metal and wood for that Texas look. 947 Gessner; haywirerestaurant.com Ishtia Trout tembale, smudge salad, tomato sumac sorbet, three sisters, beans, corn and squash with scallops, essence of corn and Tepary beans and chive flower at Ishtia Kirk Sides/Staff photographer David Skinner has turned the page on his Kemah restaurant Eculent for a new project centered around Native American cooking. He's developed a Willy Wonka-esque reputation for his self-taught cooking. A Choctaw tribal member, he's ready to tell his story plate by plate through a 15- to 20-course menu that draws on Indigenous ingredients, techniques and history. Glass jars filled with dried ingredients are on display around the restaurant. Ishtia offers one dinner seating on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's reservation only and starts at $239 per person. 709 Harris, Kemah; ishtia.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad Marigold Club Marigold Club opened in June 2024. Arturo Olmos It's a little bit of London, a little bit of Texas. Marigold Club is the long-awaited restaurant from Goodnight Hospitality, the group behind March and Rosie Cannonball. It transforms the former Goodnight Charlie's honky-tonk in Montrose into a posh setting complete with velvet ceilings and glass chandeliers of marigolds and tulips. Chef-partner Austin Waiter, along with chef Felipe Riccio, created a menu that explores French and American cuisine with touches of London influence. Find an extensive raw bar, Kaluga caviar sandwiches and a crescent duck wellington on the menu. 2531 Kuester; goodnighthospitality.com NoriNori Hand rolls are a featured prominently on NoriNori's menu NoriNori A new restaurant in Asiatown has been renamed NoriNori after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from a New York restaurant accusing it of trademark infringement. It originally opened as Nomi Nori. The restaurant specializes in Japanese-style hand rolls. Chef Cong Nguyen previously worked at Hidden Omakase before opening Nomi Nori as a pop-up last year. 9938 Bellaire, Suite G; instagram.com/norinorihtx Advertisement Article continues below this ad Orange Taco From left, the orange taco, edgy veggie taco, fancy chicken taco and the soba noodle salad at Orange Taco Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Orange Taco opened downtown recently after a stint as a food truck. Find six choices of tacos, including spicy brisket and chicken tenders dressed in ranch. Quesadillas can be filled with brisket or sauteed chicken. Sides include ginger fried rice, miso-glazed carrots and queso. The menu also includes cocktails, such as margaritas and palomas, and for dessert, an orange-flavored cake. 1200 McKinney; orangetaco.co Sunday Social Cocktail at Sunday Social Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Sunday Press recently debuted its cocktail bar, Sunday Social. The coffee shop, known for viral swirl croissants, is closed off with velvet curtains when the clock strikes 5 p.m. Bartenders start shaking drinks and table service begins. Owners Cassie Ghaffar and Sandy Nguyen said it felt like Sunday Press naturally progressed to that point. Along with craft cocktails consulted by Lainey Collum and Lindsay Heffron, a food menu is available until close featuring charcuterie, caviar, flatbreads, truffle sliders and fries. 3315 Ella; sunday-press.com The Sylvie Lamb meatballs at the Sylvie Brian Kennedy The Sylvie is a new European bistro in Ben Berg's arsenal. It is on the first floor of the 47-story Texas Tower, a short walk from Enterprise Plaza, where Berg recently opened BB Lemon and acquired Real Agave downtown. In a spherical space, the bistro serves French and European-inspired dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It caters to both those on the go and those wanting to sit in the glossy restaurant space. A full-service coffee bar has an array of caffeinated drinks; lunch includes salads and pizza. Like other Berg restaurants, the dinner menu features protein-forward entrees, such as lamb meatballs and honey-roasted chicken breast. 845 Texas; thesylviehtx.com Tacos Dona Lena Birria street tacos are one of the most popular taco choices at Tacos Dona Lena, which just opened its newest location near the Heights in the Timbergrove area. Greg Morago Tacos Dona Lena opened its highly anticipated second Houston location in the Timbergrove area. It has the same colorful chairs, papel picado and pinatas from the first location, where it became popular for birria tacos. Expect a wide variety of meats (barbacoa, beef tongue, chorizo, al pastor, chicken tinga, pork steak) in various vessels taco, gordita, quesadilla, torta, sope, machete, tostada or chanclaso. The new location is also serving frozen margaritas. 1805 W. 18th; donalenatacos.com Toca Madera The Bird's Nest at the front entrance of Toca Madera Connie Anderson/Connie Anderson Photography Toca Madera, a Mexican steakhouse with exotic flair and a knack for drawing celebrity customers, made its Houston debut nearby other glitzy restaurants along Allen Parkway. This is the fourth Toca Madera from hospitality group Noble 33; Taylor Swift and boyfriend Travis Kelce dined at the Vegas outpost recently. The Houston space is equipped with two full-service bars, a lounge, a private member's club and a private dining room. Bold architectural choices include an art piece meant to emulate a bird's nest. Servers present flaming drinks; dancers throw flames; and a DJ holds court from a booth made from quartzite. Executive chef Christian Brennen is at the helm of the kitchen here. There's a strong focus toward premium Australian and Japanese beef, like the Toca Steak that can be ordered wagyu, Kobe or Prime, and the "Tomahawk and Bone Marrow," served tableside with flames and floating over salsa verde. 1755 Allen Parkway, Suite 101; tocamadera.com Turner's Cut Seasonal fish at Turner's Cut Brian Kennedy Turner's Cut is the ultra-luxury version of Berg Hospitality's original Turner's restaurant. Luxury details can be spotted everywhere at the Autry Park restaurant that takes on a Gilded Age theme. Expect white-glove service, gold Venetian glass bricks, bathrooms featuring champagne and whiskey. True to its steakhouse roots, find pricey cuts of beef, dry-aged rib-eyes and bone-in prime rib on the menu. Six- and nine-course tasting menus are also available at $195 and $275, respectively. 811 Buffalo Park; turnerscut.com Vuji Cafe A yuzu century egg sando on Texas toast at Vuji Cafe. Courtesy of Vuji Cafe With their creativity and deftness, children in Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City turned waste into impressive costumes with an effort to spread their message of environmental protection. These outfits made out of trash were showcased at the sixth Green Living Day event at Hoang Van Thu Park in the district on Sunday. The event, centered around I Love My City - A Green City, was aimed at raising awareness of environmental protection among children, while encouraging them to actively engage in multiple environmental protection activities to beautify their living and working places as well as public venues, said an official. Within the framework of the event, a fashion contest highlighted attire made out of plastic bags, empty bottles, paper, newspapers, and bottle caps by children in the district. A girl dons 'ao dai' (Vietnamese traditional costume) bearing the Environment Is Life message. Photo: Supplied Children in Tan Dinh District, Ho Chi Minh City bring an outfit made out of old newspapers to a fashion contest. Photo: Supplied Children transform old paper and nylon into a dress. Photo: Supplied Splendid gowns made out of trash by children in Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Supplied Two girls wear outfits made out of scraps. Photo: Supplied As many as 33 prizes were awarded to the most impressive outfits, while two accolades went to stunning pictures about environmental protection, with a total value of VND9.8 million (US$386). In addition to the fashion contest, the organizer hosted a variety of cultural programs for the children in the district, including visits to a reading culture space and a photo exhibition. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! TV and radio voice over announcer Ron E. Sparks, has died aged 72, following a battle with cancer. Radio Info reports he first made a name for himself in the 70s as Ron E Sparx on Sydneys 2SM. The E didnt stand for anything and was a suggestion apparently from his program director Rod Muir that stuck. He enjoyed a long radio career across 2SM, 2UW, 2Day FM, Triple M, WSFM and as the voice of the Capital Radio Network station 2CA for three decades. Sparks did voiceover work for shows like Wheel of Fortune and Hot Streak, and as a guest host on Countdown. His official website recalls some of his remarkable stories, like being the first to play AC/DC in America, getting hung up on by David Bowie and hanging out with Muhammad Ali. Former WSFM colleagues, Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller, led the tributes on social media. We are devastated to announce the heartbreaking news of the passing of former WSFM announcer Ron E Sparks, they wrote. Vale. Wendy Harmer had worked with Sparks for 10 years and posted that he was the best. Always lovely, kind, encouraging and that voice! So many memories spent listening to him. A legend of radio broadcasting! Vale. Source: RadioInfo, ABC Instagram By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) -Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas submitted her resignation on Monday in order to take up a new job as the European Union's foreign policy chief, the president's office said. Kallas, 47, has emerged as a strong critic of neighbouring Russia and what she says are its expansionist aims since she became prime minister in early 2021. She has pressed Estonia's allies in NATO and the EU to provide unconditional support for Ukraine in its struggle to push back Moscow's invading forces. Under her leadership, Estonia, a small Baltic republic of 1.4 million people, has become one of the biggest donors of military aid to Ukraine on a per capita basis. Kallas led her liberal Reform party to victory in parliamentary elections in 2019 and 2023 and has fronted the government since 2021. The Reform party has tapped Climate Minister Kristen Michal to become Estonia's next prime minister, pending negotiations to reconfigure the cabinet with its coalition partners, the liberal Estonia 200 and the Social Democrats. Kallas will remain as Estonia's caretaker prime minister until the next government is confirmed by early August, Estonia's public broadcaster ERR said. Her party will elect its new leader on September 8. (Reporting by Andrius Sytas in VilniusEditing by Essi Lehto, Louise Rasmussen, Sharon Singleton and Gareth Jones) TIRANA (Reuters) -Ethnic Greek politician Fredi Beleri left an Albanian jail on Monday to travel to Strasbourg to take the oath as a European Parliament lawmaker but will return to serve his sentence on vote-buying charges. Local media showed Beleri, who won a seat in the EU parliament as a candidate for Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' conservative New Democracy Party, leaving jail in a diplomatic car belonging to the Greek embassy. Beleri was arrested in May 2023 during a mayoral election campaign in his hometown of Himare in Albania, which has an active ethnic Greek community. He subsequently won the vote but was never sworn in while being held in pre-trial detention before being jailed for two years in March this year for election fraud. "I am going to Athens now and tomorrow I will be in Strasburg to take part in the first meeting of the (European) Parliament," Beleri told media at Tirana airport. Beleri was later welcomed by a cheering crowd at the airport in Athens. "My adventure is coming to an end. The fight for democracy, the rule of law and civil liberties continues," he told reporters at the airport before meeting Mitsotakis who said he hoped that Beleri would be freed soon. Beleri's case has strained relations between Albania and Greece, Balkan neighbours whose ties have often soured over cultural and historical differences, as well as the many Albanian immigrants in Greece and the Greek minority in Albania. It remains unclear how Beleri will carry out his role as a European Parliament lawmaker during the remainder of his time in prison, to which he has to return on July 20. Earlier this month he lost an appeal which upheld his conviction on vote-buying from a lower court. Beleri has accused Albanian Prime Minster Edi Rama of orchestrating a plot against him, an accusation repeatedly denied by Rama who says it is a judicial, not political, matter. (Reporting by Florion Goga; Additional reporting by Angeliki Koutantou; writing by Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Ros Russell) BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Hungary on Monday accused the EU Commission of cherry picking after it said it would not send its commissioners to informal meetings organised by the Hungarian EU presidency, effectively downgrading the EU executive body's participation. The move comes after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump last week and earlier made surprise visits to Kyiv, Moscow and Beijing on a self-styled "peace mission", sparking criticism among EU member states. Hungary will hold the rotating EU presidency for six months until Dec. 31. "The EU is an international organisation constituted by its member states. The EU Commission is an institution of the EU," said Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Boka on the social media platform X. "The EU Commission cannot cherry pick institutions and member states it wants to cooperate with. Are all Commission decisions now based on political considerations?" he added. A spokesperson for the European Commission had said earlier the institution would not send specialist commissioners to informal meetings organised by the Hungarian EU presidency. "In light of recent developments marking the start of the Hungarian Presidency, the (EU Commission) President (Ursula von der Leyen) has decided that (the EU Commission) will be represented at senior civil servant level only during informal meetings of the Council", Eric Mamer, spokesman for the European Commission president, said on X. "The College visit to the Presidency will not take place", he added. The decision, which Mamer noted in a separate message to journalists is not limited in time, effectively downgrades the EU Commission's participation as specialist commissioners for the policy area under discussion normally attend EU ministerial meetings. Kinga Gal, EU lawmaker and vice president of Orban's Fidesz party, said the move was part of von der Leyen's election campaign. "We have become used to her using the EU institutions, especially against Hungary, for political blackmail and pressure," she said on X. "This is unacceptable and goes against the very essence of European cooperation." Von der Leyen is trying to secure support from a majority of EU lawmakers in a vote on Thursday to win a second term in her role. Last week, the Swedish government said Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden will not send ministers to government meetings linked to Hungary's EU presidency this month in a protest at Orban's talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Swedish Minister for EU Affairs Jessika Roswall said that the countries would be represented only by civil servants and that additional EU member countries were discussing similar actions. (Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Andrew Gray, Kate Abnett and Sabine Siebold; Editing by Sandra Maler) By Maria Martinez, Holger Hansen and Christian Kraemer BERLIN (Reuters) -The German cabinet plans to approve its draft for the 2025 budget on Wednesday, but there is still a gap of 17 billion euros ($18.55 billion) which needs to be filled, finance ministry sources said on Monday. Germany's coalition government this month clinched a 2025 budget deal that will stick to the country's tight borrowing rules while offering a package to rev up stuttering economic growth and finance a military overhaul to meet NATO targets. The budget for 2025 will include a record 78 billion euros of investments, net borrowing of 43.8 billion euros and a total budget size of 481 billion euros, according to the sources, respecting a constitutionally-enshrined cap on spending, known as the debt brake. The budget for 2025 comes with the mid-term financial planning until 2028, the year when the armed forces special fund to meet NATO's minimum spending goals is due to run out. In 2028, there is a gap of 39 billion euros in the regular budget, with 28 billion euros needed to comply with the NATO target without the special fund, the sources said. According to finance ministry sources, there is a financing gap of 13 billion euros in 2026 and 2027. Finance Minister Christian Lindner said in the presentation of the agreement that it was "by no means" an austerity budget, but focused on certain priorities, including the military, with defence spending above the NATO target of 2% of GDP. Days after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a "Zeitenwende" German for historic turning point - with a 100-billion-euro special fund to bring the military up to speed. From this special fund, there will be 22.0 billion euros more for defence, plus 53.3 billion euros in the regular budget, still less than that sought by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. In an effort to foster growth, the government will offer tax cuts to the value of 23 billion euros, with investments in various areas aimed at cushioning people and companies from a cost of living crisis. Priority will also be given to education, research, science, and families. The budget earmarks 13 billion euros for research and two billion euros for childcare, among other measures. The government also plans to pass a supplementary budget for the current year on Wednesday with 11 billion euros in additional borrowing, making a total of 50.3 billion in net borrowing, the sources said. The structural component of the debt brake allows for a limited deficit spending of 0.35% of gross domestic product. Its cyclical component nevertheless allows for additional borrowing in economic downturns. Because an autumn 2023 forecast of 4.4% growth in 2024 was lowered to 3.0% in the spring, the cyclical component allows extra borrowing for the additional burdens of the current year. ($1 = 0.9166 euros) (Reporting by Maria Martinez, Holger Hansen and Christian Kraemer; editing by Kirsti Knolle and Ros Russell) Russia's Putin has no plans to contact Trump after assassination attempt, says Kremlin Russia's President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump attend a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had not contacted Donald Trump after the assassination attempt on the Republican U.S. presidential candidate over the weekend and had no plans to do so. Asked if security measures around Putin would now be beefed up, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian leader already enjoyed the appropriate level of protection. "Security is already strengthened for obvious reasons, regardless of incidents," Peskov told reporters. "We can only reiterate that the security of the head of state is provided at the appropriate level, everything necessary is being done taking into account the international escalation of tensions in general." The Kremlin said on Sunday it did not believe the U.S. administration was responsible for Saturday's assassination attempt on Trump, but accused it of creating an atmosphere that provoked the attack. Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania after a major security lapse. The attacker was shot dead and law enforcement officials said they had not yet identified a motive. Putin has not yet commented publicly on the matter. Peskov's comments echoed those of some of Trump's Republican allies, who immediately pinned the blame on Biden. "After numerous attempts to remove candidate Trump from the political arena - using first legal tools, the courts, prosecutors, attempts to politically discredit and compromise the candidate - it was obvious to all outside observers that his life was in danger," Peskov said on Sunday. (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Editing by Andrew Osborn) LONDON (Reuters) - British police on Monday charged a man with two counts of murder after human remains were discovered in suitcases at Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge. Yostin Andres Mosquera, 34, was charged with the murder of two men, identified by police as 62-year-old Albert Alfonso and 71-year-old Paul Longworth. The two victims had been in a relationship and lived together in a flat in Shepherd's Bush, west London, where Mosquera had also been staying for a short period of time, the city's Metropolitan Police said. Remains belonging to the men were also found at the west London flat. "I know that this awful incident will cause concern not just among residents in Shepherds Bush but in the wider LGBTQ+ community across London," Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said in a statement. "I hope it will be of some reassurance that whilst enquiries are still ongoing and the investigation is at a relatively early stage, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the two murders," he added. Police also said evidence gathered so far did not suggest a homophobic motive, but the case has been initially categorised as a hate crime - a classification which will be reviewed as more evidence emerges. Police in Bristol, southwest England, received reports late on Wednesday night of a man with a suitcase acting suspiciously on the Clifton bridge. A second suitcase was later found nearby. Mosquera, who police said had travelled from London with the suitcases, was arrested on Saturday in Bristol. He will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court in London later on Monday. (Reporting by Sarah Young and Sachin Ravikumar, Editing by Kylie MacLellan) Gaza: UNSC, UNGA must swing in action to rein in Israel UN Security Council (UNSC), UN General Assembly (UNGA), and all international justice institutions must act swiftly and decisively to compel Israel to cease its frequent, systematic military assaults against shelter centres housing internally displaced people in Gaza Monday July 15, 2024 11:04 PM , Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor Palestinian Territory: UN Security Council (UNSC), UN General Assembly (UNGA), and all international justice institutions must act swiftly and decisively to compel Israel to cease its frequent, systematic military assaults against shelter centres housing internally displaced people in Gaza. In defiance of international law , Israel has turned shelters, including UN facilities into acceptable targets and have served as the backdrop for multiple, willful mass killings in front of the world. Israels frequent attacks and bombings of UN facilities, which have left hundreds of civilians dead or injured, are a blatant manifestation of the international communitys refusal to put an end to the crime of genocide, ongoing for nearly ten consecutive months. This crime is a result of Israels decades-long international impunity, and is evidence of its unrelenting collective punishment of the Palestinian people. This is not Hiroshima, this is Gaza. Don't stop talking about Gaza as if your life depends on it, because their lives depend on it! pic.twitter.com/E3OypykcIB Mohamad Safa (@mhdksafa) July 13, 2024 The most recent of these horrific attacks took place at 2:50 p.m. on Sunday 14 July, when Israeli warplanes attacked the UNRWA-run Abu Oreibat school, which is home to thousands of people who were forcibly displaced to the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip. 15 people were killed, including at least 01 woman, and numerous others had their bodies blown to pieces. 80 people were also injured, mostly women and children. Euro-Med Monitors team has documented hundreds of similar cases in which Israeli aircraft bombed shelter centres housing thousands of forcibly displaced people, killing hundreds inside them, in flagrant violation of international laws, especially those regulating the principles of war. Since the start of Israels genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, UNRWA has documented 456 attacks on its buildings, some of which were targeted more than once. According to UNRWA, 188 of its facilities have been were affected during these attacks. At least 524 displaced people who took refuge in UNRWA shelter centres have been killed, and at least 1,621 others injured, since last October. In addition, there have been hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries in other shelter centres as well as camps for internally displaced persons inside the Israeli-proclaimed humanitarian safe zone to which residents have been forcibly displaced in recent months. In Israels horrific massacre in the area of Al-Mawasi in Khan Yunis on 13 July, Israeli aircraft dropped eight devastating United States bombs on a crowd of tens of thousands of forcibly displaced people. At least 90 individuals were killed, and 300 others were wounded, many of them women and children who lost limbs and/or were paralysed in the attack. Medical teams faced difficulties in treating these victims, as the Gaza Strips health system has collapsed due to the systematic Israeli attacks targeting it since 7 October. Israels attempt to use the justification of targeting military or factional leaders to legitimise crimes that result in the deaths of hundreds of civilians is unacceptable. Whether or not its accusations are verified, Israel is still required to follow the rules of international humanitarian law in all situations, including those involving military objectives. This means adhering to the principles of distinction, proportionality, and military necessity (taking all reasonable precautions to protect civilians), such as selecting the mode of operation and weaponry that will result in the least amount of civilian casualties and damage to civilian objects. Euro-Med Monitor notes that, regardless of how closely one party follows the rules of international humanitarian law, the other party is still legally required to abide by and honour the provisions of the law. Israel systematically and repeatedly violates the principles of distinction, proportionality, and necessity, using bombs and ammunition with enormous destructive power that are imported from other countries, the majority of which are American-made. This makes the US - and any other country that supplies Israel with weapons, partners in the killing , which is occurring at a rate never before seen in the history of modern warfare. In this regard, the UN Security Council should call an emergency session to discuss the consequences of these systematic crimes against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, including those who have been displaced and who sought, or are currently seeking, refuge in camps and shelter centres. The UNSC should also support efforts to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable, particularly since they are being committed in violation of international law and the UN Charter, i.e. against civilians who are protected and civilian objects that are protected. The Security Council and the UN General Assembly must act seriously and swiftly to stop the crime of genocide in the Gaza Strip by adopting effective international resolutions with executive mechanisms and imposing sanctions and deterrent measures against Israel to ensure that it stops its crimes and grave violations in the Strip. Israel and its allies must be pressured to respect international law and the rulings of the International Court of Justice . Based on the aforementioned, all nations are required to fulfil their international obligations by enacting strong sanctions against Israel and severing all other types of political, financial, and military support and cooperation. This includes immediately halting arms transfers to Israel, including export permits and military aid; otherwise, these nations will be held accountable for the crimes that have been committed in the Gaza Strip, including genocide. Additionally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) ought to keep looking into any and all crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip; broaden its investigation into criminal responsibility, in order to hold all perpetrators accountable; issue arrest warrants for those responsible; and acknowledge and address Israels crimes in the Strip, as they are international crimes that fall under the purview of the International Criminal Court and are clearly crimes of genocide . [Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor is a Geneva-based independent organization with regional offices across the MENA region and Europe.] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Sonia Garcia is a trending food reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at sonia.garcia@houstonchronicle.com. A Rio Grande Valley native, she previously was an editor and writer for the Austin digital news startup Austonia after graduating from Texas State University. She enjoys trying new restaurants in Houston, where she lives with her 14-year-old Chihuahua. HA NOI Viet Nam Banking Association has sent a document to the Ministry of Information and Communications with regard to the draft decree on electronic signatures, saying that if they are made compulsory in banking transactions, it might become a cost burden to both users and enterprises. Under the draft decree on e-signatures, detailing several points of the Law on e-Transactions 2023, individuals and enterprises must buy e-signatures from organisations providing e-signature services for online transactions with credit institutions. This will be a cost burden on individuals and enterprises, the association said, adding that they estimate that the cost might amount up to trillions of ong per year for each bank, which is not feasible in the current economic climate. Currently, 80 per cent of Vietnamese adults have bank accounts and more than 95 per cent of banking transactions are handled digitally. Under the draft, major services of credit institutions such as receiving savings, credits and foreign currency transactions all require e-signatures for transactions. The annual fee for purchasing an e-signature is averaging around VN800,000 per year or VN2,500 per signature. The association cited statistics of a State-owned commercial bank that with 12 million customers and 6.5-7 million transactions per day or 500 transactions per second, the certificate authority (CA) services might cost around VN6.6 trillion 21.6 trillion per year (US$260 million 850 million). This will amount to a huge sum for the entire credit system, a heavy cost burden on citizens and enterprises, the association said. The dependence on few CA providers also implies risk, the association said. The association is worried about the information security and the system capacity to ensure smooth operation for huge number of transactions per second. The association said that while it should be necessary that every citizen has an e-signature for public and business transactions, consideration needs to be given for timing, with regard to technological infrastructure and when people can adapt to the new system. At the moment, e-signature should not be made compulsory but optional. VNS HA NOI A working delegation from Singapore on July 12 visited agricultural farms in the Mekong Delta province of Long An to learn about food safety management policies, disease control and agricultural export certification process there. The visit is expected to bring opportunities for local fresh agricultural products to enter the demanding Singaporean market. The delegation, led by Trade Counsellor and Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore Cao Xuan Thang, visited Duong Vu Limited Liability Company, Hai Au Farm which grows and exports seedless lemons, and Ba Huan high-tech poultry farm. The delegation also sought information about manufacturers and businesses with capacities to produce and export poultry, eggs and rice in Long An. Thang said that in December 2023, a delegation from the Singapore Food Authority attended the international rice festival in Hau Giang Province. Immediately after that, in the first quarter of 2024, Viet Nam for the first time became the largest exporter of rice to the Singaporean market and the 5th largest aquatic product exporter to the country. Following that visit, the Singaporean side recognised the need to promote the import of other products from Viet Nam, particularly Vietnamese egg products and meat products. Thang said that during this visit to Viet Nam, the Singaporean side worked with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and visited farms and factories in Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh and Long An provinces. He informed that on this occasion, Singapore's management agencies and experts were quite impressed with the farms they visited, showing that that Viet Nam's management model, production scale and disease control are quite good. However, to meet requirements to export products to Singapore, the authorities of the two sides must continue to work together, Thang added. VNS HA NOI Export revenue of the leather, footwear and handbag sector is predicted to hit US$26-27 billion in 2024 on the back of the positive results seen so far, according to the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO). In the first six months of this year, the sectors exports exceeded $6.5 billion, up 5.7 per cent over the same period last year. LEFASO's Vice President and General Secretary Phan Thi Thanh Xuan said Viet Nam has focused on five major markets, namely the US, the EU, Japan, the Republic of Korea and China. She said that along with maintaining its shares in traditional markets, the sector is working to expand to others, especially those with a free trade agreement (FTA) with Viet Nam. The official underlined that with its great capacity, the sector will focus on the mid- and high-end product segments in the time to come. Experts held that Viet Nam has considerable competitive advantages thanks to a wide network of FTAs which covers 60 per cent of the global trade volume, and a large-scale leather and footwear sector with more than 1,000 factories and about 1.5 million workers as well as a contribution of about 8 per cent to the national GDP. The sector has remained attractive to foreign investors thanks to an abundant and low-cost labour force. However, Xuan said that the increasingly strict standards in green and sustainable development as well as traceability in major markets of Vietnamese footwear will make it tough for the sector in the future, requiring exporters to make good preparations in technology and finance to adapt to. She advised leather and footwear firms to make full use of the FTAs, especially the EU-Viet Nam FTA and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), to increase exports. VNS HA NOI Vietnam Airlines has announced its plan to operate direct flights between Ha Noi and Phnom Penh starting October 27. The national flag carrier will run four round-trip flights using Airbus A321 aircraft per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Currently, passengers travelling with the airline from Ha Noi to the Cambodian capital need to transit in Vientiane. The new route will raise its total to five, and weekly flights connecting the two countries to 86. In addition, the carrier has signed memoranda of understanding on cooperation with Cambodia Angkor Air, the Cambodian Tourism Association and the Vietnamese travel company Saigontourist Group. It is set to coordinate with its partners in tourism promotion activities in both Viet Nam and Cambodia and engage in mutual support regarding their services and products. On average, about 450,000 people travel by air between the two countries each year, and the yearly growth rate has been 24 per cent in the past more than three decades. In 2023, one million Vietnamese visited Cambodia, and more 400,000 Cambodians came to Viet Nam. VNS HA NOI The Viet Nam Trade Office in Singapore has advised Vietnamese exporters to carefully study and keep updated on new regulations in Singapore as they become more cautious in trade policy, in order to further exploit this market. A representative from the office said recently the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) revised the Qualified Person (QP) declaration form for export consignments of food products, which has been applicable since July 1. On February 16, Singapores Ministry of Finance (MoF) proposed the Multinational Enterprise (Minimum Tax) Bill and subsidiary legislation called the Multinational Enterprise (Minimum Tax) Regulations 2025. The proposed bill and subsidiary legislation will implement a Qualifying Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax (QDMTT) and the Income Inclusion Rule (IIR) under Pillar Two of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) 2.0 initiative. The ministry gathered public feedback on the proposed legislation from June 10 to July 5. The office also noted a number of changes in tax policies that Singapore is about to apply on domestic and foreign businesses, and reminded Vietnamese State management agencies and companies to regularly follow up to make suitable policy adjustments. According to Cao Xuan Thang, Trade Counsellor and head of Viet Nam Trade Office in Singapore, in the first five months of 2024, Viet Nams exports to Singapore rose 26.09 per cent to nearly 3.29 billion SGD (US$2.44 billion). Strong growth was seen in the export of all the three major groups of products in the Singaporean market, with the group of machinery, equipment, mobile phones, components and spare parts rising 28.87 per cent; the group of reactors, boilers, machine tools and equipment and spare parts of the above machines increasing 38.86 per cent; and glass and glass products 1.74 times. The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers said that Singapore was among the top five leading markets for Vietnamese tra fish in the first five months of this year. The Vietnamese Trade Office in Singapore said that it will continue keeping a close eye on policy and mechanism changes in the country and support Vietnamese firms to connect with Singaporean partners and promote their products in the market, while assisting Singaporean firms in exploring trade and investment opportunities in Viet Nam. VNS PARIS Hydrogen de France (HDF Energy), a French energy company that has been present in Viet Nam since 2022, has inaugurated its first fuel cell factory in Bordeaux of France, which is expected to lay a foundation for the launch of its green hydrogen factories in Viet Nam and other countries in the future. According to Tran Khanh Viet Dung, Director of HDF Vietnam, HDF Energy has implemented many cooperation projects with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Transport, the Vietnam Railway Corporation, and the Vietnam Electricity. The company has also engaged in the development of projects in many provinces such as Kien Giang, Binh Thuan, and Ninh Thuan, which have great potential in developing renewable energy such as offshore and onshore wind power, or solar power, he said, adding that these are renewable energy sources to produce "green" hydrogen to serve the transportation industry. In particular, HDF Energy has worked with the Vietnam Railway Corporation on a scheme to convert nearly 200 old diesel-fueled locomotives that have been operating for decades to using hydrogen, a clean and green energy to contribute to implementing Viet Nam's net-zero emissions strategy by 2050 and the "green" hydrogen energy development strategy approved by the Government from early 2024, said Dung. He expressed his hope that HDF Energy can built its first hydrogen factories in Viet Nam soon. HDF Energy has signed a deal with Petrovietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) to develop power generation projects taking advantage of renewable energy sources using Renewstable technology and hydrogen gas sources using Hypower technology in Viet Nam and the Asia-Pacific. This is a basis for the two sides to research and implement power projects using renewable energy and hydrogen gas and develop this cooperation model for similar projects in the Asia-Pacific region. HDF Energy is also researching and implementing other projects with Viet Nam in the field of electricity and transportation with the support of the Just Energy Transition Partnership and financial institutions, including the French Development Agency (AFD). Mathieu Geze, HDF Energy's Executive Director for Asia, said that his company hopes to accompany Viet Nam during the countrys carbon emission reduction process. Chairman the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Nouvelle Aquitaine Jean-Francois Cledel said that renewable energy is an area that Nouvelle Aquitaine, represented by HDF Energy, has great potential to cooperate with Viet Nam. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has stressed the need to implement specific tasks in order to untangle knots in e-commerce development, according to the Government Office. The office on Friday released the PM's conclusion at a conference reviewing the one-year realisation of the government leaders directions regarding the project on developing resident data, electronic identification and authentication applications to serve national digital transformation in the 2022-25 period, with a vision to 2030 (Project 06), and promoting data connection and sharing in service of e-commerce and tax management. Accordingly, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, the General Director of Vietnam Social Security, the chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities were asked to review the implementation of essential public services, ensuring that they are completed as scheduled. They were also instructed to concentrate resources on accelerating the digitisation of records and the settlement of administrative procedures at all levels. The Ministry of Public Security was assigned to continue providing 13 utilities on VNelD, especially the pilot issuance of criminal record cards in Ha Noi and the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, which will be rolled out nationwide this month. The Ministry of Finance was urged to promote tax management, continue providing e-tax services, and deploy e- invoice solutions for e-commerce activities and livestream sales on digital platforms. The PM assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to coordinate with relevant agencies to study and propose solutions to manage and sustainably develop domestic and cross-border e-commerce platforms as well as supplement regulations relating to stakeholders in e-commerce and livestreaming activities. Meanwhile, localities were urged to promote digital transformation, provide support in terms of human resources and funding to roll out such tax management solutions, while deploying e-invoices to control the retail sector and strengthening the inspections and handling of violating business establishments. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam's economic potential is undeniable and the European business community remains confident in its long-term growth, said Dominik Meichle, Chairman of European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam (EuroCham). The Eurocham on Monday unveiled its Q2 2024 Business Confidence Index (BCI) report, offering a nuanced perspective on the economic landscape for European enterprises in Viet Nam. Despite the country's robust first-half GDP growth, the BCI experienced a marginal decline from 52.8 in Q1 to 51.3 in Q2 2024, underscoring the necessity for ongoing policy adjustments to maintain momentum. The BCI survey, conducted by Decision Lab and distributed to EuroCham's network of 1,400 members, serves as a barometer of sentiment among European businesses operating in Viet Nam. This quarterly assessment provides real-time insights into the evolving business environment of one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic markets. While our survey points to areas for improvement, we believe that by working together to address administrative and regulatory hurdles, we can create a more efficient and attractive business environment that benefits both the European and Vietnamese business communities, he said. Meichle added: This survey, powered by our members' real-world experiences, is the backbone of our advocacy work. It shapes our conversations with Vietnamese officials and EU policymakers. By bringing our members' perspectives to the table, we are identifying key areas for growth and strengthening the Europe-Viet Nam partnership through open dialogue and teamwork. These survey results reveal a nuanced picture of the business landscape," said Thue Quist Thomasen, CEO of Decision Lab. While 68 per cent of respondents report neutral to positive current conditions, there is a slight increase in short-term caution, which needs to be addressed to continue the positive trend from the previous quarters. However, the strong 6.42 per cent GDP growth in the first half of 2024 and nearly 70 per cent expressing long-term optimism indicate robust underlying confidence that may materialise in future readings, he said. Actions needed to continue improving Viet Nam's business climate The survey paints a mixed picture, reflecting both resilience and ongoing challenges. While fewer companies report the economic situation as very poor (decreasing from 8 to 6 per cent), those describing it as not good increased slightly (from 24 to 26 per cent). Despite this, a majority (68 per cent) still maintain a neutral to positive outlook regarding their own business conditions, suggesting an overall sense of stability. Though overall sentiment towards Viet Nam's economic outlook in Q3 2024 is cautiously optimistic (45 per cent), individual businesses are more hesitant about their own prospects for the quarter, with 45 per cent remaining neutral and 23 per cent expressing concerns. This short-term uncertainty is balanced by robust long-term confidence, with nearly 70 per cent of businesses expressing optimism about Viet Nam's economic growth over the next five years. This confidence is further reflected in the fact that a comparable percentage would recommend Viet Nam as an investment destination. While European businesses maintain optimism about Viet Nam's potential, the survey highlights persistent regulatory challenges that hinder growth and investment including ambiguous regulations subject to varying interpretations; burdensome administrative processes; difficulties in obtaining licences, permits, and approvals; challenges with visas and work permits for foreign workers; and duplicate or inconsistent approvals across government levels. The survey reveals a growing commitment to sustainability among European businesses in Viet Nam, with 7 per cent having already achieved carbon neutrality. An impressive 37 per cent have set targets to reach this goal by or before 2050, while an even more ambitious 18 per cent aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. On a positive note, the recent signing of the Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA) decree offers a ray of hope. Swift and successful implementation could address some of these challenges, particularly by improving access to clean energy sources and potentially providing better sustainability incentives. VNS 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. HA NOI Vietnamese airlines operated a total of 129,527 flights, of which 98,106 were on time, accounting for 75.7 per cent in the first half of 2024. Overall, 31,421 flights were delayed, accounting for 24.3 per cent, and 491 flights were cancelled, making up 0.4 per cent. A representative of the Vietnam Aviation Authority indicated that the primary reasons for flight delays were late arrivals of aircraft (60.4 per cent of delays) and airline-related issues (27.7 per cent). Other reasons included weather conditions, air traffic control and airport facilities and services. In recent months, airlines have actively added more aircrafts to address the shortage during the peak summer period of 2024 and the final months of the year. On 8 July, Vietnam Airlines welcomed the addition of an Airbus A320neo to its fleet. This is the first of three Airbus A320neo aircraft that Vietnam Airlines will receive this year. The Airbus A320neo is a modern narrow-body aircraft equipped with next-generation engines that save 16 per cent on fuel, reduce noise by 75 per cent and cut harmful emissions by 50 per cent, compared to previous models. In addition to the three Airbus A320neo aircraft, Vietnam Airlines will also be adding the wide-body Boeing 787-10 to its fleet soon. This aircraft is among the largest in the Boeing 787 family and currently the largest passenger aircraft in Vietnams aviation industry. Similarly, on 10 July 2024, Bamboo Airways signed a contract with IAI Group for the maintenance of CFM56-5B engines worth up to US$36 million. According to Bamboo Airways, the contract stipulates that Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will provide maintenance services for six CFM56-5B engines on Bamboo Airways' A321 aircraft from 2024 to 2025. Moreover, IAI will lease one CFM56-5B engine to Bamboo Airways for two years starting in 2024. The total value of the contract is worth up to US$36 million. VNS HCM CITY The HCM City Department of Tourism has launched a short film series to promote its tourism attractions. A Vibrant Journey showcases its tourism and culinary attractions, cultural heritage, vibrant urban lifestyle, and friendly locals. Speaking at its launch last week, Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the department, said the citys tourism development strategy recognises marketing and publicity as a key measure to boost the industry. The marketing and publicity activities would tap into the perspectives of tourists and seek to enhance their interest in visiting the city, she said. The film series is expected to offer new experience and perspectives into the citys history, culture, food, architecture, arts and tourist attractions, and services, she said. The films feature multiple beauty queens, including the 2022 Miss Intercontinental Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc, first runner-up in the 2012 Miss Vietnam Photogenic Vu Ngoc Hoang Anh, and four from 2022: Miss Universe Vietnam Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau, Miss World Vietnam Huynh Nguyen Mai Phuong, Miss Vietnam Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy, and second runner-up in Miss World Vietnam Nguyen Phuong Nhi. Besides, there are travel bloggers, photographers, key opinion leaders, and actors. The city received 17.1 million domestic visitors and more than 2.6 million foreign visitors in the first six months of this year. Tourism revenues were worth VN92 trillion (US$3.58 billion), up 14 per cent year-on-year. VNS BAC LIEU The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Bac Lieu is planning to organise a souvenir design contest to highlight the unique traits of the province's history, culture and people. Ly Vy Trieu Duong, deputy director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said the winning souvenirs can be used as gifts for tourism promotion events and domestic and international conferences in the province. Duong said the provinces souvenirs are diverse in models and types, but cannot meet the needs of tourists. The contest contributes to enriching the brand identity of the provinces tourism, attracting tourists, and increasing tourist spending, he added. Vietnamese individuals and organisations, especially craft villages, cooperatives and handicraft manufacturers, are encouraged to participate in the contest. Entries can be a product or a group of products featuring craft villages, architecture, historical sites, and cultural heritage imbued with Bac Lieus identity, and tourism sites recognised by the Mekong Delta Tourism Association. Bac Lieu has many craft villages that are famous for salt making, rice paper making and weaving. The salt-making craft was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2021. The province is also known for unique buildings such as the Musician Cao Van Lau Theatre and Memorial Site and the mansion of Cong tu Bac Lieu (a famous playboy of his time). Bac Lieu is known as a cradle of tai tu music, and the birthplace of the guru of cai luong (reformed) Cao Van Laus most famous vong co (nostalgic tune) song Da Co Hoai Lang (Night Drumbeats for the Absent Husband), which was composed in 1919. The memorial site is where Lau was buried in 1976. Meanwhile, the mansion, now Bac Lieu Dude Hotel, was built in 1919 and designed by a French architect with many materials and furniture imported from France. The province also has ten region-recognised tourism sites such as President Ho Chi Minh Memorial House in Vinh Loi District, and Xiem Can Pagoda, Ho Nam Eco-tourism Area, and a man-made beach at Nha Mat Resorts man-made beach in Bac Lieu City. The contest's products must be high quality and durable. They must be made of friendly-environmental materials, easy to pack and transport, and safe for health. Contestants can send their entries to the Bac Lieu Tourism Promotion Centre in Bac Lieu City from August 1 to September 30. The organiser will give one first prize, one second prize, two third prizes, and three consolation prizes for the best designs. The contests award ceremony will be held on the sidelines of the Viet Nam Salt Industry, which will be held in Bac Lieu in December. VNS TOKYO The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan organised the closing ceremony and award presentation for the first-ever "I Love My Mother Tongue" singing contest on July 13. The event, held by the Vietnam Association for Rights Protection of Music Performing Artists (APPA) with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy, Vietnam Union Association in Japan (VUAJ) and Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese, drew significant interest from both the Vietnamese community and Japanese residents with a fondness for Viet Nam. It aimed to promote the preservation of Vietnamese language and culture, as well as enrich the cultural life of Vietnamese people living abroad. This edition in Japan marked the fifth edition of the competition, which was held successfully in various European and Southeast Asian countries. The contest kicked off on May 1. Despite their young age, over 200 contestants participated in the competion, showcasing traditional Vietnamese folk melodies imbued with ethnic identity and expressing their love for their homeland and pride in Vietnamese culture. Following two rounds of competition, the top 17 finalists advanced to the final round on July 13. The sole gold medal went to Nguyen Tran Bao Trinh for her captivating performances of Ly Ngua O (Song about The Black Horse) and Thuong Ca Tieng Viet (The Song of Beloved Vietnamese Language). VNA/VNS JAKARTA JW Marriott Jakarta is hosting a Vietnamese culinary week themed "Vietnamese Flavours in the Indonesian capital from July 12 to 20. The event originates from the idea of the hotels culinary director, who recognised the unique appeal of Vietnamese cuisine. Subsequently, Marriott Asia chose JW Marriott Da Nang to collaborate in organising the first Vietnamese culinary week in Jakarta. Marketing Director of JW Marriott Jakarta Stella Rizki stated the organisation of the event caters to the growing wave of tourists from Jakarta to Vietnam. Vietnamese food is globally renowned and much loved by Indonesians. She said that chefs from JW Marriott Da Nang have brought the authentic flavours of Viet Nam to Jakarta and that support from the Vietnamese Embassy and Vietjet Air has helped make this event possible. Vietnamese chef Nguyen Ngoc Thinh from JW Marriott Da Nang said that the dishes selected are signature and famous ones from all three regions of Viet Nam, with ingredients brought from the country to ensure their authentic taste. VNA/VNS VIENTIANE The recent state visit to Laos by President To Lam is a success and holds great significance to the special relationship between Viet Nam and its Southeast Asian neighbour, a Lao official said on Monday. In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Minister of Technology and Communications and President of the LaosViet Nam Friendship Association, Boviengkham Vongdara spoke highly of the Vietnamese leader's recent visit from July 11-12, made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith. That President Lam chose Laos as the first country to visit as the state leader of Viet Nam demonstrates the special importance the Vietnamese Party, State and people attach to the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, he said. The official noted that Lam and Sisoulith witnessed the signing of seven cooperation documents, of them three intergovernmental and the rest in the economy. They also jointly launched a project on building a resident management and citizen identification system in Laos, which is seen as important to digital transformation in the country. On this occasion, President Lam announced Viet Nam's gift of 20 automobiles manufactured by Vietnamese automaker VinFast to the neighbouring country to serve the ASEAN Summit that it will host as the chair of the bloc this year. Vongdara said the visit helps deepen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples. Therefore, despite the complex regional and global situation, as well as economic and financial difficulties in Laos, Viet Nam will always stand by the side of the Lao people in national defence and development, the official stressed and pledged to work harder to strengthen the relationship and make it thrive. VNS HA NOI With an average elderly person having three chronic diseases and at risk of functional decline, building a strong foundation for healthcare and quality of life for the senior population becomes the responsibility of not only the Government but the entire society. Vietnamese peoples life expectancy now stands at 73.6, but their healthy years are only until 63.2 for men and 70 for women, according to the World Health Organisation. This means that older men and women spend up to 11 years living with illnesses. Statistics also revealed that nearly 46 per cent of the senior population is diagnosed with hypertension, 34 per cent of them have arthritis and many others suffer from cardiovascular diseases, bronchitis, urinary diseases or musculoskeletal disorders. As a result, instead of enjoying their retirement, they have to spend most of their time visiting hospitals. Their health also naturally deteriorates as they age, including their immune system. Therefore, they are more susceptible to acquiring diseases which often turn chronic or recurrent. At 68, Hoang Van Thanh still works as a motorbike taxi driver in Ha Noi, making around VN50,000-100,000 (US$2-4) a day. His wife, 65, also works as an hourly housekeeper for several households in the city, but suffering from low blood pressure means she often has to take days off. They make enough to cover their food expenses and rely on their children for the rest. While more fortunate with their pensions, some elderly have to spend a large portion of their pensions on regular check-ups and medications, meaning they have to tighten their belt on living expenses. Dr Pham Vu Hoang, deputy director general of the General Office for Population and Family Planning (under the Ministry of Health), said that the current healthcare system has not kept pace with the growing needs of the elderly. Most elderly people in the country live with their families and wish to be cared for at home by their children or relatives. However, Viet Nams prevalent family model is shifting from the traditional extended households (families with three or more generations living together) to nuclear families (two generation families including parents and children). Caregivers for the elderly at home are other people in the senior population group, many of them women. Developing elderly-friendly spaces and long-term healthcare services within communities also faces multiple challenges and requires much more effort. Multiple changes have been made to population management and related policies in response to the current context. The sixth National Congress of the 12th Party Central Committee set the goals in its Resolution No 21-NQ/TW to comprehensively and cohesively address issues related to population size, structure, distribution and quality in alignment with socio-economic development. To realise this resolution, the Government has assigned 39 projects and missions to 11 ministries and departments in Resolution No 137/NQ-CP. Many of them are in direct response to an ageing population, such as the Viet Nam Population Strategy to 2030, the Healthcare Programme for the Elderly to 2030, the Project on Taking Advantage of the Golden Population and Adapting to Population Ageing, as well as the National Action Programme for the Elderly. The nationwide health insurance programme, in which senior citizens can enjoy insurance benefits at a discounted premium or free of charge, facilitates their access to healthcare services, especially those living in disadvantaged areas. Elderly people without pensions or who have low incomes are given welfare assistance, while public nursing homes are under development to provide care and accommodation for those without families. Viet Nam is making efforts to improve the quality of life for the elderly, but better results require strong coordination between the Government, social organisations and the community. VNS RAHWAY, N.J. MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., in Rahway, N.J., USA, has recently completed the acquisition of Elanco Animal Health Inc's aqua business. This strategic move bolsters MSD Animal Healths presence in the aquaculture industry, exemplifying a comprehensive commitment to enhancing fish health, welfare and sustainability across aquaculture, conservation and fisheries. With the completion of this acquisition, we are well positioned within the aquaculture industry with a robust and comprehensive portfolio across warm water, cold water, vaccines, anti-parasitic treatments, water supplements and nutrition, said Rick DeLuca, president, MSD Animal Health. We are excited to welcome our new colleagues to MSD Animal Health and we look forward to working together, driven by our common purpose of the Science of Healthier Animals, he said. Following this acquisition, MSD Animal Health now possesses innovative products like CLYNAV, a groundbreaking DNA-based vaccine safeguarding Atlantic salmon from pancreas disease, and IMVIXA - an anti-parasitic treatment for sea lice, alongside water treatment products for warm water production, synergistically complementing MSD Animal Health's prevailing vaccine offerings. The increasing utilisation of medications, vaccines, nutritional supplements and products for aquatic species is motivated by the rising global demand for protein and food safety, ensuring the provision of high-quality food and safeguarding public health. MSD upholds a unified mission of leveraging cutting-edge science to safeguard and enhance lives worldwide. With over a century of pioneering research, the company continues to develop and offer medicines, vaccines and pioneering health solutions for some of the most challenging global diseases. MSD Animal Health, the global animal health entity of MSD under Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is deeply committed to The Science of Healthier Animals. Offering veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments an extensive array of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, health management solutions and services, along with a suite of connected technologies encompassing identification, traceability and monitoring products, MSD Animal Health is dedicated to advancing the health, well-being and performance of animals and their caretakers. The company invests extensively in cutting-edge R&D resources and maintains a modern, global supply chain. Present in over 50 countries, MSD Animal Health's products are accessible in approximately 150 markets worldwide. HA NOI Localities have been urged to ready themselves for any incoming storms, checking out drainage systems for obstructions and clearing water channels to reduce the possibility of urban flooding. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Hoang Hiep, has issued a warning about the complex developments of natural disasters and called for proactive measures from ministries, sectors and localities. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on Monday held a meeting to address the response to the tropical depression and heavy rainfall, chaired by Deputy Minister Hiep. To cope with the upcoming natural disasters, especially heavy rainfall, Hiep urged affected areas to review drainage, mobilise functional forces to check and remove obstructions and clear water channels to reduce urban flooding. Localities affected by the low-pressure system and its remnants must be cautious of flash floods and landslides to minimise their impact on people's lives and production. "Tropical depression may weaken, but coastal areas should be on alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms," said Hiep. He also requested the Directorate of Water Resources to review all irrigation reservoirs and direct localities to timely drain water in case of flooding situations. Addressing future natural disaster scenarios, Hiep highlighted the need for ministries, sectors and localities to closely monitor forecasts and warnings from the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Centre and the actual situation locally to be proactive in response. "Following the severe landslide in Ha Giang Province on July 13, functional agencies should research and increase advisories against nighttime travel, particularly during the rainy season, the deputy minister said. If conditions such as traffic, embankments, and natural disasters are deemed unsafe, authorities should enforce bans on people and vehicles in dangerous areas, especially at night," he added. Furthermore, he urged localities to intensify inspections and prepare contingency plans to ensure the safety of reservoirs and downstream areas, especially small hydropower plants and vulnerable irrigation reservoirs. He also recommended stationing forces to operate and handle situations as they arise. Tropical depression weakening but causing heavy rain Hoang Phuc Lam, Deputy Director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, reported that the tropical depression is moving west-northwest at a speed of about 10km per hour, with wind speeds reaching level six (39-49 km per hour) and gusts up to level eight. By 7am on July 16 the tropical depression is expected to move west-northwest at about 15km per hour and gradually weaken into a low-pressure area. Due to the tropical depression, the northwest part of the centre of the East Sea and the southwest part of the north of the East Sea (including the Hoang Sa Archipelago) and the offshore areas from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai provinces will experience heavy showers and strong thunderstorms, with winds reaching level six and gusts up to level eight, causing rough seas. The offshore areas from Binh inh to Ca Mau provinces, the south of the East Sea including the Truong Sa (Spratlys), will have strong winds reaching level six and gusts up to level eight-nine. The Gulf of Tonkin will have strong winds at level five, occasionally reaching level six, causing rough seas. Until July 17, due to the influence of the tropical depression and its remnants, the Red River Delta and northern coastal areas, Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), and the southern region will receive rainfall ranging from 50-100mm, with isolated places receiving over 200mm. The northern and central Central regions will receive 70-150mm of rainfall, with isolated places receiving over 250mm. There is a risk of flash floods and landslides in the northern mountainous region, the north-central region, and southern Tay Nguyen. As of 6am Monday, the Border Guard Command reported that the Border Guard forces tracked and guided 40,146 boats with 196,741 people to avoid the tropical depression, including 1,037 boats with 6,187 people operating in the sea area from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai provinces and the Hoang Sa area. Thua Thien-Hue Province banned any activity at sea since the afternoon of Sunday. Airports affected by tropical depression The Viet Nam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) is closely monitoring the weather developments due to the tropical depression, which have been impacting several airports and issuing warnings during flight operations. Due to the influence of the tropical depression, many airports across the country were affected by heavy rain and strong thunderstorms, limiting visibility. According to a report from VATM, at around 10-11pm on Sunday, the tropical depression entered the mainland in the area from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Tri provinces then weakened into a low-pressure area (below level six) over central Laos. The tropical depression affected sectors 1, 4, and 5 in the HCM City Flight Information Region (FIR) and sectors 3 and 4 in the Ha Noi FIR, with thunderstorms, rain and other hazardous weather phenomena such as moderate to severe turbulence and aircraft icing. Notably, on Sunday evening, Vinh and ong Hoi airports experienced thunderstorms and strong winds while ong Hoi, Phu Bai, a Nang, and Chu Lai airports on Monday experienced heavy rain and strong thunderstorms, with visibility ranging from 2,000-4,000m. At a Nang Airport, the visibility occasionally dropped to 1,500m in heavy rain and strong thunderstorms, with strong gusts. To prevent and minimise damage caused by the tropical depression, the VATMs Aviation Meteorological Centre has directed its subordinate units to continuously monitor the developments and activities of the tropical depression, analysing various meteorological data such as satellite images, weather radar, and exchanging weather information with meteorological agencies in Japan, China's Hong Kong, the Philippines and Singapore. This information is used to make decisions on forecast content and warnings affecting aviation activities and equipment at airports, providing early plans for safe flight operations and proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of the tropical depression. VNS Ken Hoffman goes through his normal routine of sharing his taste of fast food with Houston in 2002. Kevin Fujii/Houston Chronicle Ken Hoffman, in a Houston Chronicle column photo from 2012. Michael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle Ken Hoffman shows off his prize at the Bank-a-ball booth. He strolled through the carnival midway at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 2009 trying out various games. Steve Campbell/Houston Chronicle Houston Chronicle fast food taster Ken Hoffman pictured in 2002. Kevin Fujii/Houston Chronicle Ken Hoffman, a beloved longtime Houston columnist, died suddenly Sunday morning, according to family and close friends. Hoffman, mostly recently a writer at the online outlet CultureMap, was known for his witty, biting columns on the quirky side of Houston. Previously, he spent 22 years at the Houston Chronicle, writing weekly fast food reviews, a homeless pet feature and, in his own words, silly columns about life in Houston. He worked at the Houston Post before it closed. BEST OF HOFFMAN: Our favorite Ken Hoffman columns Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hoffmans most recent column, published last week, criticized CenterPoint Energy and local and state officials on both sides of the aisle for the extent to which Beryl devastated Houston and the slow response in its aftermath. Hoffman and his family were at their lake house by Lake Conroe this weekend because their residence in West University doesnt have power, his wife Erin Hoffman said. He died unexpectedly while they were there, she said. Hoffman was born and raised in New Jersey. After graduating from Rutgers University, he held various jobs in journalism in Michigan, Florida and Arizona before coming to the Houston Post, Erin Hoffman said. He was a trivia master because he'd covered so many different topics from so many different angles. He was just one of the funniest people ever. He had an amazing sense of adventure, and he was eternally curious, Erin Hoffman said. He loved to travel, and you didn't even have to plan it. You could come in one day and say, Let's go to fill-in-the-blank, and he would jump at it. Melissa Aguilar, the Chronicles senior editor for features, said Hoffman was an everyman who wanted to write about and for everyday people. A foodie who didnt really eat very much, Hoffman insisted they have their one-on-one meetings at Chick-fil-A instead of the office, she said. Hoffman liked fast food because it was what everyone eats, Aguilar said. He didn't like to put himself above other people. He wanted to be the regular guy, and that's what people eat, so that's what he wanted to review, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hoffman adopted Houston after moving here and championed this city like no one I know, said CBS News correspondent Janet Shamlian, who met him when he worked at the Houston Post when they were both in their 20s. Hoffman loved the Astros and the two would often attend games together. Once, at a preview event showcasing the Astros menu for the upcoming season, Hoffman insisted the two go to the concessions stand to get a hot dog proudly surprising her with a new menu item dubbed the Ken Hoffman Dog, Shamlian said. In celebrating Houston, which he felt was underrated, and chewing out those he felt deserved it, Hoffman added humanity and humility to the news, Shamlian said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He could be cutting in his writing, but he was witty, and he always had a slice of heart, she said. Legal analyst Brian Wice, Hoffmans longtime friend, said the two traveled to Europe half a dozen times. Ken was a very special little brother, because we could say anything and do anything to each other, including almost come to blows, Wice said. Wice recalled a time the two traveled to the mountain town Eze in France and missed a bus back up the hill to their hotel. Hoffman insisted on waiting for their nowhere-to-be-seen Uber, but Wice decided to walk the mile-and-a half back. When Hoffman finally joined him at the hotel bar later, he was livid, Wice said. I'm like, this is an episode from his favorite show, Curb Your Enthusiasm. He was as close to Larry David as anybody could imagine. I mean, there were times when his churlishness made Larry David look like he lived with the Amish, Wice said. But, I mean, I loved him. He just, he made me laugh. Now I have Houston in my heart," Hoffman wrote in a column explaining why he left the Chronicle for CultureMap. "I love visiting schools on Career Day. I loved when Katie Couric came here to do a feature on Houston and asked to interview me, of all people. I loved hosting the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree. I look forward to eating everything on a stick at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. One of these days, I'm going to get cowboy boots. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Erin Hoffman said he never did get cowboy boots. He was a vintage sneaker guy. He'll have dozens and dozens of pairs of sneakers. But, no, no cowboy boots. It just didn't happen. BA RIA - VUNG TAU More farmers in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provinces Chau uc District have switched to growing cacao because of its high demand and stable income. The southern province has 625ha of cacao, with Chau uc accounting for nearly 600ha as it has weather and soil suitable for growing the tree. Cacao is identified as the districts key crop but its output now meets only one-third of the demand of processing establishments and companies. Tran inh Tin in Binh Gia Commune turned 5,000sq.m of his 1.5ha old pepper orchard into growing cacao trees on a trial basis last year. After seeing the trees grow well, he switched completely to growing cacao in his orchard in this rainy season. He chose to grow cacao because he saw one of his relatives growing the tree for 20 years and it has stable yield, few diseases, and stable prices and sales, he said. The Chau uc Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development gave him 950 cacao seedlings, he said. As cacao trees have been rooted in the district for about 20 years, the district authorities have been encouraging farmers to establish co-operatives to enhance farming efficiency. The Chau uc Cacao Co-operative was established in 2022, with 11 member households who grew a total of 60ha in the district and Phu My Town. Its membership has increased to 86 members with a total growing area of 80ha. Le Ngoc Can, its director, said the districts cacao products are sought by many domestic and foreign companies for export. We have many orders from our partners but the supply does not meet the demand. Whenever farmers harvest cacao, we buy the whole crop, and farmers do not worry about sales and prices. Therefore, farmers feel secure to expand growing areas. The districts cacao is considered one of the worlds 100 best cacao. Its cacao has a yield of 2.4-3 tonnes of dry seeds per hectare a year. The district is encouraging farmers to grow cacao to Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP) or organic standards. Many companies have co-operated with co-operatives and farmers to grow cacao, harvest fresh fruits and ferment cacao seeds under strict processing processes to secure food safety. o Chi Khoi, head of the bureau, said the district has implemented many programmes and plans to develop cacao cultivation, including a programme of giving farmers free seedlings and fertilisers. It will grant VN5 billion (US$200,000) to link stakeholders in growing and selling cacao this year. The money is used for buying seedlings, fertiliser and other input materials. It aims to have 600ha of cacao next year and is encouraging and assisting companies, co-operatives and farmers to grow cacao to organic standards to meet export requirements. It has provided techniques of growing the crop to farmers. The Ba Ria - Vung Tau Trade, Services and Agriculture Co-operative has five members and operates in 27 fields, including selling seedlings and input materials. It has linked with 76 farmers to grow 116ha of cacao, including 5ha of organic cacao. Tran Nhu Phong, who has a 2ha organic cacao orchard and links with the co-operative, said: My orchard harvests about 17 tonnes of fresh fruits per hectare a year. The co-operative buys all the crop, so farmers feel secure to grow the fruit. Under the districts cacao development plan, the co-operative will expand cacao growing areas, which have grown under linkages with farmers to 200ha this year. Some cacao growing companies in the district have offered tourism services in their orchards in which tourists can experience growing and tending cacao trees and making cacao products. VNS HA NOI President To Lam has hailed the Viet Nam Youth Volunteer Force as a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism, embodying the finest qualities of the Vietnamese nation and serving as a perpetual source of pride for Vietnamese youth. Meeting in Ha Noi on Monday with 150 representatives attending the fifth National Congress of the Association of Former Vietnamese Youth Volunteers, on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Viet Nam Youth Volunteer Force, President Lam recalled the glorious achievements and significant contributions of the force during the struggle for national independence and subsequent national construction. The Party, State, and people will forever remember and be grateful for the immense contributions of the Viet Nam Youth Volunteer Force, he affirmed, expressing his delight at the association's accomplishments in the past term, including the launch of meaningful campaigns aligned with the Party and State's policies and guidelines. The association was also commended for its close collaboration with departments and agencies to ensure policy benefits for former youth volunteers, assist in the search and repatriation of martyrs remains, and promote socio-economic development following COVID-19. The president called on ministries and agencies, especially the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, to continue studying and creatively applying Ho Chi Minhs ideology regarding the Great School of Youth Volunteers, building a strong contingent of officials and fostering a generation of Vietnamese young people who are patriotic, resilient and proud of the nation. This generation, he noted, should have political mettle, revolutionary ethics, competence, and courage to engage in global integration, along with great dreams and ambitions. They were also urged to actively and effectively engage in national renovation, construction and defence while preserving and renovating historical landmarks and sites related to the force. On the occasion, the leader presented a photo of President Ho Chi Minh taken with the young volunteers and donated VN200 million (US$8,300) to help the association prepare attire for delegates attending the congress. President of the association Vu Trong Kim noted that there have been over 650,000 former youth volunteers joining the past struggle for national independence and the current national development. The association has donated 1,107 houses and repaired 509 others, presented gifts and other items like saving books, food, clothing and school supplies worth over VN269 billion ($10.6 million). Additionally, the members supported each other during the COVID-19 pandemic with more than VN2 billion ($79,000) and various items. VNS "It's time to cool it down. We all have a responsibility to do that," Biden said in a televised address following the attack in which Republican Trump was injured in the ear and a bystander was killed by gunfire. President Joe Biden addresses the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Sunday, July 14, 2024, about the assassination attempt of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Erin Schaff / POOL / AFP As the country reeled from images of a bloodied Trump waving his fist after the gunman opened fire at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Biden added that US politics "must never be a literal battlefield, God forbid a killing field." The 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by Secret Service agents amid scenes of chaos. Authorities say his motive remains unclear. The FBI said it was investigating the attack as a potential act of domestic terrorism and studying Crooks's phone to discover any "ideologies" he may have had. Biden, giving just the third Oval Office address of his presidency, also mentioned the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack by pro-Trump supporters as proof that the situation is getting out of hand. "We can't allow this violence to be normalized," the 81-year-old Democrat said, adding that the November 5 election would be a "time of testing" for the United States. The short but forceful speech went without any major hitches -- bar Biden twice referring to the ballot box as a "battle box". Democrats are closely watching the president following a disastrous debate performance renewed concerns about his age and ability to govern. The attempt on Trump's life has opened a dark new chapter in an already polarized election rematch with Biden, who beat him in 2020. Despite their bitter enmity, both Biden and Trump called for calm after the most serious attack on a US president or ex-president in more than four decades. Trump said it was "more important than ever that we stand United" and added that Americans should not allow "evil to win," in a post on social media. Numerous Republicans -- who themselves often pose with guns in political ads -- have claimed Democrats have promoted extreme rhetoric that led to the shooting. Just before Biden's speech, Trump landed in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, during which he will formally be anointed the party's nominee. The US Secret Service insisted the agency is "fully prepared" to maintain security at the convention, as it comes under severe scrutiny over the attempt to kill Trump. The agency faces searching questions about how the shooter was able to climb onto a rooftop around 150 meters (500 feet) from where Trump was speaking and fire multiple rounds. The FBI was "looking at it as a potential domestic terrorism act," the bureau's assistant director of counterterrorism Robert Wells said. The shooter's father was believed to have bought the semi-automatic weapon used in the attack but it was unclear how the shooter accessed it. Investigators also found a "suspicious device" in the shooter's car. Crooks's former schoolmates described him as a quiet student who often came across as lonely. "He was quiet but he was just bullied. He was bullied so much," Jason Kohler, who said he attended the same high school as Crooks, told reporters. The attack threatens to further inflame tensions at an already febrile moment in the race for the White House. Trump was recently convicted of criminal charges while Biden's dismal debate performance sparked Democratic party fears over his age and mental acuity. The shooting will likely now upend how both campaign. Trump and his supporters are likely to use it to back their narrative of persecution by Biden. Biden, who is behind in most polls, will meanwhile have to tone down the full-throated criticisms of Trump that he pivoted to last week to shift attention from his own woes. But while the president canceled a trip to Texas on Monday he will continue with a visit to the battleground state of Nevada later this week. "That's how democracy should work," he said in the Oval Office address. "We debate and disagree." Workers produce apparel for export at the Tinh Loi Garment Co. Ltd in Hai Duong province. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi Authorities have continuously warned Vietnamese businesses to stay prudent when trading with foreign partners in the face of a recent scam increase. Since late 2023, the number of Vietnamese businesses encountering frauds and scams has increased, and many have been swindled out of tens of thousands and even millions of USD, according to the trade offices of Vietnam in many countries. In most cases, it was not until businesses found out that they had been defrauded did they ask for help from the Vietnamese embassies and trade offices in other countries to seek fraudulent companies to reclaim the lost goods and money. However, it is very difficult and costly to regain what was lost. In April 2024, the Asia - Africa Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) issued a warning about a suspected scam relating to a batch of imports from the UAE. In this case, a Vietnamese company signed a contract to purchase 1,000 tonnes of PET plastic valued at 665,500 USD. However, after receiving a deposit of 526,257 USD, the UAE partner handed over 25 containers each of which contained only 15 - 20% of the goods volume stated in the contract. Similarly, some raw cashew nut suppliers in West Africa provided only 50% of the contracted volume or unilaterally terminated contracts, and then sold the commodity to others at higher prices. Trade experts said scams are still on the rise and occur in all markets, from Africa, the Middle East and India to developed countries like the US, the Netherlands, and Italy. This is a lesson for Vietnamese businesses to develop a risk management mechanism for foreign trading. Nguyen Cam Trang, Deputy Director of the MoITs Agency of Foreign Trade, stressed that many trading opportunities have been generated for Vietnamese businesses thanks to intensive economic integration into the world, but they also have to face different risks. Despite continuous warnings from the MoIT, some scams still occur, she said, blaming them on companies subjectivity and insufficient knowledge about trade transactions, as well as the unpredictable complexity of scams. As it is important to seek trustworthy partners, businesses should verify partners, demand intermediary companies provide detailed information about partners, and ready insurance for goods to reduce losses, Trang recommended. Chau Viet Bac, Vice Secretary General of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), noted that for the past many years, disputes relevant to foreign trade have taken the lead in the number of disputes submitted to VIAC for settlement, and in many cases, Vietnamese firms suffered from losses. He suggested them carefully consider big contracts and partners sought via the internet. They should thoroughly learn about partners or seek assistance from Vietnams trade offices in other countries in this regard. In addition, they should also pay due attention to penalty clauses in contracts and take into account possible risks during transactions. Meanwhile, the MoIT has worked with localities, associations, other ministries, and sectors to share information and experience in international trade with businesses, said Hoang Minh Chien, Deputy Director of the MoITs Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade). In the time ahead, it will provide training to improve exporters and importers capacity. It has also assigned overseas trade offices to update firms about market situation, issue warnings, and help businesses to verify information about foreign partners, he added. Singapore: E-commerce scams double in 2023 Singaporean authority registered 9,783 e-commerce scam cases in 2023, more than doubling the 4,762 cases in 2022, according to a report issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on April 10. The factory covers more than 25,000sq.m land area, including more than 13,000sq.m construction area. The Chia Chang Vietnam Technology factory construction ceremony With a total investment value capital reaching $9 million, the project encompasses Factory 1, which includes two floors with an area of 2,880sq.m per floor; Factory 2 with two floors with an area of 4,150sq.m per floor; corrugated metal panel walls; and a two-storey office building with 1,302sq.m per floor of reinforced concrete and auxiliary items. The project will be constructed within six months. Pham Anh Tien, chairman of the Board of Directors of Taiyo Group, the parent company of Hai Long Construction JSC At the commencement ceremony, Pham Anh Tien, chairman of the Board of Directors of Taiyo Group, the parent company of Hai Long Construction JSC, noted that the Chia Chang Vietnam Technology Factory project was the fifth project where the company has taken on the role as general contractor at Thai Ha Industrial Park (IP). This is a project that continues the success of four previous projects: the U. D. Electronics Vietnam factory project, TSMT factory project, Chiateng factory project, and A-Stainless factory project. With our capacity and experience, we will successfully implement this project following the quality and schedule committed to by the investor Chia Chang Vietnam Technology, said Tien. Sung Kuei-Hsiu, chairman of Chia Chang Technology Vietnam Co., Ltd. At the ceremony, Sung Kuei-Hsiu, chairman of Chia Chang Technology Vietnam, revealed that, with over 10 years of operation in the industry, the company has demonstrated its position in the market. Chia Chang is the first manufacturer in the industry to provide metal technology products in Vietnam. The company's high-quality products have been widely used in many different fields, especially in technology, and has always striven to improve product quality and customer needs, said Sung. With 25 years of experience, Hai Long Construction JSC has consolidated and developed strong internal resources, affirming its position as one of the most prominent businesses in general contracting, design consulting, manufacturing and erection of structural steelworks. The company has been granted a Grade 1 design and construction certificate by the Ministry of Construction and been elected as one of the 10 best industrial and infrastructure construction contractors in Vietnam in 2024. Hai Long Construction has shown the capacity of a leading general contractor through recognition and evaluation not only from domestic partners, but also from many major partners from Japan, South Korea, and China. The company has successfully implemented many million dollar projects for leading partners, such as GNP Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Centre Project and GNP Dong Van III Industrial Centre Project with each package value surpassing $29 million; projects for Bujeon Electronics Vietnam Factory; LG Group; Amkor Technology Group; Hyundai Group; VinFast Automobile Manufacturing; and Sumitomo Corporation. We are proud to have built hundreds of large-scale projects in many localities across the country, creating stable jobs for thousands of workers, creating a better investment environment for foreign investors, Tien said. In 2024, Hai Long Construction JSC aims to for a total contract value exceeding $153 million, a total revenue surpassing $110 million, and steel structure output reaching 30,000 tonnes. In the first six months (H1) of 2024, the companys total contract value approximated $97.8 million, equal to 64 per cent of the adjusted plan; and total output value reached $68.6 million, equal 53 per cent of the adjusted plan; and total revenue surpassed $46 million. Steel structure production output was also encouraging, reaching 21,130 tonnes. In addition, Hai Long Steel Structure Factory has signed a contract and is in the process of producing sample products for export to many large Japanese and Korean corporations. This will usher in opportunities to secure many export orders in the near future. Hai Long is set to complete the investment in construction of Steel Structure Factory No. 3 over 5.2 ha kitted out with two cutting-edge steel structure production lines by September 2024, increasing the total production capacity of steel structure factories to 45,000 tonnes by 2025 and beyond. Hai Long Construction has just signed a cooperation contract with SK Group from South Korea on processing steel structure items under Package No. 1 with a volume of 2,300 tonnes, and implementation time of 126 days in the Ecovance high-tech biodegradable materials factory project at DEEP C Haiphong I Industrial Park. The project spans over 32,000sq.m with a total investment value reaching $100 million, which is expected to reach $500 million by 2030, according to SK Group. As of now, Hai Long Constructions total contract value has reached $108 million, equal to 70.5 per cent of the full-year plan and is on track to complete its set target, affirming the companys growing position in the construction industry. China's XGIMI invests $30 million in Nam Dinh projector and laser TV factory Chinese projector manufacturer XGIMI is planning to make a $30 million investment in the first phase of a factory in the northern province of Nam Dinh. Construction of Tamagawa Vietnam's $35 million factory gets underway Tamagawa Vietnam, a subsidiary of Japanese sensor manufacturer Tamagawa Seiki, began construction of its $35 million factory in the northern province of Quang Ninh on May 17. Themed Crafting Shared Culinary Experiences, the culinary event was launched in collaboration between global payments firm Mastercard and major events organiser Vietcetera, in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Flavors Vietnam aims to be Vietnams premier culinary event, showcasing a series of gastronomic activities for businesses and consumers annually. This event celebrates the vibrant local food and beverage (F&B) industry and culture. The event promises a lineup of well-received signature events and some tantalising new activities. According to the Vietnam Food and Beverage Market Report 2023 by iPOS.vn, the Vietnamese dining scene has seen a rise in middle-class customers who are increasingly spending on dining out and driving demand for dining experiences. This trend has created ample opportunities for F&B businesses, pushing them to innovate and adopt new trends to cater to these needs. In this context, Flavors Vietnam 2024 aims to become a community-led platform fostering a healthy and sustainable F&B industry. This years event also strives to position Vietnam as the regions culinary hub by engaging more multinational tastemakers, expanding media outreach, and drawing more international travellers to the event with various attractive offers for Mastercard cardholders, facilitating cross-border transactions. Flavors Vietnam 2024 features four main events spanning over five months from June to December, making it the longest celebration among the five editions so far. The lineup includes Flavors Bar Week (formerly Vietnam Bar Week), Flavors Conference (formerly Vietnam Food and Beverage Conference), Flavors Awards (formerly Vietnam Restaurant and Bar Awards), and Flavors Festival - a new initiative added this year. Flavors Vietnam 2024 features a collaboration with World Class Cocktail Festival by Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, leading up to Flavors Bar Week. Launched globally in 2009 and in Vietnam in 2012, Diageo World Class initiative aims to inspire the next generation of bartenders to offer elevated drinking experiences. It also includes a bartending competition, with champions from each country gathering for the global finals. Featuring nearly 50 bars in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Flavors Bar Week, in partnership with World Class Cocktail Festival, took place from July 1 to 14. This event brought various surprises including enticing deals and guest shifts featuring global award-winning bartenders, helping elevate the already-vibrant bar scene in Vietnam. Since the beginning of the collaboration, Vietcetera and Mastercard have inspired both consumers and partner merchants and restaurants to go cashless using Mastercard Tap & Go contactless payment technology. This vision extends throughout Flavors Vietnam 2024, where Mastercard cardholders can enjoy exclusive access to attractive privileges and discounts by using contactless payments with their Mastercard credit or debit cards. Mastercard has long been about connecting people to their passions. In a country celebrated for its vibrant food culture like Vietnam, culinary is easily the biggest passion point. Mastercard is delighted to collaborate with Vietcetera on Flavors Vietnam 2024 for the fifth year running, presenting an exciting opportunity to spotlight Vietnams thriving F&B industry and deliver exclusive priceless experiences for Mastercard cardholders, said Winnie Wong, country manager, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, Mastercard. Along with key business partners like Vietcetera, Mastercard is also enabling local businesses in Vietnam to accept cashless payments securely and seamlessly to meet evolving consumer preferences. This initiative elevates Vietnamese cuisine globally and brings more small local F&B businesses into the digital economy, driving growth for all involved. Hao Tran, CEO of Vietcetera said, Our vision for Flavors Vietnam remains steadfast: to elevate and celebrate Vietnams emerging food, beverage, and hospitality scene. This year, under the theme Crafting Shared Culinary Experiences, Vietcetera in partnership with Mastercard remains committed to creating bespoke experiences centered around food and drink moments. Its part of Vietceteras motto of showcasing Vietnams excellence on a global stage. The addition of the Flavors Festival in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi is part of our expanded ambition and effort. Join Flavors Vietnam 2024 and be part of the culinary revolution: https://vietcetera.com/en/collection/flavors-vietnam/bar-week Destination MICE events at La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc Nestled on the powdery sand of the islands southwest coast, La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc, a member of Accors storied MGallery collection of boutique hotels, stands ready to host your next corporate event with unparalleled panache. Mai Brunch - a luxurious culinary experience at Mai House Saigon Hotel Held on the last Sunday of every month, Mai Brunch promises to deliver an unparalleled dining experience, combining high-end gastronomy with an exclusive lifestyle. Ziehl-Abegg, a manufacturer of ventilation and air conditioning systems, as well as drive technology for elevators and motors, inaugurated a new production facility in the southern province of Dong Nai in June. This $20-million plant is expected to play a crucial role in the companys global supply chain, leveraging Vietnams skilled workforce and favourable production conditions. The facility will focus on producing advanced ventilation systems and electric drives, catering to both domestic and international markets. Ziehl-Abegg's new factory in Dong Nai province Karcher, renowned worldwide for its innovative cleaning solutions, opened a new production plant at Tam Hiep Port Logistics Industrial Park in the central province of Quang Nam in early July. This facility, with a total investment of over VND500 billion ($19.7 million), includes a 13,500 square-metre (sq.m) factory and 1,600sq.m of office space. This expansion is part of Karchers broader strategy to meet the growing demand for its products in Asia.. By establishing a significant presence in Vietnam, Karcher aims to capitalise on the countrys strategic location, improving industrial infrastructure, and burgeoning consumer market. Inside the Karcher factory in Quang Nam province According to the German Business Association in Vietnam (GBA), its commitment to green investment aims to entice eco-friendly overseas investment to Ho Chi Minh City and promote the adoption of energy-efficient technologies. By encouraging businesses to invest in green energy solutions, the GBA seeks to reduce Vietnams carbon footprint and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change. Alexander Ziehe, chairman, GBA Vietnam GBA members have been involved in future-minded actions such as optimising green energy production to enhance the efficiency of foreign-funded projects, and developing renewable energy projects that ensure long-term energy security and sustainability. These projects include the development of solar, wind, and biomass energy, which have the potential to transform Vietnams energy landscape. "Our commitment to green energy is unwavering," said Alexander Ziehe, chairman, GBA Vietnam. "We believe that sustainable investments are key to long-term economic growth and environmental protection. By working together with local and international partners, we can create a greener and more prosperous future for Vietnam." The main challenges faced by German businesses in Vietnam include post-investment administrative procedures, infrastructure connectivity, and transparency in preferential policy frameworks. "Vietnam offers significant opportunities, but navigating the regulatory landscape can be complex," said Ziehe. "We are committed to working with local authorities to simplify processes and create a more transparent environment for foreign investors." Regulatory complexities often pose significant challenges for foreign businesses looking to invest in Vietnam. The countrys regulatory landscape is evolving, and businesses must stay abreast of the latest changes to ensure compliance. Navigating these complexities requires an in-depth understanding of local laws and regulations, which can be a daunting task for foreign investors. Infrastructure bottlenecks also pose a challenge to the smooth operation of businesses in Vietnam. While the country has made significant strides in improving its infrastructure, there are still areas that require attention, including logistics and transportation networks. According to the GBA, Vietnams strategic importance in Asia continues to grow, but the journey is not without its hurdles. First and foremost, Vietnams economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth recently. Despite global economic uncertainties, Vietnam has managed to maintain a stable and robust economic performance. This resilience is attributed to the countrys diversified economy, strong export sector, and prudent economic policies. This is a crucial consideration for foreign investors, particularly those businesses unfamiliar with the Vietnamese market. "Vietnams potential is immense, but it is crucial that we navigate the challenges effectively," said Ziehe. "The GBA is dedicated to supporting German businesses every step of the way, ensuring they can thrive in this promising market." Furthermore, Vietnams young and dynamic workforce is a significant asset for businesses looking to invest in the region. According to Ziehe, the country boasts a large pool of skilled and educated workers, providing a competitive advantage for industries that rely on human capital. The GBAs ongoing initiatives and partnerships aim to capitalise on these strengths, fostering a robust economic relationship between Germany and Vietnam. By promoting bilateral trade and investment, the GBA seeks to create opportunities for businesses to thrive and contribute to the economic development of both countries. German groups expanding major operations in Vietnam The bilateral strategic partnership between Vietnam and Germany is witnessing a rise in trade and investment, amid investors from the latter showing a growing interest in the former and both nations expecting a brighter cooperation outlook. AHK Vietnam at 30: a remarkable journey of partnerships In 2024, the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (AHK Vietnam) celebrates a significant milestone 30 years of dedicated presence in Vietnam. This journey stands as a testament to our commitment to fostering robust trade cooperation between Vietnamese and German businesses. Throughout this three-decade expedition, AHK Vietnam has been a stalwart companion, witnessing and contributing to numerous milestones in Vietnams socioeconomic development. The Prime Minister issued Decision No.489 on June 10. It approves Hung Yen's provincial planning for the rest of the decade, and looking further to 2050. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulates leaders from Hung Yen, photo Thanh Tan According to the new scheme, by 2030, Hung Yen will have developed rapidly and sustainably, becoming a modern industrial centre, with an economic scale and development level among the top localities nationwide. By that time, the province will accommodate synchronous, modern economic and social infrastructure through sustainable development based on the transformation towards a circular economy and green economy. The province will have developed by harmonizing with nature, with a preserved cultural identity that is to be promoted, and the material and spiritual lives of its people will have improved. National defence, political security, and social order and safety are all guaranteed. In respect to specific development targets, Hung Yen will aim for a regional GDP growth rate of about 9 per cent per year for the period, with GDP per person thought to be around $11,500 by 2030. Agriculture and fisheries are expected to account for 3.6 per cent of the local economy; industry and construction for 64 per cent; and the services sector for almost 25.5 per cent. The urbanisation rate by 2030 will be about 60-65 per cent and approximate 80 per cent by 2050. The digital economy will account for 35 per cent of the regional GDP. Growth in labour productivity will reach 8.59 per cent per year. The average contribution of total factor productivity to growth in the period from 2021-2030 will reach 50-55 per cent. In terms of society, the province's Human Development Index will be among the top 10 localities countrywide. The annual natural population growth rate will be less than 1 per cent. The poverty rate will decrease to less than 0.5 per cent by the end of 2025 and there will be no more poor households by 2030. Pho Hien, photo Thanh Tan Hung Yen is expected to become a centrally governed municipality by 2050. Hung Yen is a beautiful and smart city in the Red River Delta, rich in cultural identity, and an economic and social hub for the region. The plan has also set out two driving growth regions. First is the Southern Development Region which gears towards urban development - science and technology - services - tourism and high-tech applications. This area shall preserve and promote the core values of the ancient Pho Hien culture and the cultural identity of the Red River Delta centre. Meanwhile, the Northern Development Region is a dynamic urban-industrial development region connected to Hanoi, Noi Bai International Airport, and important national and international economic-urban corridors (National Highway 5, Hanoi-Haiphong expressway, Hanoi Haiphong railway) and the Lach Huyen seaport in Haiphong city. There are two economic corridors; the regional industrial-urban corridor associated with National Highway 5 and Hanoi - Haiphong expressway; and the Red River cultural - historical - ecological corridor that caters to historical, cultural, and ecological tourism associated with the heritage route along the Red River. The new planning has also clearly shaped three strategic breakthroughs to build and develop Hung Yen as follows: Firstly, the development of a synchronous and modern technical and social infrastructure system, with a focus on prioritising the development of transport infrastructure; industrial parks and industrial clusters; urban infrastructure and new urban areas; cultural, healthcare, education, and training infrastructure; energy, telecommunications, irrigation infrastructure; and infrastructure earmarked for natural disaster prevention and control and climate change. Secondly, the development of human resources, especially high-quality human resources by combining training, retraining and attracting high-quality workers from outside the province to meet the requirements of industrialisation, modernisation, digital transformation and implementation of high-tech ventures in the province; promoting the distinctive cultural identity of Hung Yen people. Thirdly, the promotion of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in all fields; striving to best avail of the advantages of Industry 4.0 and digital transformation associated with attracting universities, research and development centres leading into the deployment and application of sci-tech, and innovation centres in the province. Hung Yen city, photo Thanh Tan Hung Yen has also proposed eight key solution groups. Based on the provisions of the Law on Public Investment and the ability to balance the state budget, it is important to arrange priority investment capital for important technical and social infrastructure to allure investment from other economic sectors, creating resources to promote rapid and sustainable development of the growth-driving regions of the province. In addition, the province must develop high quality human resources and closely associate human resource development with sci-tech application and development. Hung Yen also needs to apply the achievements of Industry 4.0 to propel socioeconomic development, applying it to the production and trading of the province's key products to participate in the global value chain; study and promulgate mechanisms in various fields to attract resources for development such as policies to develop growth driving regions, draw in large investors, and support the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises, among others. The provincial planning for the period 2021-2030, with vision to 2050, aims to open up new space, creating strong growth momentum, laying the bedrock for Hung Yen to further grow and affirm its position on the path towards sustainable development and deepening international integration footprints. Daesang Duc Viet opens Hung Yen Factory No. 2 Daesang Duc Viet JSC held an opening ceremony for Hung Yen Factory No. 2 on May 13, marking a new milestone in its production expansion. Hung Yen prioritises Taiwanese semiconductor enterprises to invest in IP No. 5 A business delegation from the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (China) on May 22 came to the northern province of Hung Yen to seek investment opportunities. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. has obtained in-principle approval from the Vietnamese government for a greenfield development in Danang, Kara Adani, the managing director of the company, told Bloomberg. The project will feature container terminals and multipurpose berths to handle different types of cargo. The project is at an early stage of planning while the total investment capital hasn't been finalised, he added. Karan Adani, the eldest son of Gautam Adani said, We are targeting countries that are high on manufacturing or high on population, which will lead to high consumption. We are focusing on export volumes in these countries. As the largest port operator in India, Adani Ports holds about 5 per cent of its total volume from international operations and wants to increase the ratio to 10 per cent by 2030. The company is exploring opportunities in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Vietnam, and Cambodia, as these are regions where trade is coming to India. Adani made its official entrance into Vietnam on December 22 last year, by opening a representative office in Hanoi, beginning its investment journey worth $10 billion over the next five years. Adani will start the investment path in Vietnam with the $2 billion Lien Chieu Seaport in Danang, in cooperation with Vietnam Maritime Corporation. An industrial park complex is expected to develop with the port. VIMC, Adani cooperate on seaport development Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) and Indias Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd. (APSEZ) on May 24 signed an MoU to cooperate in seaports and logistics development. Energy and transport in sights for Adani Vietnam is continuing to increase its attractiveness to top names in the likes of renewable energy and transport, with new billion-dollar plans being crafted. Such tests, experts said, could either help repudiate speculation that the 81-year-old president's mental state is in worrying decline -- or else confirm it -- and could enlighten voters on the mental abilities of Trump, who has had his own share of verbal lapses. Supporters of former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participate in the "In Trump we Trust" caravan near his Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida, on July 14, one day after an apparent attempt to assassinate him at a rally in Pennsylvania. Trump was hit in the ear in an apparent assassination attempt by a gunman at a campaign rally on July 13, 2024, in a chaotic and shocking incident that will fuel fears of instability ahead of the 2024 US presidential election. The 78-year-old former president was rushed off stage with blood smeared across his face after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, while the gunman and a bystander were killed and two spectators critically injured. Giorgio VIERA / AFP But reliable diagnoses, they caution, cannot be made from afar. Since Biden's disastrous performance in his debate with Trump two weeks ago, the Democrat's campaign has faced fierce opposition. A growing number of officials in his own party are questioning his ability to lead the country for four more years. And it didn't help when at a summit in Washington earlier this week Biden mistakenly introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as his foe Vladimir Putin, before quickly correcting himself. Dennis Selkoe, a neurologist at Harvard Medical School, said the fundamental issue is whether Biden is suffering from "a normal age-related process" or "something that represents a neurologic disease." "Making a mistake with a name is not automatically a sign of dementia or of Alzheimer's," he told AFP. But Selkoe, who sees many patients with neurodegenerative problems, said Biden does seem to have the "appearance of an early Parkinson patient" -- including his slow, stiff gait and his low, sometimes barely audible voice, which could be a condition known as hypophonia. In February, Biden underwent a complete physical exam. A published summary of its results indicated that an "extremely detailed neurologic exam" had ruled out Parkinson's. But no detail was provided on the exact nature of the tests or their results. Could a neurological illness have taken root over just the past five months? If the exams in February had been comprehensive, Selkoe said, there should have been early signs of a nascent condition. In an editorial in March, the scientific journal Lancet called for standardized procedures to examine the health of sitting and prospective presidents so as to insulate American voters from a "pestilence of speculation, misinformation and slander." Absent such reliable testing, "the US public remains beholden to voluntarily released reports from politicians' personal physicians," the journal said. Jay Olshansky, an expert in aging at the University of Illinois at Chicago, sounded a similar note, saying, "We think the time has arrived for complete transparency." He urged both major presidential candidates to pass a cognitive test, something former president Trump has frequently challenged Biden to do. Several such exams, including those known as the MMSE and the MoCA, are available either for an initial screening or as part of a more comprehensive battery of tests. Biden has said that he effectively passes a cognitive test every day, simply by carrying out his presidential duties. But "I don't think it's the same," Selkoe said. Being able to conduct familiar tasks one has done for years is one thing, he said, while being able to repeat a list of words heard five minutes earlier, as some tests require, is another. At a news conference Thursday, the president said he would be willing to take a new neurological exam if his doctors recommended it, but that "no one is suggesting that to me now." Aging changes one's brain, said Allison Sekuler, president of the Baycrest Academy, a hospital specializing in elderly care. "Garbage is basically building up in the brain," she told AFP, adding that parts of the brain atrophy, or shrink, including parts important to memory. An early phase known as "mild cognitive impairment" can sometimes develop into Alzheimer's or some other form of dementia, she said. During their recent debate, both Biden and Trump -- who is 78 -- "exhibited some sort of issues in terms of being able to stay on track with a question," Sekuler said, recommending that both men undergo testing. But, she added, "we're really only talking about one of them right now because that aligns with our stereotype of what aging is." Olshansky also denounced what he called "raging" ageism, citing a recent magazine cover that used a walker as a symbol of the Biden-Trump race. He noted that while there is a lower age limit for would-be US presidents -- they must be at least 35 -- there is no upper limit. What he called "crystallized intelligence," or the ability to use past experience to improve one's reasoning skills, "gets stronger and stronger" with age. Olshansky co-authored a 2020 study that gave Biden a 95 percent chance of surviving a first term, based on average life expectancy for someone of his age, plus personal risk factors. But a similar calculation four years later, on a man now four years older, gave Biden a much lower probability of survival: just 75 percent. Members of Harris County Sheriffs Department salute a hearse carrying the body of fallen Deputy Fernando Esqueda on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Police vehicles line up to escort a hearse carrying the body of fallen Deputy Fernando Esqueda on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Members of the Harris County Sheriffs Dept., line up outside the Institute of Forensic Science before the procession for the body car escorting fallen Deputy Fernando Esqueda on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Onlookers watch as members of the Harris County Sheriffs Department escort a hearse carrying the body of fallen Deputy Fernando Esqueda on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Motorcycles from the Harris County Sheriffs Department escort a hearse carrying the body of fallen Deputy Fernando Esqueda on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Deputy Fernando Esqueda. Esqueda was fatally shot in an apparent ambush while responding to a call July 10. Harris County Sheriff's Office A convoy of police vehicles escorted the body of Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy Fernando Esqueda across Houston on Monday morning, days after he was shot to death while searching for a wanted man in northeast Harris County last week. Esqueda, 28, was a five-year veteran of the sheriff's office and a member of the agency's violent persons warrants task force. Two people have been arrested and charged with capital murder in connection to his death. Funeral plans for Esqueda were announced over the weekend. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Covering an area of just over 31 hectares at Rang Dong Textile Industrial Park (Aurora IP), the construction of the first phase began in 2022. This is a high-tech project that uses a reduced labour-force to produce various high-quality textile products. The factory has completed construction of phase one, which has a capacity of 60 million metres of fabric per year, equal to four times the capacity of the rest of textile and dyeing factories in the province combined. The entirety of the factory's output is destined for the export market. Kyuichi Fukumoto, director of Pacific Textile Holdings Limited and chairman of TOP Textile Co., Ltd, said, "This grand-opening ceremony marks a significant moment in the history of TOP Textile." "TOP Textile is one of the largest knitting factories in northern Vietnam with a closed production process for knitting, dyeing and finishing. The factory is also committed to environmental protection. Our own wastewater treatment facility meets standard A, which is the strictest level in Vietnam. Our gas emission treatment system is designed to treat the gas beyond Vietnamese industrial emission standards," said Fukumoto. "In the next phase, we look forward to expanding the variety of products, adding more value, and further expanding our facilities," he added. The project's second phase is expected to be completed next year, when the factorys capacity will double to 120 million metres of fabric per year. Standing Vice Chairman of Nam Dinh People's Committee Tran Anh Dung said, "This new factory will improve the industrial production value and export value of goods from the province, while creating more jobs and income for about 1,800 workers. It also highlights the appeal of Nam Dinh, while affirming its ability to entice secondary investors to invest in Aurora IP, as the province grows into its role as a garments and textiles hub for the whole country." The inauguration ceremony also had the participation of the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, showing the importance of the project in promoting the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Japan, as well as Nam Dinh's garments and textiles sector. Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki said, "The start of operations at the TOP Textile factory in Nam Dinh is another example of the consistent and comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries." Chia Chang Vietnam Technology factory construction starts in Ha Nam On July 13, Hai Long Construction JSC and Chia Chang Vietnam Technology Co., Ltd. held a ceremony to kick-off construction of the first-phase of the Chia Chang Vietnam Technology Factory at Thai Ha Industrial Park in Ha Nam province, some 50km south of Hanoi. China's XGIMI invests $30 million in Nam Dinh projector and laser TV factory Chinese projector manufacturer XGIMI is planning to make a $30 million investment in the first phase of a factory in the northern province of Nam Dinh. WoolProducers Australia to invest $66 million in Nam Dinh WoolProducers Australia (WPA) last week inked a MoU with Cat Tuong Group the investor of Rang Dong Industrial Park in Nam Dinh province to develop a $66 million project in the park. Tourists from the Republic of Korea prefer travelling to islands off the beach city of Nha Trang. (Photo: VNA) Seoul Tourists from the Republic of Korea (RoK) are increasingly interested in destinations in Vietnam, according to a survey conducted by Rankify Korea website. Among the three most preferred tourist destinations in RoK, two are in Vietnam, it said. The result was released based on a big data analysis programme to evaluate the search volume of Google Trend Index and Naver in the first week of July and compare it with that of the last week of June. In the first week of July, Phu Quoc island in the Vietnamese southern province of Kien Giang was in the first place with 12,855 points, up 2,962 points compared to the last week of June. The beach city of Nha Trang in the Vietnamese central province of Khanh Hoa ranked second with 10,157 points and followed by Tokyo (Japan) with 3,796 points. Other cities in the top 15 are Bangkok and Phuket (Thailand), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Nagoya (Japan), Barcelona (Spain), Kyoto (Japan), Hanoi (Vietnam), Paris (France), New York (US), Sydney (Australia), Shanghai (China) and Munich (Germany). The survey also showed the results of analysing preferences by gender and age for each of these cities. Specifically, Phu Quoc Island is more popular with RoK women, representing a rate of 67 per cent of the survey data. Phu Quoc among top beach destinations in Asia The first three months of 2024 could be dubbed the "great triumph" for Phu Quoc's tourism on the international media front. Phu Quoc named among most affordable tropical destinations Phu Quoc island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has been honoured by US magazine Travel+Leisure as one of the 10 most affordable tropical destinations to visit around the world, while the Republic of Korea (RoK)s Dailian journal has described the pearl island as the most popular healing destination. Khanh Hoa aims to become leading liveable coastal city in Asia The premier-approved planning scheme for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, has set Khanh Hoa as the country's major marine economic centre and Asias leading liveable coastal city. Maritime tourism focus for Khanh Hoa Khanh Hoa province is making efforts to accomplish its vision of being a worldwide hub for maritime tourism and services. During a press conference on July 12, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Tuan Anh, vice president of VAST, stated that the academy was intensifying bilateral and multilateral international cooperation with partners worldwide, yielding significant initiatives. These include ongoing representation of Vietnam at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), increasing involvement of Vietnamese scientific personnel in research and operations at JINR, and ongoing discussions on projects to establish a joint laboratory and develop a JINR Information Centre in Vietnam. Associate professor Dr. Tran Tuan Anh, vice president of VAST chaired the press conference on July 12 Tuan Anh said, "VAST continues to advance marine research cooperation with international partners. This includes collaboration with the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development on a comprehensive oceanographic survey using the scientific research vessel ANTEA in Vietnam's coastal waters, involving 34 scientists from both sides. Furthermore, we are working with Russian partners on plans for the 9th joint marine biodiversity and biogeochemical survey aboard the Russian scientific research vessel 'Academician Oparin,' as well as the 2nd joint marine geological and geophysical survey with the ship 'Academician Lavrentiev' in Vietnam's waters. We are also implementing the roadmap for marine research cooperation between 2018 and 2025 with the Russian Academy of Sciences." VAST also serves as the government's focal point in international organisations such as the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Regarding the academys performance in the first half of the year, Tuan Anh highlighted several achievements. "Significant progress has been made in the construction of the Vietnam Space Centre, a project aligned with the strategy for the development and application of Space Science and Technology until 2030, as outlined in Decision No.169/QD-TTg dated February 4, 2021. To date, VAST has completed over 90 per cent of the project's tasks. Additionally, we are developing a proposal to strengthen national capacity in Earth observation through a small satellite system, and are in the process of establishing the Vietnam Journal of Space Science and Technology," he said. "The earthquake information and tsunami warning centre, along with its observation station network, have been operating stably, significantly contributing to disaster warning and mitigation efforts. From December 15, 2023, to May 14, 2024, the centre recorded 126 earthquakes across Vietnam's territory and maritime zones," he added. Moreover, VAST oversaw the ADN testing centres efforts in identifying remains of soldiers with missing information using Next Generation Sequencing technology. Results were then handed over to the Department of National Devotees under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs. Efforts in technology application and deployment continued to yield numerous achievements, with VAST granted 53 patents and utility solutions as of May 16, marking a significant increase from the previous year. Looking ahead to the second half of 2024, VAST will prioritise several key activities. These include enhancing the application of IT in management, administration, and work processes; effectively executing sci-tech tasks aligned with the national strategy for green growth (2021-2030) and other initiatives in Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, and Marine Sciences; as well as advancing strategies for AI and space technology development. "Crucially, VAST aims to elevate the quality of international publications to meet global standards, enhance the output quality of science and technology tasks, strengthen technology incubation, and expand the application of science and technology in production and daily life. We are also focused on developing and implementing programmes to entice scientists and highly qualified young professionals," said Tuan Anh. Promoting Vietnam-South Korea cooperation in the tech sphere On November 28, Vietnam Investment Review will hold an event titled Technological Investment Cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea. Opportunities explored for tech cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea At 'Technological Investment Cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea' on November 29, speakers gave in-depth opinions on the legal context of blockchain in Vietnam and shared useful advice for startups and investors who are interested and intend to invest in Vietnam. The Ministry of Information and Communications must finalise the Vietnam Semiconductor Industry Development Strategy, whilst the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) must complete the Human Resources Development Plan for the Semiconductor Industry to 2030, with a vision to 2045. The objective of these initiatives is to have 50,000 engineers trained by the end of the decade. Currently, Vietnam has nearly 5,600 semiconductor design engineers, according to the National Science and Technology Portal. To meet market demand, the country must have 10,000 semiconductor engineers each year. At present, domestic human resources only meet half of this target. Discussing semiconductor workforce development in Vietnam with local media, Do Thi Thuy Huong, a board member of the Vietnam Electronic Industries Association, said, "Along with design engineers, the industry urgently needs experts who, despite having only college-level education, possess strong expertise in production organisation, an area where Vietnam still lacks. Training should also be closely linked with educational institutions and businesses. If training remains too academic, it will be difficult to ensure practical skills, especially given the rapid pace of technological change." Vietnamese universities and educational centres are rapidly stepping up their involvement in semiconductor workforce training. According to the Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam has about 35 higher education institutions directly training or closely related to the semiconductor industry. Top institutions for training graduates and engineers in the semiconductor field include Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam National University in Hanoi, and Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Phenikaa University has announced two new semiconductor-related programmes, namely 'Semiconductor Circuit Design' and 'Semiconductor Chips and Packaging Technology'. Last year, Hanoi University of Science and Technology introduced a Microchip Design specialisation within its Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering and Microelectronics & Nanotechnology Engineering programmes. Moreover, Vietnam has strengthened partnerships with multinational technology corporations to align workforce training with global industry standards. Synopsys signed a partnership with Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City to develop talent in integrated circuit design in March, while in June, Phenikaa University, in collaboration with Synopsys, launched a 'Train the Trainers' course on semiconductor circuit design for university lecturers, engineers, and students. Intel has also pledged support to the Danang Semiconductor and AI Research and Training Centre, committing to organise training courses for instructors in AI. In early July, during a meeting with PM Chinh in Seoul, South Korean president pledged to support Vietnam in training semiconductor and high-tech industry personnel. According to the MPIs plan, the goal of training 50,000 semiconductor industry personnel includes 15,000 semiconductor circuit design engineers, 35,000 engineers in other semiconductor fields, and at least 5,000 AI specialists. The estimated budget to achieve these goals by 2030 is about VND26 trillion ($1.08 billion), with VND17 trillion ($708 million) from the state budget and VND9 trillion ($375 million) from social sources. Vietnams favourable geography, affordable labour, and open policies have made it a magnet for major semiconductor companies from the United States, Germany, China, and South Korea. Speaking at a conference on human resources in the semiconductor industry in April, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said, "Comprehensive cooperation with the major semiconductor nations, economies, and companies is necessary to leverage Vietnam's human resource advantages and become a significant player in the semiconductor industry." Tie-ups grow for microchip advancement Training up a workforce for the semiconductor industry is heating up thanks to the involvement of universities in Vietnam. FIE and university tie-ups to breed high-tech workforce Collaboration between Vietnamese educational institutions and foreign-invested enterprises is paving the way for creating a more competent and globally ready high-tech workforce. Vietnam commits $1.08 billion to train 50,000 semiconductor engineers by 2030 Vietnam has underscored its ambition to develop a skilled workforce for the semiconductor industry, aligning with its vision to deeply integrate into the global value chain, spurred by robust industry growth and strategic international partnerships. A strengthened high-tech workforce for semiconductors Vietnam has plenty of work to do if it wants to become a true global hub for semiconductor manufacturing. Dr. Quan Le, principal investigator for the Semiconductor Workforce Development Research Grant under Fulbright University Vietnam, covered the potential for Vietnam and how to reach it with VIRs Vy Vy. Last week, Tasco Auto announced that it has bought out Sweden Auto Co., Ltd., the sole authorised importer and distributor of Volvo cars in Vietnam. Following the deal, Tasco becomes the importer and distributor of Volvo vehicles. With a network of 90 showrooms nationwide, the acquisition of Sweden Auto consolidates Tasco Autos position as the largest automotive distributor in Vietnam. Vietnam tries to buck trends in M&A, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com On July 5, Daiwa House Logistics Trust successfully completed the acquisition of a logistics property in Vietnam, with an estimated total purchase consideration of approximately $19.12 million. Daiwa House Vietnam Co., Ltd. has been reappointed as the property manager for the newly acquired property, under a new term lasting until July 2026. This deal is part of the companys strategic expansion in the logistics sector within the region. As of the first half of 2024, the total value of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals with disclosed information reached around $3 billion in Vietnam, according to the data from Mergermarket. Notably, there has been an uptick in larger transactions, particularly in buyout acquisitions, over the past twelve months. Huong Trinh, partner of BDA Partners, told VIR, This pattern indicates a robust appetite for significant deals in the market. Strategic investors are actively pursuing expansion by targeting leading companies in Vietnam, while financial sponsors are leveraging substantial dry powder following a slowdown in deal activities over the past two years. While M&A signals a recovery, deal values remain below pre-pandemic levels observed in 2021. This is largely due to the lingering effects of the global economic slowdown, geopolitical risks, and the prevailing political and economic uncertainties in Vietnam. Based on our observation, some large transactions are still running at a slow pace until theres more clarity on the macroeconomic and political environment, she said. So far this year, several key sectors such as healthcare, financial services, and industry have been dominating Vietnams M&A market, underscoring a diverse spectrum of investor interests. Factors driving these activities include robust economic growth, an expanding middle-class and increasing consumer expenditures, regulatory reforms, and shifts in the global supply chains as influenced by the US-China decoupling, all contributing to a dynamic and active market for mergers and acquisitions landscape in Vietnam, Trinh added. Findings by BDA Partners show that healthcare has been a key area for M&A activity as Vietnam focuses on improving healthcare infrastructure and services. Investments include acquisitions of hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare technology firms, reflecting a strategic focus on sector expansion and service enhancement. Key transactions include Warburg Pincus investment in Xuyen A hospital chain, KKRs majority stake acquisition of Medical Saigon Group, and GICs top-up investment in Nhi Dong 315. Meanwhile, financial services has emerged as a key focus for M&A since 2023 as companies are actively expanding market positions to capitalise on growth opportunities. Prominent transactions in 2024 comprise Thai financial group SCBXs acquisition of Home Credits business in Vietnam and Malaysias Public Bank Berhad takeover of RHB Securities Vietnam. In addition, industrials have remained robust with investments focused on diversifying supply chain operations, expanding production capacities, and entering new markets. Vietnam has been becoming a prominent manufacturing centre thanks to its strategic location at the centre of Southeast Asia, favourable government policies, and the availability of an affordable labour force. All are contributing to a dynamic deal landscape, BDA Partners noted. Foreign investors are increasingly looking at strategic acquisitions to enhance value, diversify their operations, and develop market positions. Masataka Sam Yoshida, head of the Cross-border Division of RECOF Corporation, said 10 transactions were announced between Japan and Vietnam in the first half of 2024, compared with eight in the same period a year ago. The total value recorded $157 million by the four transactions (among 10 in total) with the transaction value disclosed. Yoshida further noted that Japanese players are less active in the financial and real estate sectors, possibly because of the lack of good investment opportunities as well as their caution in comparison to US, Singaporean, and Thai investors, RECOF noted. Except for the SMBC/VP Bank and Aeon Financial/PTF transactions, both in 2023, we havent seen any sizable transaction by Japanese companies in these sectors since last year, he said. Another area to note is startups in IT software development and services. Mynavi Corporation, a HR-focused communications group, has invested in three Vietnamese IT companies every year for the last three years, Yoshida added. One factor driving the recovery of Vietnams M&A is a healthy exit landscape. This appears to be improving, driven by enhanced regulatory environment and the presence of promising consolidation opportunities in select sectors. Investors who consolidate positions through M&A that strengthen market presence, expand supply chain capabilities, or leverage technological advancements are better positioned for profitable exits, Trinh from BDA Partners said. How 2024 is shaping up for M&As With positive signals in real estate and technology-related merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in the latter part of 2023 and policy changes aimed at attracting foreign investments, the Vietnamese M&A market is expected to recover and thrive in 2024. Explaining more is ASL Laws managing partner Pham Duy Khuong and senior partner Nguyen Thi Thuy Chung. Vietnam has the tools to lead region in M&A deals Vietnam continues to be an attractive destination for overseas funding from other Asian countries, and potentially more from further afield. Pham Ngoc Bich, managing director of Corporate Finance at Ho Chi Minh Securities, provided insight to VIRs Celine Luu on the evolving landscape of Vietnamese mergers and acquisitions. M&A can prosper with the right steps The mergers and acquisitions market is poised to bounce back in 2024 after a fluctuating period, with significant anticipated deals across various industries. Le Khanh Lam, partner at RSM Vietnam, explains why Vietnam must take decisive action to converge the necessary conditions and be fully prepared for the upcoming growth period. The Data Science Lab Data Dimensionality Reduction Using a Neural Autoencoder with C# Dr. James McCaffrey of Microsoft Research presents a full-code, step-by-step tutorial on creating an approximation of a dataset that has fewer columns. Imagine that you have a dataset that has many columns (dimensions). In some scenarios it's useful to create an approximation of the dataset that has fewer columns. This is called dimensionality reduction. The two most common techniques for dimensionality reduction are using PCA (principal component analysis) and using a neural autoencoder. This article explains how to perform dimensionality reduction using a neural autoencoder implemented with the C# language. Compared to using PCA for dimensionality reduction, using a neural autoencoder has the big advantage that it works with source data that contains both numeric and categorical data, while PCA works only with strictly numeric data. An autoencoder is a specific type of neural network. The main disadvantage of using a neural autoencoder is that you must fine-tune the training parameters (max epochs, learning rate, batch size) and the number of nodes in the hidden layer. [Click on image for larger view.] Figure 1: Neural Autoencoder Dimensionality Reduction in Action A good way to see where this article is headed is to take a look at the screenshot of a demo program in Figure 1. The demo uses a synthetic dataset that has 240 items. The raw data looks like: F 24 michigan 29500.00 lib M 39 oklahoma 51200.00 mod F 63 nebraska 75800.00 con M 36 michigan 44500.00 mod F 27 nebraska 28600.00 lib . . . Each line of data represents a person. The fields are sex (male, female), age, state of residence (Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma), income, and political leaning (conservative, moderate, liberal). Notice that autoencoder dimensionality reduction can deal with any type of data: Boolean, integer, categorical/text, and floating point. The dataset is split into a 200-item set to be reduced and a 40-item set to act as training validation data. Neural networks accept only numeric data and so the source data has been normalized and encoded, and looks like: 1.0000 0.2400 1.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.2950 0.0000 0.0000 1.0000 -1.0000 0.3900 0.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.5120 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.6300 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 0.7580 1.0000 0.0000 0.0000 -1.0000 0.3600 1.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.4450 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 1.0000 0.2700 0.0000 1.0000 0.0000 0.2860 0.0000 0.0000 1.0000 . . . Sex is encoded as M = -1 and F = 1. Age is normalized by dividing by 100. State is one-hot encoded as Michigan = 100, Nebraska = 010, Oklahoma = 001. Income is normalized by dividing by 100,000. Political leaning is one-hot encoded as conservative = 100, moderate = 010, liberal = 001. The demo instantiates a 9-6-9 neural autoencoder that has tanh() hidden layer activation and tanh() output layer activation. Then, training parameters are set to maxEpochs = 1000, lrnRate = 0.010, and batSize = 10. The autoencoder Train() method is called, and progress is monitored every 100 epochs: Starting training epoch: 0 MSE = 2.3826 epoch: 100 MSE = 0.0273 . . . epoch: 800 MSE = 0.0019 epoch: 900 MSE = 0.0018 Done The MSE (mean squared error) values decrease which indicates that training is working properly -- something that doesn't always happen. The trained neural autoencoder is subjected to a sanity check by computing the MSE for the 40-item validation dataset. The MSE is 0.0017 which is very close to the MSE of the dataset being reduced, and which indicates that the autoencoder is not overfitted. The trained neural autoencoder model is used to reduce the 200 data items. The reduced data has six columns: 0.0102 0.2991 -0.0517 0.0154 -0.8028 0.9672 -0.2268 0.8857 0.0029 -0.2421 0.7477 -0.9319 0.0697 -0.9168 0.2438 0.9212 0.4091 0.2533 -0.0505 0.2831 0.5931 -0.9208 0.6399 -0.2666 0.5075 0.1818 0.0889 0.9078 -0.8808 0.3985 . . . This reduced data can be used as a surrogate for the original data. Common use-cases include data visualization in a 2D graph (if the data is reduced to just two columns instead of the six columns in the demo), use in machine learning algorithms (such as k-means clustering) that only work with numeric data, use in machine learning algorithms that can only handle a relatively small number of columns (such as those that compute a matrix inverse), and use in data cleaning (because the reduced data removes statistical noise). This article assumes you have intermediate or better programming skill but doesn't assume you know anything about neural autoencoders and dimensionality reduction. The demo is implemented using C#, but you should be able to refactor the demo code to another C-family language if you wish. All normal error checking has been removed to keep the main ideas as clear as possible. The source code for the demo program is too long to be presented in its entirety in this article. The complete code and data are available in the accompanying file download, and are also available online Understanding Neural Autoencoders The diagram in Figure 2 illustrates a neural autoencoder. The autoencoder has the same number of inputs and outputs (9) as the demo program, but for simplicity the illustrated autoencoder has architecture 9-2-9 (just 2 hidden nodes) instead of the 9-6-9 architecture of the demo autoencoder. A neural autoencoder is essentially a complex mathematical function that predicts its input. All input must be numeric so categorical data must be encoded. Although not theoretically necessary, for practical reasons, numeric input should be normalized so that all values have roughly the same range, typically between -1 and +1. [Click on image for larger view.] Figure 2: Neural Autoencoder System Each thin blue arrow represents a neural weight, which is just a number, typically between about -2 and +2. Weights are sometimes called trainable parameters. The small red arrows are special weights called biases. The 9-2-9 autoencoder in the diagram has (9 * 2) + (2 * 9) = 36 weights, and 2 + 9 = 11 biases. The values of the weights and biases, together with an input vector, determine the values of the output nodes. Finding the values of the weights and biases is called training the model. Put another way, training a neural autoencoder finds the values of the weights and biases so that the output values closely match the input values. After training, when a data item is fed to the autoencoder, the values in the hidden nodes are a reduced version of the input data. The reduced form is sometimes called an embedding, or a latent vector. Normalizing and Encoding Source Data for an Autoencoder In practice, preparing the source data for an autoencoder is the most time-consuming part of the dimensionality reduction process. To normalize numeric variables, I recommend using the divide-by-constant technique so that all normalized values are between -1 and +1. For the demo data, the age values are divided by 100. If you had a column of temperature values that range from -40 degrees to +130 degrees, you could divide each value by 200. The only significant alternative to divide-by-constant normalization is min-max normalization, but divide-by-constant is simpler and retains the sign of the original value. To encode a categorical variable, you should use one-hot encoding. The only time you'll run into trouble is when the variable can take on many possible values. For example, if the state of residence variable could be any one of the 50 U.S. states, each one-hot encoded vector would have forty-nine 0s and one 1. The standard workaround is to use ordinal encoding (1 through 50) and then programmatically convert to one-hot encoding when the data is read into memory. To encode a binary variable, such as sex in the demo data, you can use either zero-one encoding or minus-one-plus-one encoding. In theory, minus-one-plus-one is better, but in practice there is rarely any significant difference between the two encoding techniques. I personally prefer minus-one-plus-one encoding but most of my colleagues use zero-one encoding. The demo program assumes that the raw data has been normalized and encoded in a preprocessing step. It's possible to programmatically normalize and encode raw data on the fly, but this is a bit more difficult than you might expect. The Demo Program I used Visual Studio 2022 (Community Free Edition) for the demo program. I created a new C# console application and checked the "Place solution and project in the same directory" option. I specified .NET version 8.0. I named the project NeuralNetworkDimReduction. I checked the "Do not use top-level statements" option to avoid the program entry point shortcut syntax. The demo has no significant .NET dependencies and any relatively recent version of Visual Studio with .NET (Core) or the older .NET Framework will work fine. You can also use the Visual Studio Code program if you like. After the template code loaded into the editor, I right-clicked on file Program.cs in the Solution Explorer window and renamed the file to the slightly more descriptive NeuralDimReductionProgram.cs. I allowed Visual Studio to automatically rename class Program. The overall program structure is presented in Listing 1. All the control logic is in the Main() method. All of the neural autoencoder functionality is in a NeuralNet class. A Utils class holds helper functions for Main() to load data from file to memory, and functions to display vectors and matrices. Listing 1: Overall Program Structure using System; using System.IO; using System.Collections.Generic; namespace NeuralNetworkDimReduction { internal class NeuralDimReductionProgram { static void Main(string[] args) { Console.WriteLine("Begin neural dim reduction demo "); // load data into memory // create autoencoder // train autoencoder // validate trained autoencoder // reduce the data Console.WriteLine("End demo "); Console.ReadLine(); } // Main } // Program // -------------------------------------------------------- public class NeuralNet { private int ni; // number input nodes private int nh; // hidden private int no; // output private double[] iNodes; private double[][] ihWeights; // input-hidden private double[] hBiases; private double[] hNodes; private double[][] hoWeights; // hidden-output private double[] oBiases; private double[] oNodes; // gradients private double[][] ihGrads; private double[] hbGrads; private double[][] hoGrads; private double[] obGrads; private Random rnd; // init wts, scramble train order public NeuralNet(int numIn, int numHid, int numOut, int seed) { . . } private void InitWeights() { . . } public void SetWeights(double[] wts) { . . } public double[] GetWeights() { . . } public double[] ComputeOutput(double[] x) { . . } private static double HyperTan(double x) { . . } private void ZeroOutGrads() { . . } private void AccumGrads(double[] y) { . . } private void UpdateWeights(double lrnRate) { . . } public void Train(double[][] dataX, double[][] dataY, double lrnRate, int batSize, int maxEpochs) { . . } public double[] ReduceVector(double[] x) { . . } public double[][] ReduceMatrix(double[][] X) { . . } private void Shuffle(int[] sequence) { . . } public double Error(double[][] dataX, double[][] dataY) { . . } public void SaveWeights(string fn) { . . } public void LoadWeights(string fn) { . . } private static double[][] MatCreate(int nRows, int nCols) { . . } } // -------------------------------------------------------- public class Utils { public static string[] FileLoad(string fn, string comment) { . . } public static double[][] MatLoad(string fn, int[] usecols, char sep, string comment) { . . } public static void MatShow(double[][] m, int dec, int wid) { . . } } } // ns The demo program is complex. However, the only code you'll need to modify is the calling code in the Main() method. The demo starts by loading the raw data into memory: string rawFile = "..\\..\\..\\Data\\people_raw.txt"; string[] rawData = Utils.FileLoad(rawFile, "#"); Console.WriteLine("First 5 raw data: "); for (int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) Console.WriteLine(rawData[i]); The people_raw.txt file is read into memory as an array of type string. Reading and displaying the raw data isn't necessary because the dimensionality reduction is performed on the normalized and encoded data. But displaying the raw data helps to make the ideas of dimensionality reduction a bit easier to understand. The 200-item dataset to reduce is loaded into memory: Console.WriteLine("Loading encoded and normalized data "); string dataFile = "..\\..\\..\\Data\\people_data.txt"; double[][] dataX = Utils.MatLoad(dataFile, new int[] { 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 }, ',', "#"); The arguments to the MatLoad() function mean load columns 0 through 8 inclusive of the comma-delimited file, where lines beginning with # indicate a comment. The return value is an array-of-arrays style matrix. The 40-item validation dataset is loaded in the same way: string validationFile = "..\\..\\..\\Data\\people_validation.txt"; double[][] validationX = Utils.MatLoad(validationFile, new int[] { 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 }, ',', "#"); Console.WriteLine("Done "); Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign South East branch (IPSC) protested at the constituency offices of several Waterford politicians for purportedly "turning a blind eye" to Irish complicity in the ongoing crisis in Gaza. On Friday, July 5, IPSC activists protested at the offices of Minister of State Mary Butler, TD (Fianna Fail) in Waterford city, TD Marc O Cathasaigh (Green Party) in Tramore, and at the office of Senator John Cummins (Fine Gael). They left a letter outlining their concerns: We at the IPSC, many of whom are your constituents in the Waterford area, are requesting that you use your voice to call for an arms embargo and that there are immediate inspections on all military aircraft entering Shannon Airport. "While we are glad that Palestine has been recognised by the government, we urge you to take the aforementioned practical steps to saving lives in Gaza. "Thousands of massive bombs have been delivered to Israel by the United States air force whilst the ICC has found war crimes are taking place." It ended: "We hope you will use your voices to help Ireland adopt an arms embargo and make sure anything that can be used to commit war crimes does not enter or leave Irish airspace. A representative from the IPSC South East branch stated that the protest comes after a Bill, aimed to stop the import of Israeli military weapons from entering the Irish airspace, was presented at the Seanad. They stated that the bill "would have also got rid of the regime of exemptions that allow US warplanes to travel through Irish airports and airspace without being checked for military or dual-use items". "Unfortunately, and shamefully, Senators from the government parties, including Fine Gael Senator John Cummins, decided that this important Bill was not important enough, and voted to delay any discussion on it for six months thereby ensuring that Irish airspace may be used for the transfer of weapons and armaments to Apartheid Israel for at least another six months of genocide in Gaza. They continued: "It seems as if the government believes a symbolic recognition of a Palestinian state is enough to assuage Irish public opinion on this matter. We protested at Waterford Government Senator and TD's offices to tell them it is not. With an election taking place in the next few months, we would ask our supporters to bear this action in mind while voting down the line and keep the pressure on Government politicians to act now. Law enforcement officers from across Texas head towards downtown on I-45 to assist the Houston Police Department, a department that is strapped by resources, on Thursday, July 11, 2024 in Houston, TX. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer The 100 out-of-town officers finished their last shifts early Monday the same day the Houston Police Department demobilized as the city continues its recovery from last weeks Hurricane Beryl, Mayor John Whitmire confirmed. Fewer traffic lights remained out across the city and department leaders thought current conditions meant they could return to some sense of normalcy, Whitmire said. But that could change if conditions worsen. We will monitor conditions this week and bring them back if necessary, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But the police department, which had officers working 12-hour day and night shifts, will return to normal. MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: CenterPoint nears 2M customers' power restored a week out from Hurricane Beryl The news comes as CenterPoint officials estimated they would have 90% of affected customers power restored, a week after Beryl knocked out electricity for millions of Houstonians. Nearly two million affected customers power had been restored as of 6:20 a.m. Monday, while 264,768 remained without electricity, according to the energy companys website. Unlike other recent storms like Hurricane Harvey, the Houston Police Department didnt fully mobilize until after Hurricane Beryl struck the region. The departments nearly 6,000 employees didnt fully mobilize until early Tuesday, almost 24 hours after the storm struck, with Whitmire saying they did so in response to the unexpectedly high number of power outages. Then, on Thursday, more than 100 new officers from agencies across the state joined 80 from the Texas Department of Public Safety to help local police patrol Houston in the wake of Beryl. The state paid for the officers to work the shifts in Houston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I thank the state of Texas emergency for paying for the cost, Whitmire said Monday. A great model of collaboration during a crisis. Whitmire said he spent some of the weekend on ride-alongs with officers from other agencies. Those visiting officers caught quite a few calls, Whitmire said. Houston police officials, for instance, said San Antonio Police Department personnel were on the scene of a road-rage shooting Saturday. Officials with the city didnt immediately have the overtime costs associated with bringing in the additional officers and fully-mobilizing the department in response to Beryl. As part of the mobilization, the Houston Police Department leaders divided the 5,200 officers into two shifts, one during the day and one at night, to patrol the city and help with storm recovery efforts. Jenkins runs child care out of her home at 610 Southview St. and on Thursday police were contacted about her treatment of children at the home. Officers obtained a video of Jenkins allegedly picking up an 18-month-old girl by one arm and swinging her around, according to court records. She then yelled at the child. Another video obtained by police allegedly shows Jenkins yanking an 8-month-old girl by her arm out of a high chair and throwing the child on the living room floor, records state. Community Health Alliance will be hosting back-to-school vaccine clinics this summer in the Washoe County School District. They will be offering vaccines including Tdap, MCV4, HPV, Hepatitis A and others. All students entering the 7th grade must have one dose of MCV4, and all students entering the 12th grade must have a second dose of MCV4. Scheduling an appointment is preferred but walk-ins are also welcome. To schedule an appointment, click here. Folks are asked to bring an identification card, vaccine records if you are new to Nevada and your insurance card. A parent or guardian must be present during the appointment. If your child is under four years old and needs to establish care with a medical provider, call (775) 329-6300 to make an appointment. All six Community Health Alliance locations are accepting new patients. The vaccine clinics will be held form 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the following dates and locations: July 23 at Dilworth Middle School July 24 at McQueen High School July 25 at Depoali Middle School July 30 at North Valleys High School July 31 at Vaughn Middle School August 1 at Spanish Springs High School August 6 at Swope Middle School August 7 at Mendive Middle School August 8 at Hug High School If you can't attend any of the clinics, Community Health Alliance's pharmacy staff will vaccinate students five and older at three pharmacy locations: Wells Avenue Health Center, Sparks Health Center, and Nell K. Redfield Health Center in Sun Valley. Ronald Palmer, a man accused in the shooting death of Harris County Sheriff's Office Deputy Fernando Esqueda, makes an appearance in the 248th District Courtroom on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Members of Harris County Sheriffs Deptartment overflow into the jury box before Ronald Palmer, a man accused in the shooting death of HCSO Deputy Fernando Esqueda, makes an appearance in the 248th District Courtroom on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Judge Susan Brown addresses Ronald Palmer, a man accused in the shooting death of Harris County Sheriff's Office Deputy Fernando Esqueda, during his court on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Ronald Palmer, a man accused in the shooting death of Harris County Sheriff's Office Deputy Fernando Esqueda, makes an appearance in the 248th District Courtroom on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Harris County Prosecutor Chandler Raine talks about the case against Ronald Palmer, a man accused in the shooting death of Harris County Sheriff's Office Deputy Fernando Esqueda, made a court appearance on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Defense attorneys TTyrone Moncriffe, left, and Beryl Irvin talk to the media following Ronald Palmer, a man accused in the shooting death of Harris County Sheriff's Office Deputy Fernando Esqueda, made a court appearance on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalezs badge is covered with a Latin phrase that translates to no one attacks me with impunity while he talks to the media following the court appearance of Ronald Palmer, a man accused in the shooting death Deputy Fernando Esqueda, makes an appearance on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Members of Harris County Sheriffs Department salute a hearse carrying the body of fallen Deputy Fernando Esqueda on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Monday morning started with a four-mile procession for fallen Deputy Fernando Esqueda and ended with his grieving family catching their first look at the man accused of killing him. The defendant, Ronald Palmer, appeared briefly in a Harris County courtroom on a capital murder of a police officer charge, saying little except to acknowledge a judges questions about his rights. Police accused Palmer of shooting the 28-year-old Harris County Sheriffs Office deputy of five years last Wednesday during his search for a man suspected of pistol-whipping a Little Caesars worker. Another man, Dremone Francis, was also charged with capital murder of a police officer in connection with Esquedas death. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Prosecutors said they hope to hold Palmer without bail until his trial, where jurors could convict and condemn him to death. MORE ON THIS CASE: Harris County deputy fatally shot because a man was upset his pizza didn't look like an ad, prosecutors say Esquedas loved ones, some of whom also work in law enforcement, filled two rows in the 248th District Court as they waited for Palmer to emerge from a holdover room for jailed defendants. About 40 uniformed law enforcement officials, including Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, joined them in the courtroom a show of support rarely seen following an on-duty death of a deputy or officer. A bailiff rushed a pack of tissues to Esquedas mother as she began to cry. His funeral is scheduled Friday at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Ronald Palmer, a man accused in the shooting death of Harris County Sheriff's Office Deputy Fernando Esqueda, makes an appearance in a full courtroom at the 248th District Court on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Along with family members of the 28-year-old deputies, more than 40 law enforcement officials were present. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Few details were disclosed in court about how the shooting unfolded, but that information could be introduced in September at a proof-evident hearing aimed at holding Palmer without bail until the outcome of his case. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Esqueda was fully uniformed but sitting inside a gray pick-up truck when he was shot, according to court records. Cheryl Irvin, one of Palmer's appointed defense attorneys, shook the hands of Gonzalez and other officials in court. She remained adamant about Palmer's presumed innocence after his appearance. "We don't know what his role was, but we're going to do our best to defend him," Irvin said. Defending attorney Cheryl Irvin holds the shoulder of Harris County Captain Ben Katrib before Ronald Palmer, a man accused in the shooting death of Harris County Sheriff's Office Deputy Fernando Esqueda, makes an appearance in the 248th District Courtroom on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer 41 bullet casings found According to court documents, Francis and Palmer were discussing the altercation at the fast food pizzeria where authorities said Palmer became irate that his pizza did not resemble an advertisement when they noticed Esqueda watching them. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Palmer then told a witness he was going to do some business, a magistrate said Friday. Officials believe that two guns were used during the shooting, but havent said if both men were accused of firing weapons. Investigators found 41 bullet casings at the scene, officials said. Esqueda was shot around 11:48 p.m., according to a review of police radio traffic from the night of the shooting. Multiple deputies converged onto the 13200 block of Italian Cypress Trail and found Esqueda with a wound to his head. He was rushed to Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital about 11 miles west of the shooting in the back of another deputys vehicle. He did not survive. Deputy Fernando Esqueda. Esqueda was fatally shot in an apparent ambush while responding to a call July 10. Harris County Sheriff's Office The deputy, who had been on the phone with a detective at the time of the shooting, likely never had a chance to return fire, Gonzalez said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police initially identified Palmer as the only known suspect in the shooting, but the arrest Saturday of Francis, 26, showed otherwise. Like Palmer, prosecutors charged Francis with capital murder of a police officer but also tampering with evidence over accusations he attempted to get rid of guns used in the deputy's killing. Palmer and Francis both live on the nearby Blue Wonder Lane within three houses of each other, where Esqeuda was shot, court records show. Gonzalez described the two men as having a "social relationship." Francis told investigators he saw Palmer shoot a gun into a truck numerous times and that Palmer then handed him two guns and told him to get rid of them, according to court documents. Francis tried to get another person to dispose of the firearms, described by prosecutors as a handgun and a Mini Draco, a type of semi-automatic pistol. More from Nicole Hensley: Harris County Judge Kelli Johnson appears in court on DWI charge Records gleaned from Francis phone showed he might have tried selling the Draco, according to court documents. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Francis is being held without bail on the capital murder charge until a judge could rule on his bail conditions, which could happen Wednesday at his first appearance in court. Prosecutors requested a proof-evident hearing in his case as well, court documents show. A magistrate ordered Francis held on $500,000 bail on the tampering charge. Francis is unemployed and takes care of an 8-year-old child, a public defender said at a probable cause hearing. 'The world is upside down' The family, who declined to comment, quickly gathered in a jury room and were joined by District Attorney Kim Ogg after Palmers court appearance. Ogg said many of the relatives plan to return to court Wednesday for Francis appearance. The death penalty, she continued, would be considered in Palmers case, as happens in all cases involving those charged with capital murder in the death of a police officer. Prosecutors must voice their intent to seek death as a punishment in order to hold a defendant without bail until the outcome of the case, she said. We've given notice to the court that we will be seeking (death) and that's why we've asked for a proof-evident hearing, Ogg said. In reality. This is a process and things can change. Ogg reflected on the chain of events that started at the pizza parlor and led to Esquedas death. All because somebody didn't get their pizza to look like the picture of the pizza at Little Caesars, Ogg continued. The world is upside down when law enforcement officers are dying over such trivia. In case you missed it, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited northern Nevada yesterday to promote diversity incentives for women and native-owned businesses. Sharing her personal journey, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland reflected, "I come from an underrepresented community, right? Which is a reason I worked so hard on my career to advance voting for underrepresented communities." Her words carry the weight of her own experiences, inspiring others to strive for change. "It's really important that the people of Washoe County know that we are important and that they need to be aware of what's going on, so the more dignitaries that come, the more we'll learn. The more people will learn," said Linda Sinclair, the Chair of Heart of Reno, a sub-group in the Democratic Party of Washoe County. Secretary Haaland began her day by attending a powwow at Pyramid Lake. she then met with Biden-Harris campaign volunteers at 'Star Village Coffee,' a native-owned company in Reno. Democratic candidate for the assembly district 24, Erica Roth, co-presented with Haaland at a meet-and-greet with Nevada Democratic volunteers. Haaland is a 35th generation New Mexican and a member of the Pueblo people. Before rising through the ranks of the Democratic Party and serving as the first Native American woman in the U.S. Congress, Haaland founded a salsa company while being a single mom."It's really a representation of the democratic party; we believe deeply in making sure all people are being spoken to about the issues that matter most to them, and that's what she's doing. She's visiting small businesses across District 24. We're talking to voters, we're talking to volunteers, and making sure people are reminded that democracy is truly on the ballot," said Erica Roth, the former Deputy General Counsel to Governor Steve Sisolak and current Democratic candidate for Assembly District 24. Haaland is a 35th generation New Mexican and a member of the Pueblo people. Before rising through the ranks of the Democratic Party and serving as the first Native American woman in the U.S. Congress, Haaland founded a salsa company while being a single mom. Megan Menchaca is a Houston Independent School District reporter for the Houston Chronicle and the co-author of The Report Card. She can be reached at megan.menchaca@houstonchronicle.com. Megan joined the Chronicle in 2023 after working as the higher education reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in journalism and government. There is a food-related reason people love the Riviera, which can be taken to mean Provence, France, and Liguria, Italy. The dishes are simple and straightforward and not only easy and fun to eat but also easy and fun to recreate. My first visit to that border in 1976 was revelatory, in that it was when I realized, when eating a meal much like this one, that there is no such thing as French or Italian food, only regional food in France and Italy and this is one of the places where it freely crosses the border. Whether you travel by plane, ship or armchair, this menu will transport you to a perfect summertime dinner for two on the Riviera. Each of the three easy recipes are perfect for two and take 30 minutes or less. Members only Start with the appetizer. Its everything you love about deviled eggs with none of the hassle, perfect for nibbling in the kitchen or serving on dressed greens as a sit-down salad course. The one-pot main dish, Provencal Chicken, combines a little chicken with olives, capers, garlic, zucchini and tomatoes in a light but satisfying summer stew Im a sucker for the flavors of Provence! Dessert is a simply delicious tiramisu, and for peak summer, be sure to check out the shortcake-ish strawberry variation. This time of year is for casual outside dining and entertaining. With that in mind, I chose recipes that can be made ahead, partially or fully. Theyre perfect for small dinner parties too; just multiply all quantities equal to get to four, six, or even eight servings. Hard-Boiled Eggs with Dijon Mayo This recipe for Hard-Boiled Eggs with Dijon Mayo is everything you love about deviled eggs with none of the hassle. Jim Henkens Total time: 30 minutes Everything you love about deviled eggs with none of the hassle. You can even prepare the recipe through step two up to a day or two ahead of serving; leftovers keep in an airtight container for another day or two. For more ways to flavor the sauce and directions for creamier yolks see the variations that follow. Ingredients 4 eggs 1 cup ice cubes cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, or more to taste teaspoon paprika Salt Pepper 4 or 5 chive stalks Directions Fill a 2-quart pot with a tight-fitting lid halfway with water and bring to a boil. One at a time, gently lower the eggs straight from the fridge (or not) into the boiling water with a spoon so they dont crack. Cover, turn off the heat, and set the timer for 10 minutes if you want the yolks barely set and not chalky; add another minute or so if you want them firmer. Put the ice in a medium bowl and cover with cold water. Put the mayonnaise, mustard and paprika in a small bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Stir with a small spoon or soft spatula to combine. (The sauce will keep, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to two days.) When the timer goes off, transfer the eggs to the ice water with a slotted spoon. Leave them submerged for at least 1 minute. (You can refrigerate the whole boiled eggs for up to two days.) When youre ready to serve, chop the chives; you should have about 2 tablespoons. Reserve them for garnish. Crack and peel the eggs. Transfer them to a cutting board and halve them lengthwise. Sprinkle the eggs with a little salt if youd like, and dollop some of the sauce on top of each half. Garnish with pepper and the chives. Thanks to loyalty programs, discount codes and other promos, you dont have to pay full price at the store. Yet many people, especially older adults, arent taking advantage of deals and discounts, ultimately leaving money on the table. Seniors are missing out on significant savings if they dont use coupons or digital coupons, says Edgar Dworsky, founder and editor of Consumer World. It is very common, for example, for P&G [Procter & Gamble] to offer period coupons for $3 off on a bottle of Tide. That is a significant saving. Digital coupons on meat items may provide $2 or $3 off per pound. A couple of years ago a supermarket had a digital coupon on Thanksgiving turkeys for a dollar off a pound. For a 15-pound turkey, that amounted to a $15 savings. Members only Utilizing online coupons can save you around $1,400 a year, according to a study conducted by CouponFollow, which aggregates deals and digital coupons for shoppers. But to realize those savings, you have to be strategic and avoid common couponing mistakes, including these seven. 1. Ignoring digital coupons From supermarkets to retailers, digital coupons are a common way shoppers save but are also something tech-averse people tend to avoid. I cant tell you how many older adults I meet at the grocery store who tell me that digital coupons are hard to find, says Joanie Demer, cofounder and co-CEO of The Krazy Coupon Lady. But its like anything in life: You put the effort into learning something new and it pays off."" Demer suggests enlisting a tech-savvy friend, family member, or grandchild (or visit a library or community center) to learn tips on using a mobile phone to find and clip digital coupons. Many stores make it easy to search for coupons within their apps and save them to your digital wallet. Others have kiosks at the entrance to the store, where shoppers can scan their loyalty card or enter their phone number to get that week's digital offers uploaded onto the shopper's card, Dworsky says. 2. Avoiding loyalty apps Whether you shop at a department store or a supermarket, there is an app for that. If you download it, you get access to discounts, deals and other perks, yet many people scoff at doing it. Who has the time? and Who wants yet another app on their phone? are common complaints. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Interview: Montreux Jazz Festival China's CEO aims to boost cultural exchange between Chinese, int'l artists 09:42, July 15, 2024 By Martina Fuchs ( Xinhua MONTREUX, Switzerland, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The third edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival China is set to take place in the Chinese city of Suzhou in late October in a bid to connect East and West, and foster more exchanges between international and Chinese musicians, its CEO told Xinhua in a recent interview. The internationally renowned Montreux Jazz Festival, created in Switzerland in 1967 by Claude Nobs and directed by Mathieu Jaton since 2013, traditionally lasts two weeks every summer. Nearly 250,000 spectators attend the festival every year, enjoying a breathtaking setting, concerts with renowned acoustics and free stages. In 2021, the festival traveled to China for the first time, choosing the picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province as its inaugural location. This year, the festival will travel to China for the third time and take place in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, from October 25 to 27 under the Montreux Jazz Festival China's theme "When West Meets East". "Over three days, we will have three stages and almost 100 international musicians will come to Suzhou," CEO Joyce Peng Peng said. "Ninety percent are international artists who will come to China and 10 percent are from China. We will represent all musical genres including jazz, rock, blues, R&B, folk, indie, and electronic, and we will even have meditation and sound healing courses." "It's like Montreux, we carry DNA 100 percent from Switzerland," she said. FESTIVAL ON A MISSION Peng emphasized the significance of fostering cultural connections between China and the global community as her primary objective. "It's very important because, after difficult times, China is now totally opening up. They welcome a lot of international musicians to come to China." "We are like a window to the world. Through us, you can see China, and the Chinese people can see the world through us." Over the course of its nearly six-decade history, the quaint Swiss town of Montreux has played host to legendary performances by some of the biggest names in music. Icons such as Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder have graced the stages of Montreux, leaving an indelible mark on the festival's illustrious legacy. Since the late 1970s, the Montreux Jazz Festival has extended its reach beyond its Swiss origins, sharing its expertise, heritage, and unique ambiance with cities across the globe. The festival has successfully held editions in diverse locations such as Sao Paulo, Detroit, Atlanta, Singapore, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro. "We want to expand to Hong Kong and even Macau. We also want to bring as many international musicians as possible to China and bring Chinese musicians to Montreux and the rest of the world." "China has so many good musicians but not too many people outside of China know them. It's our mission to introduce them to the world," she said. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan) W.G. Jones State Forest in Conroe remains closed after the Texas A&M Forest Service reported that more than 400,000 acres of rural forest was affected by Hurricane Beryl. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer A fallen tree blocks the road of a residential area in Fifth Ward on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Trees that fell during Hurricane Beryl remain perched on a couple of houses in the Homestead neighborhood of Houston on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle) Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A tree covers the road in a neighborhood on the Eastside of Houston following Hurricane Beryl on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer A utility line worker is visible among the branches Thursday, July 11, 2024, using a chain saw to clear branches from a power line after a large Chinaberry tree fell from the yard of Wendy Morgan in Galveston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer W.G. Jones State Forest in Conroe remains closed after the Texas A&M Forest Service reported that more than 400,000 acres of rural forest was affected by Hurricane Beryl. The state forest off FM 1488 is one of the nation's largest working urban forests, according to the agency's website. The primary purpose of Jones Forest is resource education and it has approximately 80,000 people that visit each year, the website states. As of Monday, the state forest remained temporarily closed, but is expected to reopen as recovery efforts continue in the region. Advertisement Article continues below this ad SURVIVING HURRICANE BERYL: How Houstonians survived a week without power after Hurricane Beryl Steve Anderson, coordinator for Texas A&M Forest Service State Lands, said the agency had yet to evaluate how much Hurricane Beryl affected the state park due to personnel being occupied assisting the Houston area with water and food supplies. "As soon as they're freed up, we'll have a better idea of what we're dealing with down there," Anderson said. "We're actually going to be visiting later this week to take a look at it and then we'll decide what we're gonna have to do. We do have some damage. We really still don't know how extensive that damage is because all of our roads are blocked, so you can't get around in it easily right now." The main reason the state forest was temporarily closed was due to the many trees that were either down or leaning, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We definitely didn't want the public in there," Anderson said, noting that the state forest will open again, although the timeline for when that will happen is unclear. "We'll know a lot more information in a couple of weeks." In a release on July 11, the forest service agency stated more than 400,000 acres of rural forest was potentially impacted by Hurricane Beryl's winds and another 7.4 million acres of forest experienced tropical storm force winds. Since the temporary closure of the state forest, the agency has transitioned its efforts from chainsaw clearing to points of distribution activities in the Greater Houston area to assist in water and food supply distribution, the agency's release states. As of July 11, personnel and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System strike teams continued to aid in response and recovery efforts. This is a difficult time for our community and state, Anderson said in a written statement. Our state forest has experienced damage which can pose a risk to visiting community members. We have decided to temporarily close the W.G. Jones State Forest so that community members can stay safe while our local teams serve in their community first. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Community trees were among the most heavily impacted by the storm, the agency's release states. These trees experienced occasional whole-tree failure exacerbated by saturated soil, small branch shedding and major limb breakage. Forest trees saw relatively light damage and isolated to road edges or small pockets of pine timber where trees were snapped or had their tops broken out. Some cases were reported that large pines and hardwoods were uprooted and fell over. Adgullys AG Talk brings unfiltered insights and thoughts of CEOs, MDs and CMOs, who have been leading the marketing landscape, and in fact, also laying the ground rules to keep up with the transformative times. The Sleep Company, founded in 2019 by the husband-wife duo Priyanka Salot and Harshil Salot, is one of Indias leading comfort-tech brands. The company has embarked on its brand-building journey over the last 12 months, with nearly one-third of its expenditure now allocated to brand building. Having launched its 100th store in India, the company is further looking to solidify its market position by enhancing its omnichannel presence. In order to support this, the company has set its advertising and marketing budget at Rs 80-85 crore for FY25. While 75-80% expenditure will be on digital platforms, traditional media spending will be around 20-25%. In just four and a half years since its inception, the company has touched a significant milestone of achieving Rs 500 crore ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue). It is Indias fastest D2C brand to open 100 COCO (Company-owned, Company-operated) stores in just two years since venturing into offline retail. The company had opened its first store in Bengaluru in June 2022. The Sleep Company is well-positioned to reach the Rs 1,000-crore revenue mark in the next 2-3 years. This smart goal is leaderships strategic vision and will be driven by a comprehensive growth strategy, with expansion plans across India. In this exclusive Ag Talk interaction with Adgully, Priyanka Salot, Co-Founder, The Sleep Company, speaks about the tremendous growth achieved by the company in just four and a half years of its launch, the strong focus on technology and R&D, expanding presence in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, the criteria for associating with celebrity endorsers, and much more. Congratulations on the grand launch of your 100th store in Bandra. Could you tell us more about this milestone? What special promotions or events are planned for the store launch? Its a big, big milestone. Just to give you a little bit of background about The Sleep Company: we started as a digital-first brand in October 2019, just four and a half years ago. When we began, our focus was on our patented smart grid technology, which is truly disrupting the way people sleep and sit in India. Within two and a half years of our journey, based on feedback from our consumers, we decided to open our first experience center on June 10, 2022, in Bangalore. From zero to 100 stores in two years, we have been opening a store every five days, marking a phenomenal journey for the brand. Our vision from day one has been to improve the way India sleeps and sits. Our experience centers focus heavily on educating consumers about sleep and the superior benefits of our smart grid technology. We ensure that consumers can buy products that genuinely help them sleep or sit better. Moving forward, we will continue to double down on what has worked for us: great, innovative products. We will keep launching new products designed to enhance sleep quality. For instance, we now offer a smart recliner bed. This remote-controlled bed allows you to sleep in zero gravity, providing deeper sleep, or recline at 90 degrees while watching TV an amazing feature. Innovation remains key. We anticipate growing from 100 to 200 stores even faster than our initial expansion. We aim to ensure that more and more consumers have access to our experience centers. Our plan is to build a strong, sustainable business and become the market leader. When we say Sleep Company, automatically, from the consumers point of view cushions and mattresses come to mind. How does the company incorporate technology? Could you give us a sneak peek into the R&D of your products? Before we launched in October 2019, we actually worked on R&D for two years. Historically, if you look at the mattress industry, it started with cotton. Cotton moved to coir, which is a byproduct of coconut trees. Then it evolved to foam. Foam includes memory foam and polyurethane foam. We invented a completely new material, called the smart grid, which is made of a hyper-elastic polymer. We have a very strong in-house team dedicated to continuing innovation. For example, we have Asias first smart grid mattress, the worlds first smart grid chair, and the worlds first smart grid recliner sofa. For us, innovation is crucial, but our primary focus is on products that can significantly improve sleep quality and seating comfort for our consumers. Since India is a price-sensitive market, what are your plans to expand further in the country? Also, could you talk about your strategies for engaging with Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities? Today, we are present in 30 cities, and more than 35% of our business comes from beyond the top 20 cities, which includes Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. Our intent as we grow from 100 to 200 stores is to expand from 30 to 50 cities, focusing more on Tier 1 and Tier 2 locations. At the same time, we aim to increase our presence in metro cities, ensuring that our experience centers are within a ten-minute driving distance. We will focus on both Tier 1, Tier 2, and building density in metro areas. You have associated with celebrities like Anil Kapoor and Jim Sarbh. What are The Sleep Companys criteria for associating with any celebrity? For us, there are two or three very important criteria. First, our brand ambassadors must also be our actual customers. They have to be using The Sleep Company products. Anil Kapoor has been using our products for the last four years, ever since he joined the brand. He is not just a brand ambassador; he is a partner for us. This is very important to us. Second, we need to find strong synergies between what our brand stands for and what the celebrity represents. We are a brand that stands for innovation, honestly delivers products to our consumers, and educates them. This alignment is crucial. What measures are you taking to ensure sustainable growth in your revenue streams? We started with a D2C model, integrating digital marketplaces with our website and prioritizing customer satisfaction. Soon, we expanded to an omnichannel approach, blending physical and digital channels. Enhancing our D2C presence, we began on-ground expansions, culminating in our 100th COCO store launch. Initially a comfort-tech mattress brand, we have grown beyond our patented SmartGRID mattresses into pillows, smart beds, smart chairs, and more. This growth stems from our profound understanding of diverse consumer needs across various product categories, leading us to establish a 'House of Brands'. This strategy allows us to introduce specialized products or categories under separate brands as they mature within our portfolio. An example is ErgoSmart by The Sleep Company, which specifically caters to ergonomic smart chairs. By continually refining our omnichannel presence and product portfolio through strategic brand diversification, we aim to sustainably enhance revenue streams while maintaining a competitive edge in the marketplace. The Budget Session of Parliament is estimated to begin on July 22, lasting till August 9, 2024, with a focus on the economic growth of the nation. What are your expectations from the upcoming budget? I think India is a booming economy. If you look globally, India is doing far better than most developed nations in terms of GDP growth. The Budget will likely focus heavily on economic growth, which is great for us, many other startups, and the industry as a whole. Today, the consumer is evolving. Consumers have started investing in products that they feel are good for them. When the country is doing well and the economy is growing, people have more spending power and more discretionary spending happens. We are confident that the mattress industry will continue to grow. As the industry grows and as we are currently the fastest-growing brand in this industry, we expect that The Sleep Company will continue to reach more and more customers. What specific strategies are you implementing to achieve your ad sales targets? We have implemented a multifaceted approach to our marketing strategy. Firstly, we focus heavily on performance marketing, leveraging digital platforms such as YouTube, Meta (Facebook, Instagram, etc.), and regional media including print advertisements to optimize reach and engagement. We tailor our media mix for each market, ensuring our messaging resonates effectively. Additionally, we invest significantly in influencer partnerships across bottom, top, and mid-funnel strategies. Furthermore, our expansion into tier 2 and tier 3 cities involves targeted advertising campaigns that highlight accessibility and comfort, mirroring the successful strategies used in metro areas. Currently, approximately 80-85% of our expenditures are on digital platforms, with 20-25% allocated to traditional media. Moreover, we are expanding our presence with over 150 experience centers across 50 cities by the end of 2024, enhancing customer accessibility and engagement. Could you provide an overview of your marketing budget for this year? We spend approximately Rs 90-100 crore on marketing. Our objective is always to educate our consumers on the importance of sleep and inform them about how smart grid technology is far superior. Thats what weve been doing, and thats what we will continue to do. How much of the budget is allocated for the upcoming festive season? I think, Diwali and the pre-Diwali season are significant for this category because many consumers renovate their houses or move into new ones. We see a lot of consumers engaging with the digital ecosystem and visiting our experience centers more frequently during this period. As a result, this quarter, which is the second quarter of the year, typically sees a disproportionate amount of spending. We usually allocate around 30-35% of our yearly budget during this quarter. What are your companys plans for digital marketing and social media presence, and how significant is influencer marketing in your overall strategy, including the criteria you use to select influencers to collaborate with your brand? We dont think of ourselves as either a digital or an offline brand. We consider ourselves a true omni brand. And when I say true omni brand, what do I mean by that? Ill use a term called ROPO, which we use internally a lot: Research Online, Purchase Offline. This, I believe, is the essence of a true omni brand. We dont separate our business into online or offline categories. Its an omni business because consumers find us online, discover us online, and learn about our company online. Then, they visit one of our experience centers closest to their home to experience our products before making a purchase. Influencer marketing plays a crucial role in our overall strategy. We categorize influencer marketing into two parts: bottom funnel and top to mid funnel. We work with influencers in two key ways. First, we create long-form videos with them, leveraging their assistance throughout the process. Second, we use these influencer videos for performance marketing, utilizing their recognizable faces to build trust. Additionally, we are significantly expanding our efforts with regional celebrity partnerships as well. In addition to influencer collaborations, we enhance our marketing strategy by leveraging Instagram ad pop-ups. Moreover, influencer testimonials play a pivotal role in our strategy. When influencers share their sleep experiences with our products, it adds significant value by reinforcing trust and highlighting the benefits our customers can expect. Brand value and credibility are pivotal in our customer engagement strategy. We prioritize influencers whose audience aligns with our target demographics, have established credibility and trust, demonstrate high engagement rates, and share our brand values. What trends are you observing in the mattress industry that indicate growth opportunities? Over the past decade, the mattress industry in India has undergone substantial evolution. Initially focused on durability and basic comfort, traditional innerspring models have given way to a diverse range of options such as memory foam, latex, hybrids, and smart mattresses. These advancements, driven by developments in materials science and sleep research, now cater to specific consumer needs like pressure relief, motion isolation, and temperature regulation. The integration of smart technology has further transformed the sector, offering mattresses that can monitor sleep patterns and adjust firmness, aligning with growing consumer preferences for personalized and health-oriented sleep solutions. As consumer awareness about health and quality sleep increases, there's a corresponding rise in investment in high-quality mattresses. Projections indicate robust growth for the India Mattress Market, with estimates suggesting it will reach USD 2.13 billion by 2024 and continue expanding at a CAGR of 8.54% from 2024 to 2029. What are your marketing strategies for the year ahead? We have built the brand with a strong focus on brand design. For us, the intent is to continue driving awareness about our sleep company and its technology while expanding our distribution network from 100 to 200 locations. Going forward, youll see many campaigns centered around the themes of sleeping peacefully and sleeping deeper, such as the Sleep Deep Challenge and Sleep Peacefully. These campaigns will highlight how our sleep company helps you sleep better. For our seating business, we focus on providing long-lasting comfort and long hours of sitting comfort. You will see many campaigns and continuous efforts from The Sleep Company in both the sleeping and sitting segments. watch more: Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, looks out from his front porch of his Hurricane Beryl damaged house Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in about two feel of water and lost his power for a week. His power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, poses for a photograph with his signature red overcoat that he salvaged from his Hurricane Beryl damaged house Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in one-and-half feet to two feel of water and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Reyes said he has a lot of help from good neighbors and the Houston comedy community. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, shows his Hurricane Beryl flooded bedroom Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in about two feel of water and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. He had to throw out the majority of his furnitures. He had a bed, a couch, a television and stand and a closet. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Richard Reyes, known as Pancho Claus, uses a borrowed generator powering fans to dry out his Hurricane Beryl flood damaged house Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in one-and-half feet to two feel of water and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Reyes said he has a lot of help from good neighbors and the Houston comedy community. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Leonardo Angel Basselo Coronado helps Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, cleaning his Hurricane Beryl damaged house Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in one-and-half feet to two feel of water and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Coronado was Reyes friend through the comedy community and he has been coming over to help Reyes at least three times in the past week. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, dries his clothes in his backyard with a topped over above ground pool Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in about two feel of water from Hurricane Beryl and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer The partially gutted house of Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, is photographed Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in about two feel of water during Hurricane Beryl and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, runs a generator borrowed from a neighbor to power his water well and fans to dry out his Hurricane Beryl flood damaged house Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in one-and-half feet to two feel of water and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Reyes said he has a lot of help from good neighbors and the Houston comedy community. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Hurricane Beryl flood damaged furnitures are put out in the front yard of Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, as one of his trees fell during the storm Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in about two feel of water and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, watches linemen working to restore power for his neighborhood Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in about two feel of water during Hurricane Beryl and lost electricity for a week. His power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, sits down in front of a generator-powered fan in his Hurricane Beryl damaged house Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in about two feel of water and lost power for a week. His power was finally restored moments before this photograph was taken. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer As Richard Reyes walks through his Aldine home, he ducks underneath an extension cord that runs from his neighbors generator to a room in his house to power a fan. Furniture that was damaged by Hurricane Beryl is taken to a large pile outside, which also consists of a broken tree that fell during the storm. Reyes known as Pancho Claus in the Greater Houston area for more than 40 years said he expected repairs to his home to be in the thousands. Hes one of many Houstonians who have sustained damages to their homes after the hurricane a cost that is expected to be worth $28 billion in damages and economic losses nationwide, according to an estimate from private weather forecasting company AccuWeather. Despite being without power and water since the hurricane made landfall July 8 and having to throw away most of his furniture and tear down a wall in his home due to water damages, Reyes, 73, said he is having one of his best weeks. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I hate to brag, but Im a master at making lemonade out of lemons, Reyes said, noting the amount of support he has received has been overwhelming from the Pancho Claus community, the local comedy scene and neighbors. 'Admired and respected' Since 1981, Reyes had taken on the persona as Pancho Claus, also known as Santa Claus' cousin from the South Pole. Every year, Reyes looks for sponsorships to help with his ongoing toy drive so that children in underserved communities can have a Christmas. He also can be seen in parades in the community, sporting his iconic red zoot suit and a pair of sunglasses while riding in his red lowrider sleigh. Jose Pena, Houston native and local comedian, remembers Reyes showing up to his school when he was a child, giving each of his classmates toys. During his time working for the Houston Independent School District, Pena said he once asked Reyes to visit his school to take pictures, not knowing that he would bring toys for everyone as well. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I had to wear one of the zoot suits with him, Pena said. That was the only condition. When everyone in the local comedy scene heard about Reyes' home, all of us just came out just because hes done so much for us. Whether it was providing a space for comedians to perform, promoting a show or sharing simple birthday wishes on Facebook, Pena said that Reyes is admired and respected. We were talking the other day, just some of us comedians, and were just like 'you know, its really funny that as a rite of passage, you really havent made it as a Houston comedian until a lowrider Santa Claus wishes you a happy birthday,' Pena said while chuckling. Some comedians helped Reyes by moving around furniture at his house, while others held fundraiser shows, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Comedian Hannah Abney, who co-hosts a monthly comedy show in Katy called New Moon Comedy Show, held a fundraiser on Saturday, raising more than $200 for Reyes, while Comedian Patrick Eady, who co-hosts a comedy show in Eado called The Late Night Dirty Show, also held a fundraiser. All together, both shows raised more than $2,000, Reyes said. Its going to cost a lot more than that, he said. Bringing people together It has been five years since Reyes lived in his current house, which he said is a short amount of time for someone to get to know their neighbor. Yet, one of his neighbors helped him break down a tree that fell from his yard and onto the street and another allowed him to use their water pump. Advertisement Article continues below this ad During the derecho storm in May, Reyes remembers also allowing his neighbor to connect to his water so that they had water for several days. I dont know, it seems like disasters and emergencies bring people together, Reyes said. The neighbors I didnt even talk to, were closer now because of it. As for Reyes, hes been called the luckiest man by people close to him after seeing the amount of support hes received in the past week. Aside from donations, someone gave him a van for him to use and another person allowed him to sleep at their place. Its not just luck, he said, noting how much he has done for the community. Its all tit for tat. 'A larger than life figure' When Abney moved from New York to Houston, she first learned about Reyes as the citys Mexican Santa Claus, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I really didnt know if he existed, or if it was just like a funny meme, she said, noting that she soon would see him as a larger than life figure. I just think hes really specialI think hes a really cool figure in the community. I think its really special too that Houston has people in the community that want to give back to the community. I think thats something that everybody wants and every community needs, but not every community gets that. As for Reyes, he said seeing people come out to help him has helped him appreciate life. Nothing is going to give you joy than seeing somebody you know coming to help you out of the blue, he said. The Greatest Show on Earth (GSOE) unveiled its GSOE Awards 2024, celebrating excellence in Durga Puja celebrations globally, on Saturday, 13th July 2024, at the ICCR. This year's event marks a significant expansion of the GSOE initiative with the introduction of new recognition categories. The grand unveiling was graced by the presence of renowned actress and the Face of GSOE Awards 2024, Nusrat Jahan, alongside distinguished figures including Bengali film director, Barun Chanda; Asian Paints Award-winning artist, Aditi Chakraborty; and GSOE, Co-Founders Bodhisattva Banerjee and Dr. Arnab Basu. GSOE Awards 2024 will recognise and award 60 Durga Puja celebrations across the globe, reinforcing the worldwide appeal and cultural significance of this festival, 8 of them were present today to take the awards. Then came from Australia, Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Brazil, Hong Kong, England & United States of America This year, GSOE is the only organisation awarding the best Durga Puja in Bangladesh, marking a historic moment for cross-border cultural recognition. Additionally, the awards will see the inclusion of four new locations in Bengal: Newtown, Baruipur, Howrah and Kalyani, further emphasising the diverse and widespread celebration of Durga Puja. The GSOE Recognition Awards, in collaboration with Global Connect and Heritage Bengal Global, aim to honour Durga Puja organisers worldwide. Incidentally, last year their brand ambassador was a French girl Alice Bonnefoy, who will come with her friends this year, also during Durga Puja. Adani Wilmar oil brand Fortune Oil is a presenting sponsor for GSOE Awards 2024. The event will unveil criteria for the GSOE Awards 2024, featuring initiatives such as: Innovation Showcase to exhibit pioneering concepts Global Ambassador Initiative to attract international dignitaries Sustainability Leadership for eco-friendly practices Cultural Exchange Programs fostering global connections Community Outreach Excellence for year-round engagement Artist Residency Programs promoting artistic fusion Documentation and Archiving for preserving puja legacies for future generations Bodhisattva Banerjee, Co-Founder, GSOE, expressed, "GSOE aims to transform Kolkata's Durga Puja into a premier global cultural event. Our vision is to present an immersive and inclusive experience that celebrates Kolkata's cultural richness, fostering unity and understanding worldwide. Through innovative initiatives and collaborations, we aim to elevate Durga Puja into a global art showcase and entrepreneurial hub, promoting tourism, enhancing local economies and creating a lasting cultural legacy that resonates internationally while enriching the local community." Dr. Arnab Basu, Co-Founder, GSOE, emphasised, "GSOE is broadening its global footprint by recognizing 60 global Durga pujas across the world. Also we are going to award the best puja of Bangladesh this year. This is the first time an organization from Kolkata is crossing borders to foster the cultural harmony through Durga puja." Madison Media Alpha, a unit of Madison World, has recently been appointed as the Media Agency of Record for Pilgrim. The agency will be handling the entire media mandate for the brand. Established in 2019 by IITians Anurag Kedia and Gagandeep Makker, Pilgrim is one of the fastest-growing Beauty and Personal Care brands that offers 100+ SKUs across facecare, haircare & skincare products, makeup, and fragrances. The brands diverse selection of beauty products is made with ingredients sourced from various parts of the world, all of which are approved by PETA and the FDA. Speaking about the agencys appointment, Anurag Kedia, Co-Founder of Pilgrim, commented, We are excited to partner with Madison Media Alpha, a leader in the media industry. Their innovative approach and expertise in media strategy align perfectly with our vision to expand Pilgrim's reach and strengthen our brand presence across India. Commenting on this win, Vishal Chinchankar, CEO, Madison Digital & Madison Media Alpha, said, "This partnership represents a powerful union of Pilgrim's vision and Madisons expertise in delivering innovative and impactful media solutions. We look forward to making Pilgrim a house-hold name in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the INS Towers on his visit to the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) Secretariat at G-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai on July 13, 2024. The new building will fulfill the evolving needs of Members of INS for a modern and efficient office space in Mumbai and would serve as the nerve center for the newspaper industry in Mumbai. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister congratulated all members of the Indian Newspaper Society on the inauguration of the new tower and expressed hope that the ease of working in the new space will further strengthen Indias democracy. Underlining that the Indian Newspaper Society was formed before independence, the Prime Minister said that the organization has not only been a witness to the ups and downs of Indias journey but also lived it and communicated it to the people. Therefore, the Prime Minister said, the impact of the Indian Newspaper Societys work as an organization would be apparent in the nation. The Prime Minister said that the media is not a mute spectator of the conditions of the nations, but plays a major role in changing them. He underlined the role of newspapers and magazines in the next 25-year journey to Viksit Bharat. He highlighted the Medias role in creating awareness about rights and potential of the citizenry. He cited the success of digital transactions in India as an example of how confident citizens achieve great success. He said that major nations are interested in Indias digital public infrastructure. He acknowledged the partnership of the media in these successes. The Prime Minister mentioned the natural role of the media in creating discourse by discussing serious issues. He also emphasized the impact of government policies on the functioning of the media. He took up the example of financial inclusion and opening of bank accounts through the movement of Jan Dhan Yojna and the integration of about 50 crore people with the banking system. This project was the biggest help in Digital India and initiatives to curb corruption, he said. Similarly, the Prime Minister said, initiatives like Swachh Bharat or Startup India were not impacted by vote bank politics. He lauded the media for making these movements a part of national discourse. Noting that the decisions made by the Indian Newspaper Society give direction to the countrys media, the Prime Minister pointed out that any event kicked off by the government may not necessarily be a government event and any idea emphasized may not only belong to the government. He gave examples of campaigns like Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and Har Ghar Tiranga that were initiated by the government but were taken forward by the entire nation. Similarly, the Prime Minister highlighted the governments emphasis on environmental protection which is a humanitarian issue rather than a political one and mentioned the recently launched Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign which is being discussed around the world. World leaders also showed a keen interest in the program during the G7 Summit attended by the Prime Minister. He urged all media houses to join the trend for a better future for the younger generations. I urge media houses to take forward such initiatives as an effort towards the nation, he added. Noting the 75th-year celebrations of the Constitution of India, the Prime Minister underlined the important role of media in heightening the sense of duty and awareness of the citizens towards the Constitution. The Prime Minister said that tourism, too, needs collective branding and marketing by everyone. He suggested that newspapers can choose a month to promote tourism of a particular state. This will increase mutual interest among the states. The Prime Minister requested the newspapers to enhance their global presence. Reiterating Indias march to become the third largest economy in the near future, the Prime Minister said that it is the responsibility of the media to take Indias success to every corner of the globe. A countrys global image directly affects its economy, the Prime Minister said. He also mentioned the growing importance of the Indian diaspora with the rise in the stature of India and its growing ability to contribute to global progress. He wished for the expansion of Indian publication in all UN languages. Websites, microsites or social media accounts of these publications can be in those languages, he suggested adding the ease provided by AI in such endeavours. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister urged the media houses to make use of the digital edition of the publication as there are no space constraints when compared to printed editions and consider the suggestions given today. I am sure that all of you will consider these suggestions, do new experiments and strengthen Indias democracy. The more strongly you work, the more the country will progress, he concluded. Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shine, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and President of Indian Newspaper Society Rakesh Sharma were present on the occasion. The past two decades have seen the public relations industry in India undergoing a fascinating transformation. Global PR giants are no longer bystanders, but active participants, shaping the narrative through strategic acquisitions and independent ventures. Economic liberalization opened new gates of opportunities and partnerships for global giants to test the Indian waters. This influx of international players, flush with cash and an eagerness to tap into one of the ever-growing markets, has changed the face of Indian PR. In this two-part series, Adgully will delve into the dynamic shifts in Indias PR industry as international giants enter the playing field through strategic acquisitions and ventures. We will explore the impact on the industry, the opportunities and challenges it presents, and what it means for the future, particularly for mid-sized firms. Imagexx SUMMIT | AWARDS 2024 (adgully.com) Major deals Lets take a look at the noteworthy deals in the past two decades: 2005: Burson Marstellers acquisition of Genesis PR. This was one of the early significant acquisitions, marking the entry of a major international player into the Indian market. 2005: Edelmans acquisition of a 50% stake in R&PM. Led by Roger Pereira, this move was significant for Edelmans strategy in India. 2007: MSLs acquisition of Hanmer and Partners. Another major deal that helped an international firm expand its footprint in India. In 2012, Hanmer MSL re-branded itself as MSL India to better align with its parent company. This re-branding coincided with the company's expansion plans for the next three years, focusing on strategic communication, digital communications, and talent development. 2008: Sampark Public Relations formed a strategic partnership with New York-headquartered Ketchum. This collaboration enabled Sampark to leverage Ketchums extensive global network while maintaining its strong local expertise. 2014: Ketchum increased its stake in Ketchum Sampark, acquiring a majority interest in the firm. 2013: Sixteen years after initially acquiring a 40% stake, Weber Shandwick, a global PR firm under the Interpublic Group (IPG), acquired the remaining 60% stake in Corporate Voice from MAA. 2015: Cohn & Wolfes acquisition of 6 Degrees PR. This acquisition further illustrates the trend of international firms seeking growth through local partnerships. 2016: Dentsu Aegis Network, a global media and communications company, acquired Perfect Relations Group. This acquisition strengthened Dentsus PR offerings in India. 2018: WE Communications acquisition of Avian WE. This acquisition allowed WE Communications to strengthen its presence in the Indian market. 2022: Marketing and communications agency Finn Partners acquired SPAG. 2023: Havas, a global communications network, acquired Indian PR firm PR Pundit. This expanded Havas PR capabilities in India and marked the entry of Havas Red, Havas global PR network, into the Indian market. PR Pundit was rebranded as PR Pundit Havas Red. 2023: Kaizzen secured an undisclosed funding from Maven Corporate Advisors in 2023. This investment has reportedly led to a shift in the companys ownership structure. A double-edged sword The recent acquisitions by international PR firms in India are a double-edged sword for the industry, presenting both opportunities and challenges, especially for mid-sized firms. The acquisition of Indian PR firms by international entities has been a consistent trend for over two decades, reflecting the long-standing recognition of Indias vibrant market potential, points out Vikram Kharvi, CEO, Bloomingdale PR. Despite this, Kharvi adds, the largest PR agency of India continues to be an independent Indian firm, showcasing the robustness of local expertise and the ability to cater to the unique nuances of the Indian market. He reckons that the influx of global players will further expand the PR landscape, bringing in advanced methodologies, global best practices, and a broader appreciation for strategic communications across various industries. Maven Corporate Advisors recent investment in Kaizzen highlights an intriguing development: advisory firms are now valuing PR as a vital component of their service offerings. This move can be transformative for the industry, signaling a shift towards more integrated and comprehensive business solutions. For mid-sized firms like Kaizzen, this presents an opportunity to leverage additional resources, enhance their service portfolio, and compete more effectively on a larger scale, says Vikram Kharvi. However, he adds, this also introduces challenges. Mid-sized firms must navigate increased competition from both established international giants and newly empowered local firms. Maintaining competitive differentiation will require a focus on deep local insights, agility, and the ability to deliver personalized, high-touch service. Additionally, these firms will need to invest in talent and technology to stay ahead in an increasingly sophisticated market. There is certainly no doubt that Indian PR firms acquisitions by foreign firms help bring global processes, perspectives, knowledge and expertise to the former, opines Rishi Seth, Founder and CEO, Evoc Communications. Over a period of time, these advancements permeate through their peers including independent agencies as well, and end up raising the service delivery benchmarks for the entire PR industry. For independent mid-tier firms with adequate capital, perhaps a big opportunity lies in building world-class systems and processes through partnerships with academia and third-party consulting firms. This approach can help build some unique and differentiated capabilities that are necessary to compete effectively with the global network firms, Rishi Seth adds. Acquisitions by global networks are hardly a new phenomenon in the Indian PR industry; weve been witnessing them for at least a couple of decades, says Ashraf Engineer, Head of Strategy, Ideosphere. Having said that, the fact that networks are still looking to invest in the Indian market shows how vital it is to the global PR industry. According to Engineer, these investments certainly impact the dynamics here because it means the further introduction of global best practices, more multinational clients extending their partnerships through the buyers to India, and it means more money for skills enhancement and exposure to international markets. It also means more jobs and geographies within India being serviced. Just look at what acquisitions in India did for global giants like Publicis Groupe and WPP. At a time when global growth was slowing a few years ago, it was the Indian and Chinese agencies in their portfolio that kept the networks growing. Simultaneously, the firms these networks acquired grew from strength to strength. The acquisitions also facilitated and accelerated the shift towards digital and data. As far as investments in mid-sized firms are concerned, its what will fuel their evolution and expansion. As the Indian economy expands, marketing services I regard the PR industry to be part of this sector will play an increasingly vital role for brands. The demand for strategy formulation, messaging structures and outreach in the form of PR, advertising, below-the-line offerings and activation will only balloon. So, we need more sizable players in this space for the market to expand and evolve. The investments in small and mid-sized firms will fuel that, he explains. The Indian PR landscape has been witnessing a surge in acquisitions by international firms, which has significantly impacted the industrys dynamics, says Akshara Lalwani, Founder and CEO, Communicate India. According to her, these acquisitions present a mixed bag of opportunities and challenges, especially for mid-sized firms like Kaizzen, which recently secured funding from Maven Corporate Advisors. According to Lalwani, the opportunities include: Enhanced capabilities and global reach: With international firms bringing in advanced tools, global best practices, and a wider network, mid-sized firms can leverage these resources to enhance their capabilities and reach. This funding and the potential partnerships it brings can help firms like Kaizzen expand their service offerings and client base. With international firms bringing in advanced tools, global best practices, and a wider network, mid-sized firms can leverage these resources to enhance their capabilities and reach. This funding and the potential partnerships it brings can help firms like Kaizzen expand their service offerings and client base. Innovation and learning: International acquisitions often introduce new perspectives and innovative strategies. Mid-sized firms have the opportunity to learn from these global players, adopt new technologies, and stay ahead of industry trends. International acquisitions often introduce new perspectives and innovative strategies. Mid-sized firms have the opportunity to learn from these global players, adopt new technologies, and stay ahead of industry trends. Market expansion: The influx of international firms underscores India's growing importance in the global PR market. This can attract more international clients to Indian PR firms, providing opportunities for growth and diversification. The entry of international PR firms through acquisitions is certainly impactful, says Kulpreet Freddy Vesuna, Founder & Managing Director, Impact Public Relations. The effect largely depends on the service packages these international firms introduce, he adds. Indian clients typically seek comprehensive, cost-effective solutions. If these international firms can provide this balance, it could pose significant competition for local firms. That said, there is also a positive side. Indian PR firms are innovating and putting their best foot forward to drive change and evolve with the market. The industry will likely see consolidation, but it will remain dynamic, requiring Indian firms to stay agile and cautious. Ultimately, the presence of international firms could drive higher standards and push local firms to continuously improve and adapt, shaping a more robust and competitive PR landscape in India, Kulpreet Freddy Vesuna says. (Tomorrow: Part 2 of the report will delve into how the entry of international PR firms through acquisitions is impacting independent and mid-sized PR firms in India. It will also explore how this consolidation wave is shaping the future of the Indian PR industry.) Urban Company has chosen M&C Saatchi Performance to support its international expansion into Singapore and the UAE. The move was met with enthusiasm by Partha Sharma, India's Country Director at M&C Saatchi Performance, who expressed delight in being named Urban Company's Digital Agency of Record. This selection highlights Saatchi Performance's extensive experience in assisting Indian brands. Urban Company's growth is poised to accelerate significantly with Saatchi Performance's proven, data-driven methodologies, honed through successful ventures in markets such as Singapore and the UAE. This collaboration is a testament to Saatchi Performance's commitment to delivering substantial value and underscores Urban Company's confidence in their ability to lead a global digital strategy. Joon Ming, AVP of Marketing at Urban Company, expressed immense gratification at the prospect of collaborating with Saatchi Performance for the Singaporean debut. Saatchi Performance's unparalleled market intelligence, substantial local footprint, and proven digital success made them the ideal partner for Urban Company's international ambitions. There is eager anticipation for leveraging Saatchi Performance's innovative strategies to enhance Urban Company's presence and unlock new opportunities. Award-winning brokerage VT Markets today announces the launch of its first-ever video ad campaign in South Asia. Titled Trading can be easy, the ad features the many different benefits of the Sydney-based broker set against familiar local scenes and will be available on all online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Hotstar. The launch marks the first of many efforts by the broker this year to penetrate the rapidly growing South Asian financial market. The multi-asset brokerage will also see increased localization catered to the South Asian market as part of this initiative, including greater support for local languages. Our global presence notwithstanding, our regulation by the ASIC, FSC, and FSCA has imbued us with a good understanding of what it means to protect clients and to foster credibility, said Qusai Zeod, Business Development of VT Markets MENA, We believe that South Asian markets are at this point underserved by current financial platforms that lack the regulatory rigor to protect the interests of their clients. Campaign Link - Filmed in different parts of India, the television ad illustrates the ease of trading with VT Markets, depicting characters making trades while going about their dayordering a chai tea, getting a haircut, or even when haggling at the marketplace. Through tongue-in-cheek humor, the ad explores how trading, when made simple, can positively impact everyday lives. As part of the campaign, clients who join during this promotional period will be eligible to receive up to 10,000 USD on their initial deposit. Active traders can also enjoy up to 13% interest on the balances of their trading accounts. Both regional promotions are subject to their respective terms and conditions. New traders can expect to leverage on free educational resources, seminars, and weekly webinars in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and English that will help them on their trading journey. They can also benefit from in-depth market analyses and news that will imbue them with the necessary trading acumen needed to make successful trades. The platform has integrated popular and secure local payment methods, such as UPI, and direct bank transfers, to facilitate easy deposits and withdrawals for South Asian clients. Expecting growing demand, the brokerage will also institute 24/7 customer support and introduce dedicated account managers to aid clients in their onboarding. MUDA Scam: Karnataka Govt Forms Inquiry Commission to Probe Irregularities 2 The Karnataka government on Sunday ordered the formation of an inquiry commission into the alleged alternative site scam in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). According to the order, High Court Judge (retd) Justice P N Desai will head the single-member commission. The commission will be required to complete the inquiry and submit its report to the state government within six months. The departments concerned and the MUDA officials will have to cooperate with the investigation by providing the necessary documents and information to Justice Desai, the order said. The government passed the order late Sunday night ahead of the Legislature session, which will start on July 15 and culminate on July 26. The scam gathered steam after the BJP alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs wife Parvathi was one of the beneficiaries of alternative sites (plots). Siddaramaiah categorically rejected the allegation and claimed that MUDA illegally took over the four acres land belonging to his wife and formed a layout without her permission. The CM said MUDA compensated them by providing them alternative plots. The BJP has raised doubts about the claim saying how can MUDA touch such a high profile property. The party has pegged the size of the scam at somewhere around Rs 3,000 crore. The BJP staged a demonstration over the matter in Mysuru on Friday. SC Ruling on Alimony to Divorced Muslim Women Against Islamic Law: AIMPLB 2 The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said on Sunday that it is exploring all possible measures to get the Supreme Court to roll back its ruling on alimony to divorced Muslim women as it is against Islamic law. The AIMPLB Working Committee held a meeting on Sunday to discuss the Supreme Court verdict on the maintenance of Muslim divorcee women and adopted a resolution, which stated it is against the Sharia (Islamic law). The Board emphasised that the Holy Prophet had mentioned that amongst all permissible deeds the most abhorred is divorce in the sight of Allah, hence it is desirable to continue the marriage by applying all permissible measures to safeguard it and follow several guidelines mentioned in Holy Quran about it. However, if married life becomes difficult to maintain, then divorce was prescribed as a solution to mankind, the resolution read. The board observed that this judgment will create further problems to women who have successfully come out of their painful relationship, it added. The AIMPLB authorised its President, Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, to initiate all possible measures (legal, constitutional and democratic) to ensure that this decision by the Supreme Court is rolled back, AIMPLB spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas said after the meeting. By 1912, John Samuel Barker had convinced more than 70 people living in rural areas along the Lauderdale-Limestone County line that he was Christ. Calling himself the Rev. Barker, the tall, broad-shouldered man who had until then worked mostly as a store clerk began holding religious meetings in brush arbors when the weather was good and in Jim Moodys general store when it wasnt. Before his reign as leader of the Barkerites was over, Barker would strong-arm his followers to give their belongings as tithes, preach violence against non-believers, and be accused of kidnapping and involvement in the murder of his two-year-old great-nephew. This is the story of one of Alabamas earliest known cults and its charismatic and terrifying leader. John Samuel Barker was born to John and Nancy Shoemaker Barker in western Limestone County in November of 1861, just seven months after the start of the Civil War. He grew to be known as an eccentric. Still, it wasnt until he went to Oklahoma in 1900 and began preaching to Native Americans that he realized his words had impact. In fact, he learned he could use the words of the Bible to manipulate people to his own benefit. A descendant of Barkers who was interviewed in 2010 said the family passed down tales of their notorious family member. He knew the Bible from over to cover and could quote any part of it, but he used it for his purpose and not the purpose of God, said Sally Hess, whose father was one of Barkers nephews, in the book Forgotten Tales of Alabama. Barker returned to western Limestone County, Alabama in about 1908 and put that knowledge to work. He grew his flock and began isolating them, first by decreeing that it was a sin to bathe and to change their clothing and then that it is a virtue to assault all who are not believers in his doctrine, according to a July 1912 article in The Decatur Daily. It was enough to keep even the most curious outsiders away. But Barker wasnt satisfied with that. He also taught his followers that the devil would possess one person in each family and that sometimes that devil was one of the children. Those who were possessed, he said, should be killed. He was a very religious man, but he was an extreme individual, Hess said. He always said there was a devil in every family. Article in the July 20, 1912, edition of The Decatur Daily about the Barkerites, a mysterious sect operating in Limestone County, Ala.The Decatur Daily Sometime around 1910, one of Barkers followers, a Limestone County farmer, was told to kill his pre-teen son who had been deemed the familys devil, according to lore. The father, unable to hurt his son directly, reportedly put his son inside a stall in their barn with a temperamental mule, hoping the vicious animal would kick the boy to death, an article in a 1962 of The Huntsville Times recounted. The boy, thankfully, survived. In 1912, a man named Wiley, or Wylie, Hudson sought help in a Lauderdale County court to get his seven-year-old son, Wallace, from the clutches of the Barkerites. According to a July 1912 article in The Tennessean, Hudsons wife, Josie, was under Barkers spell. While Hudson was away, Josie Hudson attempted to take their three young children to join the cult. Hudsons mother, who was watching the children, bravely shielded the two youngest, even when their mother pulled a gun on her. Josie got away with the seven-year-old boy and hid him within the cult. The father was awarded custody of the child after Josie Hudson told the judge she would leave husband and children and anything on earth to follow Barker, according to the July 24, 1912, edition of The Gadsden Times. Lauderdale County apparently tried to distance itself from the cult following the trial, when The Times Daily published a notice in August 1912 stating: The discussion of this so-called religious sect, located in northeast Lauderdale and Limestone counties, has developed the fact that Barker, the leader, is a Limestone man, and not a citizen of Lauderdale. His residence is on the other side of the line, though a number of his followers live in this county, all in the region of the county line. Newspaper accounts at the time said previous attempts at legal intervention failed. The Tennessean said, The fear of Barker and his followers has prevented any movement to suppress them. The article also stated that some of those who opposed Barker were committed to what was then known as the Alabama Insane Hospital in Tuscaloosa. The Barkerite religion has previously separated a number of couple and has sent several of its devotees to the state insane asylum, the article said. John Barker, the leader, had been committed to the insane asylum several times. He claims, and his followers believe, that he is the Christ, and they only through his baptism can salvation be attained. Barker Cemetery Road in western Limestone County. The cemetery is all that is left of the Barker community, where a mysterious sect called the Barkerites operated.Kelly Kazek Finally, in the late 1910s and early 1920s, some followers began to catch on that Barker was not a prophet and he decided to return to Oklahoma, taking a nephew and his wife, Joseph and Letha Barker, and their four children with him. They ended up living in tents in a park in Watonga, Okla., avoided by locals until someone noticed a 2-year-old boy had disappeared from the group. The Rev. John Barker, as well as Joseph Barker, was under suspicion, according to a 1924 article in the Enid, Okla., Daily Eagle. In 1923, the reverends nephew, Joseph, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in an Oklahoma prison in the death of the child, Artemus (some reports name him Arthur). After serving his sentence, Joseph returned to Limestone County and died in 1936. The Rev. John Barker also returned to his roots, although his cult never recovered. He died February 17, 1934, in western Limestone County and is buried there in the Barker family cemetery. Former President Donald Trump has a running mate in the 2024 election: Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance. The 39-year-old has earned recent fame after a successful bid for congress as well as his public loyalty for Trump. But Vance first landed on peoples radars with his memoir, the bestseller Hillbilly Elegy, which was published in 2016 as Trump was first running for president. You can find the book in your local libraries and bookstores (or online), but you may recall there was a 2020 film adaptation with some big Hollywood names attached. And if you want to get inside the mind of the possible future vice president, you can stream it right now. What is Hillbilly Elegy? Based on JD Vances bestseller, it follows a former Marine from southern Ohio and current Yale Law student (based on Vance) on the verge of landing his dream job. A family crisis forces him to return to the home hes tried to forget, as he navigates the complex dynamics of his Appalachian family, including his volatile relationship with his mother Bev (Amy Adams), whos struggling with addiction. Hes also fueled by memories of his grandmother Mamaw (Glenn Close), who raised him, as he learns to embrace his familys indelible imprint on his own personal journey. Directed by Oscar-winner Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13) the film chronicles the highs and lows of a familys three colorful generations through their unique struggle. Whos in the movie? Actor Gabriel Basso plays JD Vance. Basso previously appeared in the films Alabama Moon, Super 8, and The Kings of Summer. But the movie mostly focuses on the strong female leads. It stars Oscar nominees Amy Adams (as Beverly Bev Vance, JDs mother) and Glenn Close (as Bonnie Mamaw Vance, JDs grandmother). Adams has six Academy award nominations for performances in Junebug, Doubt, The Fighter, The Master, American Hustle and Vice. Close has eight nominations for her work in The World According to Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural, Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs, The Wife and Hillbilly Elegy. Sunny Mabrey (born in Gadsden, Alabama) stars as young Bonnie Mamaw Vance. How can I stream Hillbilly Elegy? The movie is currently streaming on Netflix. Did critics like it? No, not really. The movie has a 25% percent positive critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus says, With the form of an awards-season hopeful but the soul of a bland melodrama, Hillbilly Elegy strands some very fine actors in the not-so-deep South. The Audience Score is higher, though, with more than 2,500 ratings giving it an average of 82%. But critics mostly took Hillbilly Elegy to the woodshed, trashing the modern exploration of the American Dream about three generations of an Appalachian family that still eked out the Oscar nom for Close. Vanity Fair referred to it as a Hollywood grotesque. Vox opened with the headline, Everything about Netflixs Hillbilly Elegy is awful. Hillbilly Elegy Is Laughably Horrendous in Every Way, said Collider. So why the adverse reaction? AL.coms Lawrence Specker wrote, The book became a sensation and that sensation in turn generated a deep, slow-burning backlash worthy of a Hatfield-McCoy feud. Yes, the metaphor is an obvious and cheap stereotypical shot but there was no way Howards project wasnt going to be greeted with fusillades of rhetorical buckshot from one side or the other. It made Hollywood history, sort of... Close joined a very short list of actors to earn both an Oscar nomination and a Razzie nomination for the same performance. In fact, Close marks only the third person to accomplish the feat, following Amy Irving in 1983s Yentl and James Coco in 1981s Only When I Laugh. Oscar-winners are no stranger to the Razzies, formally known as the Golden Raspberry Awards. Sandra Bullock, Nicolas Cage, Halle Berry, Robert De Niro, Faye Dunaway, Julia Roberts, Al Pacino and others have earned the distinction as Razzie nominees and/or winners, some even accepting their award in person. John Travolta even won Worst Actor for his work in two movies he filmed in Alabama. Close did not win either prize. Youn Yuh-jung (Minari) won the Oscar that year, while Maddie Ziegler (Music) brought home the coveted Razzie. Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, shows his Hurricane Beryl flooded bedroom Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in about two feel of water and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. He had to throw out the majority of his furnitures. He had a bed, a couch, a television and stand and a closet. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, dries his clothes in his backyard with a topped over above ground pool Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in about two feel of water from Hurricane Beryl and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Leonardo Angel Basselo Coronado helps Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, cleaning his Hurricane Beryl damaged house Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in one-and-half feet to two feel of water and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Coronado was Reyes friend through the comedy community and he has been coming over to help Reyes at least three times in the past week. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Richard Reyes, known as Pancho Claus, uses a borrowed generator powering fans to dry out his Hurricane Beryl flood damaged house Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in one-and-half feet to two feel of water and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Reyes said he has a lot of help from good neighbors and the Houston comedy community. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Governor Greg Abbott and Mayor John Whitmire tour a resource staging area and thank first responders who have worked throughout Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Governor Greg Abbott is joined by Mayor John Whitmire for a briefing and press conference on Texas ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Governor Greg Abbott is joined by Mayor John Whitmire for a press conference on Texas ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer First responders wait to shake hands with Governor Greg Abbott and Mayor John Whitmire as they tour a resource staging area and thank the first responders who have worked throughout Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Governor Greg Abbott is joined by Mayor John Whitmire, PUC Texas Chairman Thomas Gleeson and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd for a briefing and press conference on Texas ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Governor Greg Abbott is joined by Mayor John Whitmire, PUC Texas Chairman Thomas Gleeson and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd for a press conference on Texas ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Law Enforcement stand behind Governor Greg Abbott as he speaks alongside Mayor John Whitmire, PUC Texas Chairman Thomas Gleeson and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd during a press conference on Texas ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire speaks alongside Governor Greg Abbott, PUC Texas Chairman Thomas Gleeson and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd during a press conference on Texas ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Governor Greg Abbott is joined by Mayor John Whitmire, PUC Texas Chairman Thomas Gleeson and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd for a press conference on Texas ongoing response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire, Greater Houston Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announce Beryl Recovery Fund, a fund aiming to raise financial support for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl, during a press conference on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, a joint effort by the Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston, has organized this initiative to provide low-to-moderate income families with emergency financial assistance, home repairs, and help accessing resources. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Adrian Noria, 52, fills up the generators powering his family home with gasoline on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A fallen tree blocks the road of a residential area in Fifth Ward on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The fallen roof of a gas station in Fifth Ward is seen on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Kathryn Griffin points to damaged power lines in her backyard on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A supporter of Donald Trump watches Gov. Greg Abbott speaking during a press conference after Hurricane Beryl Sunday, July 14, 2024 at Gallery Furniture in Houston. Abbott was joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd and Gallery Furniture Owner Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer A person watches Gov. Greg Abbott speaking during a press conference on response and recovery efforts after Hurricane Beryl Sunday, July 14, 2024 at Gallery Furniture in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Gov. Greg Abbott holds a press conference on response and recovery efforts after Hurricane Beryl Sunday, July 14, 2024 at Gallery Furniture in Houston. Abbott was joined by Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, from left, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gallery Furniture Owner Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Utility power line trucks park along Broadway near the causeway Thursday, July 11, 2024, as crews repair power lines downed as Hurricane Beryl made landfall Monday. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle) Kirk Sides/Staff photographer CenterPoint officials Monday said they anticipate restoring power to 98% of affected customers by the end of Wednesday, more than a week after Hurricane Beryl ripped through the region and knocked out electricity for millions of Houstonians. More than 2 million affected customers power had been restored as of 1 p.m. Monday, while just under 237,000 remained without electricity, according to the energy companys website. The company drew criticism from customers and government officials for its response time and communication issues. CenterPoint officials said in a statement they would conduct a thorough review of the companys response. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Follow along below for live updates on the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl from Houston Chronicle reporters and meteorologists. Here's a recap of coverage from Sunday. The Chronicle's coverage of Beryl is paywall free. To support our journalism, please consider subscribing to the Chronicle for unlimited digital access. Houstons light rail lines all began operating again on Monday, ending the disruptions caused by Hurricane Beryl. While rail service is operating normally, Metro in a press release said some services will still be modified Tuesday. Many park and ride routes will be normal, but some lots will be served by different lines than normal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Buses may take more time than normal to reach their destinations, and some HOV ramps on I-69 might be closed, Metro said. A full list of adjustments is available on Metros website. John Wayne Ferguson A group of Houston religious leaders demanded that state and local leaders as well as CenterPoint take quicker action to address the needs of people who might be without power until Friday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Metropolitan Organization in a news release demanded that the state of Texas distribute emergency SNAP benefits immediately and provide disaster unemployment assistance to people who had lost work in the aftermath of the storm. The group asked the city leaders distribute gift cards for food, gas, and other basic essentials, in partnership with the Red Cross and that CenterPoint waive utility payments for some people this month and provide generators to people in dire need Theres a lot of smart people in Houston. Pastor Charles Turner of New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church said in the release. We put a man on the moon here. Were definitely capable of a recovery effort better than this. John Wayne Ferguson More than 96% of the more than 252,000 Entergy Texas customers who lost power due to Hurricane Beryl have had power restored, although access issues continue in some areas, the energy provider said in a 6 p.m. Monday update. Advertisement Article continues below this ad All of Entergys Huntsville-area customers have had power restored, and Entergy said it expects all customers in The Woodlands and Conroe areas to regain power Monday. Around 244,700 customers have had power restored, the company said. Access is more difficult in its new New Caney and Cleveland service areas due to storm debris, and estimated restoration times for those customers were pushed from 5 p.m. Monday to 10 p.m. Tuesday. We continue relocating restoration workers to the most significantly impacted areas, like the Cleveland, New Caney and Conroe networks, the company said in a Sunday statement. Additionally, special equipment is being used to reach hard-to-access areas and make repairs as quickly as possible. - Claire Partain Advertisement Article continues below this ad A No Swimming sign washed on the shore from Hurricane Beryl at Galveston Beach on Monday, July 8, 2024. Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer Residents and tourists can once again head to parts of Galveston's beaches after the city opens eight of its beach access points Tuesday. Pocket Parks 1 and 3, Sunny, Hershey and Bermuda Beach, and 13- and 15-Mile Road access points will reopen after the city conducted inspections, City of Galveston officials said Monday afternoon. Bermuda Beach will be open for drive-on beach access only, and street parking remains closed. The city's beach access points west of the seawall will remain closed due to ongoing utility work, clean-up and walk-overs to test dune safety. The city will inspect those areas daily and reopen each point after it is deemed safe, the City of Galveston said on Facebook. On Monday, officials said the city was ready to welcome back tourists after CenterPoint announced that its nearly 500 crews had completed almost 95% of the construction on the West End of the island, although it said localized power outages could take longer to resolve. - Claire Partain Richard Reyes, 73, known as Pancho Claus, poses for a photograph with his signature red overcoat that he salvaged from his Hurricane Beryl damaged house Monday, July 15, 2024 at Aldine in Houston. Reyes house took in one-and-half feet to two feel of water and his power was finally restored Monday afternoon. Reyes said he has a lot of help from good neighbors and the Houston comedy community. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer As Richard Reyes, 73, walked through his Aldine home Friday afternoon, he ducked underneath an extension cord that runs from his neighbors generator to a room in his house in order to power a fan. Furniture that was damaged by Hurricane Beryl was continuously taken to a large pile outside, which consisted of a broken down tree that fell during the storm. Reyes, who has also been known as Pancho Claus in the Greater Houston area for more than 40 years, said he expected repairs to his home to be in the thousands. He's one of many Houstonians who have sustained damages to their homes after the storm a cost that is expected to be worth $28 billion in damages and economic losses nationwide, according to an estimate from private weather forecasting company AccuWeather. Despite being without power and water since the hurricane touched down on July 8 and having to throw away most of his furniture and tear down a wall in his home due to water damages, Reyes is having one of the best weeks he's ever had, he said. "I hate to brag, but I'm a master at making lemonade out of lemons," Reyes said, noting the amount of support he has received since has been overwhelming from the Pancho Claus community, the local comedy scene and neighbors. Since posting on Facebook about his home, the local comedy scene has raised roughly $2,000 through fundraiser shows, Reyes said. -Michael Garcia Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo shake hands just before announcing the Beryl Recovery Fund, a fund aiming to raise financial support for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl, during a press conference on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, a joint effort by the Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston, has organized this initiative to provide low-to-moderate income families with emergency financial assistance, home repairs, and help accessing resources. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Officials with United Way of Greater Houston and the Houston Disaster Alliance announced Monday they will be opening a Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund to help the regions most in-need residents with storm recovery. The fund will go toward helping the most vulnerable residents in Houston and Harris, Waller, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties with emergency financial assistance, home repairs and resource navigation services. So far, the fund has accumulated more than $3 million. HEB has donated $1 million, the Sarofim Foundation has donated $1 million and CenterPoint Energy Foundation has donated another $1 million. Wells Fargo and Shell have also contributed, but its unclear how much. Those funds will be distributed to nonprofits who have partnered with United Way and are on the ground in their communities to identify those who are in need, and will complement state and federal efforts to rebuild after the storm. When disaster strikes, we're reminded that no one organization can do it all, said Bob Harvey, vice chair and chair-elect of the Greater Houston Community Foundation. - Abby Church Community groups Monday called for discussions with federal authorities to create a local grid, using grant money from any federal disaster declaration. For days, nearly one million people have sat in the dark, sweating in over 100-degree heat, as their food rots in a refrigerator that does not turn on, and their energy company has no answers for them on when exactly the lights will turn on, said Hany Khalil, executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation. Working families deserve better. Developing a new local grid that we can all count on has never been more critical. Not only will this help protect us from future storms, but will create well-paying union jobs that support working families across Texas. In a release, numerous local agencies urged officials to consider using federal to develop solar and small-scale grid improvements that could keep more Houstonians powered. Houstonians are incredibly grateful to the local and out-of-state utility workers working 16 hour days to get the lights back on as quickly as possible, Khalil said. CenterPoint management, on the other hand, took $6 billion in profit from consumers last year that could have been used to make our communities electrical infrastructure more resistant to hurricanes. - Dug Begley Fort Bend County has 45 trucks with haul units, said Tami Fraizer from the office of Fort Bend County Judge KP George. Fort Bend County Fort Bend County began debris removal efforts over the weekend, utilizing 45 trucks with haul units, according to the office of Fort Bend County Judge KP George. The eastern side of the county was hit hardest. The county has agreements to coordinate efforts with the other cities, and will tackle the following areas Monday: Brazos Valley, Weston Lakes, Crabb Road Area, Rosenberg, Richmond, Sienna Point, Sienna Plantation, Pecan Grove, Missouri City, Meadowz Place, Needville, Fairchild, Booth, Beasley, Brazos Lakes and Whaley Corner. A list of dos and donts has been issued to help residents make the cleanup process easier for the crews. The debris removal teams will make their way to each street during the week, please be patient, George had said at a Friday news conference. The city of Sugar Land meanwhile has its own debris removal contractors with 25 trucks. On Monday afternoon the city mobilized its public works department, adding 10 trucks along with six heavy equipment teams, to assist with the cleanup, said city spokesperson Doug Adolph. Sugar Land and Fort Bend County have informed residents that tree limbs and uprooted trees do not need to be bagged. Residents are free to create a big pile and, if possible, work with neighbors to form one large pile for the cleanup crews, rather than several smaller ones. Storm debris also includes roof shingles, broken fences and construction or demolition materials, which should be placed in a separate pile for removal. - Juhi Varma As of 4:15 p.m. Monday, fewer than 200,000 CenterPoint customers remain out of power, as the company faces increasing scrutiny of its restoration efforts. According to the companys online outage tracker, 197,864 of CenterPoints 2.6 million Houston area customers remain offline. Although the number of restorations is rising and nearing 2.1 million, the expectation is tens of thousands of customers will remain powerless past Wednesday, when the company expects to have 98% of those that lost power last week restored. Restoration as of Monday afternoon stands at 91 percent, but a week into outages state officials are promising a thorough review of the company's progress. - Dug Begley Angel Hernandez looks over to cans of gasoline in the backyard to run the generator days after Beryl, Thursday, July 11, 2024, in Houston. The family runs the generator to keep the fridge working and to power one fan inside. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer Disaster after disaster has taxed Houston in recent years; and in Bayou City-fashion people have banded together under a single motto: Houston Strong. The phrase has been on the lips of some people who spoke to the Chronicle this week, but Beryls blow might have proven too much for people. Houstonians do not want to be strong, Callie Lopez said. We just want power. We want to be able to turn on our lights, we want A/C. The Public Utility Commission of Texas isnt exactly a well-known entity, but its going to play a central role in answering questions about how CenterPoint prepared for and responded to Hurricane Beryl. The commission launched into the response on Monday and will issue a formal report in December. What exactly is the Public Utility Commission or Texas? The commission regulates Texas telecommunication, water, wastewater and electric utilities, including CenterPoint. It also oversees the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the states power grid operator. The agency is supposed to make sure utility bills stay affordable, and pressure is growing on it as CenterPoint seeks to recoup its expenses associated with repairs after recent storms. It has spent 2024 working to fulfill numerous grid reforms passed in last years legislative session. The agencys five full-time commissioners are appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott. At a special session held today, Houston City Council unanimously voted to extend the citys disaster declaration past its initial seven-day lifespan following Hurricane Beryls impact last Monday. The extension prolonged the earlier declaration, issued by Mayor John Whitmire last Monday, and grants the city a larger window through which it can apply for federal disaster assistance. Officials said ongoing concerns related to blackouts, debris and other fallout stemming from Beryl constituted an imminent threat to public health and safety. - John Lomax The Public Utility Commission (PUC) on Monday launched an investigation into CenterPoint's response to widespread power outages that continue one week after Hurricane Beryl swept through the region, Chairman Thomas Gleeson said. Gleeson said the commission's staff will recommend changes CenterPoint can make before the current hurricane season is over. It also will report back to Gov. Greg Abbott and legislative leaders in December on potential changes to state law that avoid lengthy outages after future storms. "I think it's clear the quality of their infrastructure, their ability to maintain that infrastructure, and their communication with their customers has been called into question," Gleeson said at a press conference with state and local leaders at NRG Arena. Abbott, who on Sunday threatened executive action against CenterPoint, continued his strong rhetoric Monday. "CenterPoint has completely dropped the ball" on restoring power, Abbott said. - Dylan McGuinness Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance are to hold a press conference later today to announce the activation of the Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund. The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance established the fund to assist low to moderate-income families recover from damage related to Hurricane Beryl. Once activated, the Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund is designed to complement local and regional recovery efforts by providing grants, low-interest loans and other assistance to families and non-profits. The press conference will follow a special city council meeting planned for 2 p.m. Monday to consider an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to extend the local disaster declaration due to Hurricane Beryl, declare an emergency and present undisclosed findings related to the hurricane, according to the release. - John Lomax The Buzbee Law Firm, representing a cohort of Houston restaurants, announced it will file a class action lawsuit against CenterPoint Energy. Attorney Tony Buzzbee released a statement on social media, stating the case makes claims of CenterPoint's negligence and violations of the law following Hurricane Beryl. All of the restaurants suing lost power during Hurricane Beryl, and they are "fed up," the statement reads.Houston area restaurants were greatly affected by the power outages that resulted from Hurricane Beryl. Many were closed for multiple days on end, resulting in a loss of tens of thousands of dollars. - Sonia Garcia The City of Galveston said it is ready to welcome back tourists Monday, as CenterPoint said less than 8,000 residents remain without power after Hurricane Beryl struck the island last week. In an update provided to residents yesterday, CenterPoint said its nearly 500 crews had completed almost 95% of the construction on the West End of the island but localized power outages will take longer to resolve. As the city makes strides toward recovery, Visit Galveston said the island is ready to welcome visitors with most local shops, attractions and restaurants open and serving guests. - Caroline Wilburn People sit to eat at Yagas Cafe days after Beryl, Friday, July 12, 2024, in Galveston. Yagas Cafe opened at 4 p.m. today for the first time since Beryl made landfall. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer CenterPoint officials said crews may not be able to restore power to areas with localized, isolated outages until the end of the day Friday, according to an email sent to customers Sunday. After Beryl made landfall as a category 1 hurricane last week, more than 2 million CenterPoint customers were left without power. The company has made large strides toward restoring power to the Houston area, but a week later, 243,391 still remain without power, according to the company's website. - Caroline Wilburn The Houston Police Department ended its full mobilization and sent home 100 officers from other agencies across the state Monday as the city continued its recovery from Hurricane Beryl. Unlike other recent storms like Hurricane Harvey, the police department didnt fully mobilize until 24 hours after Beryl struck the region. Since then, department leaders divided the officers into two, 12-hour shifts to patrol the city. The news comes as CenterPoint officials estimated they would have 98% of affected customers power restored, a week after Beryl knocked out electricity for millions of Houstonians. Just over 2 million customers had power restored as of 11:54 a.m. Monday, according to the energy companys website. Mayor John Whitmire said the decision came as more and more Houstonians are regaining power and fewer traffic lights remained out. The state will pay for the 100 officers who came to Houston, officials said. - Matt deGrood CenterPoint expects to have 98% of its close to three million Houston-area residents online by the end of day Wednesday, the company announced in a news release Monday. Crews have shifted their focus to areas with smaller, localized outages and those with significant structural damage, the company said. We know the remaining customers are counting on us and are committed to restoring power to all remaining customers able to receive it, said Lynnae Wilson, a vice president for CenterPoint. As we close in on the remaining outages, customers should ensure that there isnt damage to their weatherheads and are able to receive power. A weatherhead is the connection point that bridges the gap between a power line and a customers property. It is the customers responsibility to repair damage to their weatherheads or meters, according to CenterPoints website. - John Lomax Amanda Bartusek, 36, keeps her cats in her car to cool down on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer There is a certain way of measuring tenure in Houston based on the yardstick of disasters. Instead of asking when you moved here, we will ask: Were you here for the freeze? Harvey? Ike? Rita? Allison? We will follow up with: Did you lose power? For how long? Did you flood? How badly? It is just the beginning of this years hurricane season, but we already have a new pencil scratch for our doorframes. Hurricane Beryl marched across our city July 8, killing at least 13 and knocking out power for 2.26 million customers. In some ways, weve reacted as we always have: We lend each other generators, we muck out each others houses, we hand out food and water. But this time, we feel a new frustration. It is our second surprise-intensity event this year, just seven weeks after Mays deadly windstorm. This disaster, it seems, may be manmade. Some of us begin to wonder: Is Beryl our breaking point? Is this last week of stress and strife enough to fracture our allegiance to the city? - Sarah Smith CenterPoint is warning some of the 260,000 customers still offline it could be days until their power is returned. Monday morning the companys outage tracker crossed 2 million restorations since July 8, leaving about 260,000 customers to go as downed trees are removed and toppled poles repaired. As of 9 a.m. Monday, the utilitys online tracker showed that 89 percent of customers who lost power are back on the grid. The progress we have made over the past week is remarkable given the scale of the damage we have seen across the region, CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells said in a statement posted to the companys website Sunday night. Despite the work of 14,000 utility workers, mostly contractors called in from other regions, CenterPoint has warned some customers that it could be Friday before their power is restored. According to the company's online map of outages, large portions of Kingwood, Spring, Trinity-Houston Gardens, Bunker Hill Village, Spring and Oak Forest can expect to be offline until Wednesday or later this week. - Dug Begley Houstonians are continuing to clean up the destruction left behind by Hurricane Beryl. While waiting on professional help, local residents can utilize public debris drop-off locations in and around Houston. Find a list of locations here. - Caroline Wilburn The National Forests and Grasslands Texas branch is assessing damage in national forest areas including the Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine and Sam Houston National Forests, which were affected by Beryl a week ago. Due to widespread utility outages, the offices, recreation areas and campgrounds at Sam Houston National Forest and Davy Crockett National Forest are closed until services can be restored and assessments can be completed to allow visitors back safely. District offices are closed for in-person services at these two forests as well. The Sam Houston National Forest is in the northern portions of Montgomery County and southern portions of Walker County. The Davy Crockett National Forest is in East Texas near Lufkin. The safety of our visitors and employees is paramount, said Kimpton Cooper, forest supervisor for National Forests and Grasslands in Texas. We are working diligently to assess the damage, repair it and open when it is safe. All camping reservations have been canceled through recreation.gov in closed recreation areas. For more information and updates, visit fs.usda.gov/texas. - Sondra Hernandez As Houston continues to deal with the aftermath of Beryl, which made landfall as a category 1 hurricane one week ago, several community centers are offering free food and water to residents Monday. Heres a list of centers across the city providing free water, ice, non-perishable items and hot meals. - Caroline Wilburn A fan cools off the Noria family homes living room on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Metro officials announced Park & Ride services would resume Monday with some modifications, including fewer trips for certain routes in Houston. The Metro service also offers rides to cooling centers around the Houston area. Most routes will have normal service, including the route to the Texas Medical Center. Here are the adjustments to other routes: 217/222/265: Slightly reduced service with a few trips canceled 202: No service, but the Kuykendahl lot will be served by the 204 Spring both inbound and outbound 228: No service, but the Addicks lot will be served by 221 Kingsland both inbound and outbound 257: No service, but the Townsen lot will be served by 256 Eastex / Kingwood both inbound and outbound Some downtown routes may be detoured due to road closures, according to Metro. The local bus has resumed operation, but anticipate delays and detours. The purple and green Metro rail lines resumed regular service during the weekend and Metro-operated lanes (HOV/HOT lanes) are scheduled to open during normal operating hours. Some Metro-operated ramps may be closed: I-69 (Southwest) to Dunlavy I-69 (Eastex) to Tidwell I-69 (Eastex) to Townsen For more information and to sign up for alerts, visit ridemetro.org. - Octavia Johnson Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones will open the Bayland Community Center at 6400 Bissonnet St. in Houston as a food and water distribution site Monday from 8 to 10 a.m. - Caroline Wilburn Monday marks one week since Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda Bay, devastating Houston's infrastructure and knocking out power to over 2.2 million homes and businesses. While CenterPoint Energy has since restored power to the majority of those customers, hundreds of thousands of people still woke up Monday without lights or air conditioning, or any number of the vital necessities made possible by the miracle of electricity. The Houston Chronicle spent time with four households in different parts of the region Sunday to understand what a week without power does to the psyche, body and wallet. - Sam Gonzalez Kelly The Houston Chronicle weather team has reported that Houston will see more dry weather from having rain after Hurricane Beryl hit the Texas Gulf Coast last week. Beryl brought rainfall totals in the Houston area of between 6 and 10 inches when it moved through last Monday, according to the Harris County Flood Warning System. Rainfall totals between last Thursday and Saturday amounted to between 1 and 2 inches for most areas inside the I-610 loop. Rain in the days following Beryl has likely slowed clean-up and restoration efforts. This week provides a much-needed break for people still trying to clear debris from their yards. High pressure aloft will keep rain chances capped at around 20% during the afternoon and early evening through Tuesday. While rain early this week isn't completely out of the forecast, it is a much better outlook than the 40% to 60% chances that persisted through the weekend. An approaching frontal boundary will bring higher rain chances beyond midweek. - Justin Ballard CenterPoint officials said Sunday night that crews have restored power to more than 1.9 million customers, which is more than 85 percent of those impacted after Hurricane Beryl left many without power for a week. The goal is to restore power to 90 percent Monday. The company also issued a statement after Gov. Greg Abbott demanded the company make changes this month to avoid state intervention. The category 1 hurricane caused a major blackout across the Houston region. "We have heard and understand our customers' frustrations, and we are committed to working together with the State, local government, regulators, and community leaders both to help the Greater Houston area recover from Hurricane Beryl and to improve for the future. We are committed to doing a thorough review of our response to support our customers and our communities, especially when they need us most. We know they are counting on us, and we are committed to being there for them," the company said in a statement. The brick exterior of the 90-something-year-old Magnolia Point building on Birminghams Southside was hidden underneath fading yellow siding and a sloping mansard roof that stood out like a bad haircut. Michael Mouron -- who, as chairman emeritus of Capstone Real Estate Investments, has brought many old Birmingham buildings back to life including the historic Greyhound Bus Terminal and the Federal Reserve Building knew, however, there was a gem hiding underneath all those layers of makeup. It was just ugly, Mouron says, sitting in one of the woven, cloth booths of what is now Magnolia Point seafood restaurant, a joint venture between his company and Birminghams Pihakis Restaurant Group. But I had seen historical pictures . . . so when I got it under contract and peeled some of it back, sure enough, the brick was underneath. It was like a butterfly first its a caterpillar and then it becomes a butterfly. That butterfly takes flight this week, when Magnolia Point seafood restaurant opens for lunch and dinner beginning Tuesday. With a menu that features fried crab claws, catfish po boys, peel n eat shrimp and seafood gumbo the restaurant conjures up memories of the old 1960s-era fish camps that dot the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coasts. RELATED: Longtime Birmingham restaurateur opening Italian restaurant and market Mouron previously worked with Nick Pihakis and his Pihakis Restaurant Group to build the adjoining Rodney Scotts BBQ and Little Donkey spaces in Homewood, which opened in 2021, and more recently, they collaborated on Luca Lagotto & Mercato Lagotto and Hero Doughnuts, which opened earlier this year, just around the corner from those other two Homewood restaurants. They are also under construction on a project that will include all four of those restaurants -- Rodney Scotts BBQ, Little Donkey, Luca Lagotto and Hero Doughnuts -- in a six-acre development at the intersection of U.S. 280 and Dunnavant Valley Road, Mouron says. Capstone Real Estate Investments owns the buildings, Mouron explains, and the Pihakis Restaurant Group owns and operates the restaurants inside them. The Magnolia Point building dates to the 1930s, and Mouron says he was incentivized to restore it not just because of the significant state and federal historic tax credits, but also because he loves seeing old buildings return to their original splendor. Ive done a number of historical buildings, and as I like to tell people, I think a historical building has a patina, just like an old antique piece of furniture, Mouron says. And I think if you redo a historical building -- and do it well -- theres a certain charm and a patina that you cant get with new construction. [Want good news about Alabama delivered to your inbox each week? Sign up for This is Alabamas weekly newsletter.] The sandwich menu at Magnolia Point includes a fried oyster po' boy served on Leidenheimer bread with remoulade, lettuce, tomato, pickles and a red wine vinaigrette. (Photo by Angie Mosier of the Pihakis Restaurant Group; used with permission) From crab claws to key lime pie Paul Yeck, the executive chef for the Pihakis Restaurant Group, developed the surfside-casual menu at Magnolia Point. We have the stuff you expect -- like tuna dip, crab claws, hush puppies, gumbo, po boys, Yeck says. Every seafood place down there (at the beach) has a steak or seafood pasta, the baskets and the combos. We have all that, and then we have a really solid burger and an awesome pastrami Reuben, too. Appetizers include jalapeno-and-cheddar hush puppies, smoked tuna dip, lemon pepper wings, seafood crudo, peel n eat shrimp, black-eyed pea hummus and fried crab claws. The soup and salad menu features seafood gumbo, a house salad and a Green Goddess salad with Romaine hearts, avocado, cucumbers and a soft-boiled egg. Among the entrees are shrimp spaghetti, shrimp and grits, a New York strip steak and blackened barbecue chicken. The sides include baked potato, french fries, collard greens, coleslaw, salad, mac and cheese, stewed okra and tomato, and cucumber with feta cheese. Also, baskets and combos -- which come with two sides and hush puppies and are served fried, grilled or blackened include shrimp, Gulf fish and fried oysters, as well as combos of any two or a captains platter with all three. The dessert menu features a key lime and a coconut cream pie. To me, the thing thats cool about this (restaurant) is it feels very casual, Josh Gentry, the Pihakis Restaurant Groups chief operating officer, says. You can come dressed up or dressed down. Everybodys welcome. The menu says that, and the building says that. The Magnolia Point restaurant management team all previously worked at other Pihakis Restaurant Group concepts. Michael Benson, who came over from Luca, is the head chef; Tyler Dunn from Hero Doughnuts is the general manager; and Shenny Perez from Little Donkey is the maitre d. Kristine Brown, the beverage director for the Pihakis Restaurant Group, put together the beverage program for Magnolia Point, which includes craft beers, wines and a selection of frozen drinks. Shes got lots of really fun stuff some classic cocktails, some new things, some fishbowl drinks for multiple people (to share), Yeck says. We have this frozen cocktail machine that is customizable for all kinds of daiquiris, as well as nonalcoholic drinks for your kids. The Magnolia Point name on the 90-something-year-old building is spelled out in raised brick letters that are broken up by the pilasters on both the Magnolia Avenue and 23rd Street sides of the building. This is the view from 23rd Street South. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com) The interesting story behind the name The first thing passers-by will likely notice when they see the old Magnolia Point building is the odd spacing between the letters in the name. On the Magnolia Avenue side, the spelling is M-A-G (space) N-O (space) L-I-A (space) P-O-I (space) N-T with a period tacked on at the end. And on the 23rd Avenue South side, its M-A-G-N (space) O-L-I-A (space) P-O-I-N-T -- also with a period. When I looked at the historical pictures of this building, it had Magnolia Point written in such a way that was bizarre looking, Mouron recalls. It didnt break phonetically. What they did was, they worked the letters in between the pilasters. Its the oddest breaking youve ever seen. Its hard to read if you dont know what youre reading. Heres the interesting thing, Mouron adds. I thought it was painted on the brick. When we pulled the metal panels off (the side of the building), it is raised brick. So, it has raised red brick that spells the thing out. And then it has a period like its a sentence rather than a simple name. So, when it came to naming the restaurant, Mouron says, it was already spelled out for them. It would be called Magnolia Point. Birmingham artist Marcus Fetch created this mural of the late Willie J. Perry (better known as "Birmingham's Batman") riding in the 1971 Ford Thunderbird he nicknamed the "Rescue Ship." The mural covers the back wall of the new Magnolia Point restaurant on Birmingham's Southside.(Photo by Rachel Ishee; used with permission from the Sprouthouse Agency) A tribute to Birminghams Batman On the back side of the building, facing north, Birmingham artist Marcus Fetch, who also painted the mural outside Luca Lagotto & Mercato Lagotto, has designed a billboard-sized mural honoring the late Willie J. Perry, the everyday hero better known as Birminghams Batman. The headlights in Fetchs depiction of Perrys 1971 Ford Thunderbird, which Perry called the Rescue Ship, are lighted from the back so that they are illuminated at night. You ought to come by this place at night, Mouron says. It really lights up beautifully. Vintage photographs, mounted fish and gooseneck sconces give the bar area at Magnolia Point the look and feel of an old Gulf Coast fish camp. The bartop is made from a fallen magnolia tree, and the floor is century-old reclaimed oak. (Photo by Angie Mosier of the Pihakis Restaurant Group; used with permission) Fish camp meets beach house Inside, between the front dining room and the back bar, Magnolia Point will seat 72 guests, with room for another 60 or so on the patio, which includes outdoor sofas, a fire pit and a big-screen TV. Birminghams Alabama Sawyer, which repurposes salvaged hardwood and gives it a second life as furniture for homes and businesses, crafted most of the woodwork in the restaurant, Mouron says, including the tables, booths, banquettes and the bartop, which is made from wood repurposed from a fallen magnolia tree. Chip Martinson of New Orleans made the chairs Century-old oak covers the floor in the bar area, and the penny tile floor in the main dining room is original to the building. Large sections of the tile are missing, but rather than replace it, Mouron and crew left it like it is. The tile was peeking through these dirty layers of dust, Angie Mosier, creative director for the Pihakis Restaurant Group, recalls an early inspection of the then-vacant Magnolia Point building. I was like. Were going to keep this right? Mike (Mouron) was all for it. It just shows you years, Mosier adds. You dont get that anymore. You certainly cant create it. Other nostalgic touches throughout the space including the taxidermy, the old family fishing photos, and the assorted beach town knickknacks -- are Mosiers handiwork. She collaborated with Birminghams Williams Blackstock Architects on the design. Mosier, a photographer, says she started with two different mood boards one had a woodland vibe to it and the other more of a coastal feel for inspiration. At Mourons suggestion, she decided to combine the two themes. The woodland was more like a hunting and fishing camp, and the coastal one was more like your old beach house, Mosier says. And Mike was like, Well, lets merge them. So thats what we did. I just started looking for anything that had sort of an ocean vibe to it, or something that was super-nostalgic, she adds. A lot of the photographs that are more modern were things that Ive taken from the years of me traveling and shooting, and theyre all from the Gulf Coast. And then a lot of them are just found. Thats one of the best parts of my job is sourcing things that evoke this sense of, Oh, man, my uncle used to have that. Nick Pihakis, left, of the Pihakis Restaurant Group and Michael Mouron of Capstone Real Estate Investments are partners in the new Magnolia Point seafood restaurant on Birmingham's Southside. (Photo by Rachel Ishee; used with permission from the Sprouthouse Agency) Plenty of free parking One of the restaurants main draws, in Mourons view is the ample free parking in the lot between Magnolia Point and the Retail Strategies and Retail Specialists building at 2200 Magnolia Ave., which Mouron also owns. The lot will accommodate about 120 cars. Youll notice out back theres just a wealth of parking, he says. Once (people) get knowledgeable with the fact that theres always parking available, its not like theyll be having to drive around looking for a parking spot. Magnolia Point is at 2234 Magnolia Ave. South in Birmingham, Ala. The phone is 205-732-7146. The restaurant opens for lunch and dinner beginning Tuesday, July 16. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, go here. The conjunction of Mars and Uranus in Taurus bodes well for aligned efforts. When practical demands and limits match emotional intentions, the work will feel easy and production will happen quickly. Hold off on the financial investment. Join ideas without signing up, subscribing or buying in. Use trial periods to find out what is worth belonging to. ARIES (March 21-April 19). You think you want something, but you wont really know until you get it. Work toward that anyhow. Even if youre unsatisfied with the reward, youll be stronger for the effort. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Just as you cant tell what kind of charge is in a battery until you hook it up to something that taps it, you dont know what power is inside you until you tap it. Youll sign up for a challenge just to learn what you can do, which is as good a reason as any. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Today does not indicate what things will be like tomorrow. This is a transitional time, and things may seem like theyre all over the place. Its an opportunity for a mind-over-matter approach; youll find your mind is mighty indeed. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Falling in and out of sync is what makes jazz so exciting -- also life. You dont know what kind of rhythm youre locked in until you fall out of it, feel the tension of being outside the beat, and make the choice to get back in step. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Defining a goal is akin to setting a limitation, but at least its a place to start. The key is to remain flexible and willing to move things forward and back to accommodate the circumstance of the moment. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Some of the things that are important to you just dont seem to be finding their way into your daily life. Its an indication that its time for tweaks to the system. Its possible to get key things in each and every day. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Which is prettier, the sunrise or the sunset? The official jury is still out on the matter, but for you its all about the one you catch, made sweeter by the one you catch it with. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Expectation puts a weight on things. Since we expect very little from the superfluous, it tends to effervesce. Things you do between projects will bring more joy and interest than the main show. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Never say never, out of sight, out of mind and promises are made to be broken are all sayings that speak to the fickleness of human nature. Whoever came up with them must have been unfamiliar with you and your mighty resolve. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Once you have the remote in your hand, changing the television channels happens quickly. If you have to look for the remote, it adds time. Your remote for mental channel-changing is an action like taking a walk, a nap or cup of tea. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It seems that something you want is being denied, but really, its just being held like a book in the library, on a shelf somewhere behind the front desk of life, just waiting for you to show up and claim it. Your name is on this one. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It happens every time -- you set out to teach someone, and no matter how quickly they catch on or how happy they are for the gift of knowledge, you still feel like the one who learned the most from the experience is you. TODAYS BIRTHDAY (July 15). Youre adored. They see you as magnificent and you strive to meet the image. Youll work and play hard this year! Auspicious circumstances are made more so by the feeling they are well earned. More highlights: six instances of perfect timing, a reunion and an incremental program that will have you taking a new professional and personal direction. Taurus and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 1, 9, 33, 28, 5 and 18. CELEBRITY PROFILES: Ours is a generation bloated with information and starved for wisdom, said Arianna Huffington. The founder and CEO of Thrive Global is focused on promoting well-being and addressing the stress and burnout prevalent in modern society. Huffingtons natal chart is unusual as her sun, moon, Mercury and Uranus are all nestled in Cancer, suggesting a highly intuitive, soulful and nurturing personality. Venus in Gemini brings the sharp wit and sociability. Holiday Mathis debut novel, How To Fail Epically in Hollywood, is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com. Charlie King and his longtime girlfriend, Shondra Parker, have been together for seven years and have two daughters. On Saturday, King decided it was time to propose. He wanted to do it in dramatic fashion, with a nice view of Birmingham. I wanted to overlook the city, King said. That was the main thing. So, he stationed himself under the Vulcan statue at Vulcan Park, put up a sign that said, Will you marry me? and had a friend scatter rose petals. He recruited another friend to bring Shondra to the spot. The hardest part was making sure that everybody showed up, and that she showed up, and didnt nobody tip her off, King said. She didnt know, he said. As Shondra realized what was going on, King went down on one knee, pulled out a ring and popped the question. She said yes. Their daughters, Charlotte, 3, and Chloe, 1, stood alongside and witnessed the proposal. Shondra said afterwards she was surprised. I had no idea, she said. Charlie works as a real estate agent and Shondra is a health care specialist. They live together in Homewood, about three minutes from Vulcan Park. King is glad everything with smoothly with the proposal. It was a good location, he said. A crowd gathered to watch sunset eavesdropped on the proposal, with tourists cheering even from the Vulcan overlook tower beneath the statue. A Sheffield police officer has been arrested on domestic violence charges after an altercation with another Sheffield officer, with whom she is reportedly in a relationship. Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine said Sheffield police were called to a reported incident at around 10:52 p.m. Sunday in the 1100 block of Nashville Avenue in Sheffield. Once officers learned the incident involved two members of Sheffields police force, the Colbert County Sheriffs Office was contacted. Kelsey Quesenberry, 26, has been charged with third degree domestic violence, endangering the welfare of a child, and interference with a domestic violence emergency call. She is being held in the Franklin County Jail on $5,000 bond, Balentine said. The other person was transported to Helen Keller Hospital for treatment. The child endangerment charge came because Quesenberry left at least two children unattended in the apartment, Balentine said. The Colbert County DHR was notified, and the children were removed from the home, according to authorities. Quesenberry has been suspended pending an investigation. Alabamas delegates arriving Saturday and Sunday in Milwaukee for the start of the Republican National Convention on Monday expressed shock and relief after Saturdays assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. You assume the worst, said Logan Glass, 22, of Steele, the youngest delegate from Alabama and possibly the youngest delegate at the GOP convention. He said he was walking into a Milwaukee restaurant as he learned about the shooting. It was a feeling of shock and utter disbelief, said Glass, founder and chairman of the St. Clair County Young Republicans. Our prayers are with the president, but especially the individuals that are fighting for their life right now in critical condition that were also hit. Were especially in prayer for those individuals. This is a very difficult time for our country. Comments echo those made by Sen. Katie Britt after the shooting, who offered a prayer for Trump, for people at the rally, and for unity for the nation Saturday night. As the delegates and alternates go about preparing for the business of the convention, feelings are still raw over the emotional scene of the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. Its despicable, said Alex Reynolds, part of the Alabama delegation to the Republican National Convention as chairman of the Houston County Republican Party. Its a sad day in America. Trumps composure after the shooting rising up with blood streaming down his face and striking a fist-pumping, defiant pose, was stunning, said Tobias Vogt, a combat veteran who served 28 years in the U.S. Army. My background is in infantry and special forces, said Vogt, a delegate from Madison County. In the context of a firefight, he felt it, he dropped to the ground like youre supposed to. He composed himself. He did an excellent job under the most terrible conditions that anyone could ever dream of. Tobias Vogt of Huntsville arrived in Milwaukee on July 14 as a delegate to the 2024 Republican National Convention.File That scene will present a terrible backdrop to the political convention that will nominate Trump. It brings a somber tone, not just about President Trump and the near miss, Vogt said. We had someone killed and (two) wounded. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, who is not a delegate, posted a fiery message to X Sunday afternoon, saying the radical left has declared a jihadist-style attack on traditional Christian values. He blamed the shooting in part on language from President Joe Biden, who recently told supporters to put Trump in a bulls eye. Ainsworth also referenced a congressional aide who after the shooting, posted that the shooter should get some training so you dont miss next time. Biden said this weekend that his comments referenced political action, not violence. The staffer was dismissed from Rep. Bennie Thompsons office. One person in Alabamas delegation who may miss out on the convention is state Sen. April Weaver. She was struck by a car July 12 and is recovering. Amid supercharged rhetoric and emotions, Alabamas delegates said they are ready to move forward. I think it makes people even more energized and excited about President Trump being our nominee, said Judy Barlow of Fairhope, a delegate from Baldwin County. Were concerned for him and were concerned for our nation. Delegates are focused on the work of the convention, Glass said. We have a job to do, Glass said. Weve got work that needs to be finished. Weve got to show that were not going to cower in the midst of this. Its time to steer the nation away from President Bidens policies, such as how he manages mass immigration, Barlow said. Its time to look at the agenda and the policy of the Democrats, Barlow said. Were looking forward to the next four years under different leadership. We need different leadership carrying us forward. What were in right now, no matter who the president is, is not working. Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt will be among the list of expected Republican national lawmakers to speak during Mondays action at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The convention opens in the shadow of Saturdays attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pa. The presidential candidate was rushed off stage at a rally after he was struck in the ear by a bullet, the U.S. Secret Service said on Saturday. One person in the crowd was killed by the gunfire and two were critically injured. The shooter was killed by Secret Service personnel, authorities said. See also: Alabama delegates determined RNC must go on after Trump shooting This is a moment for unity for the nation and a moment for prayer, Britt told AL.com on Saturday. Its one of the darkest days in modern American history. Political violence of any kind is completely unAmerican. Its deplorable and unequivocally unacceptable. We have to remember we are one nation, under God. And we have to remember in moments like these, we must pray for the healing of this nation, Britt said. Britt heads a slate of Republican lawmakers scheduled to take the podium today, including several vice-presidential hopefuls for the Trump campaign. announcement of gop convention speakers from Congress. @SpeakerJohnson, the third-ranking government official, stuck after all senators. pic.twitter.com/JdaXxz4MHO Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) July 13, 2024 Britt delivered the Republican response to President Joe Bidens State of the Union earlier this year. Trump is expected to announce his running mate at the convention, and speculation is increasing as to whom he will pick. Ohio Sen. JD Vance, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio are among the names being discussed. Text and phone data for hundreds of millions of AT&T customers was exposed through a massive hack. Heres how to know if your information was exposed and what you should do next: What happened? According to AT&T, the customer data was illegally downloaded from a third-party cloud platform. The company reportedly learned of the hack in April. What information was included The hack was massive, involving 109 million customers. The data includes phone calls and text messages of nearly all AT&T customers from May 1, 2022 to Oct. 31, 2022, as well as some data from Jan. 2, 2023. It also includes other phone numbers that an AT&T wireless customer interacted with during the same time, including landlines. What information wasnt included The downloaded data doesnt include the content of the calls or texts, or times the calls or texts were made. It also doesnt have details such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, or other personally identifiable information. It also doesnt have any details such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or other personally identifiable information. And while customer names werent included, there are ways to find out names associated with phone numbers using online tools, AT&T reported. What AT&T said At this time, we do not believe the data is publicly available. We continue to work with law enforcement in their efforts to arrest those involved. Based on information available to us, we understand that at least one person has been apprehended, the company said in a statement. Reuters reported the FBI is investigating the incident and at least one arrest has been made. How to check if your data was included If your account was included AT&T said they would contact you by text, email, or U.S. mail. You can also check if their data was compromised including texts and phone numbers included in the download - by logging onto their accounts. What about identity theft protection? A company spokesperson told CBS Money Watch the company isnt providing identity theft protection at this time. How to protect yourself AT&T has offered a list of good cyber habits to help keep your data safe. Among the suggestions: Two separate shootings in Birmingham on Saturday that left seven people dead and 10 others wounded was the most violent day in the citys recent memory. Having seven murdered in a day and 10 injured is probably the most tragic day in my time with the Birmingham Police Department, Police Chief Scott Thurmond said Sunday. There are too many families who have been devastated and destroyed because of gun violence in our city, Thurmond said. Everyone in this room, to be frank, is sick and tire of it and it has to stop today. The police chief emphasized that both shootings were targeted incidents. He declined to comment on the motives, saying he was staying focused on solving both crimes. These were not random shootings, Thurmond said. That should make it easier for information to become available to the BPD to bring resolve. Thurmond and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin held a press conference Sunday afternoon and were joined by leaders of the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Attorneys Office, as well as Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway and Birmingham City Council Public Safety Chair LaTonya Tate. Also in attendance were members of a hospital violence intervention team. The UAB Hospital has programs to assist survivors of gun violence and try to prevent future conflict. Thurmond said the violence on Saturday has devastated the community. The first shooting happened shortly before 5:30 p.m. Saturday near the entrance to Echo Highlands Park, which on the citys east side. Killed were Arkia Kia Berry, 28, her 5-year-old son, Landyn Brooks, and her boyfriend, 28-year-old Eric Ashley Jr. Four people were killed and nine injured in a July 13, 2024, drive-by shooting at an adult birthday party in Birmingham.(Carol Robinson) The second deadly shooting, a drive-by, happened just after 11 p.m. at a private party at a north Birmingham social club. A shooter or shooters unleashed a flurry of bullets that killed two men and two women and injured 10 others. Those killed in that incident were Angela Weatherspoon, 56, of Center Point, Markeisha Gettings, 42, of Birmingham, Stevie McGhee, 39, of Birmingham, and Lerandus Anderson, 24, of Center Point. He said the department has a strategy to do that which includes deploying every detective in the department to focus on the two investigations. We know 100% there are people who know who is responsible, and what happened, he said. We need that information. The challenge is how does law enforcement or government change the behavior of adults? How do you change the behavior of someone who uses a firearm to resolve all of their issues? Thurmond said. That s very difficult. Thats the underlying issue. Thurmond and Woodfin said, as they have many times in the past, that police need the public to come forward. The mayor called it a public plea. The Birmingham Police Departments investigation is better off with credible information that comes from the community, Woodfin said. Let me define how swift justice works we can move at a very high speed to solve these cases and bring justice to these families, but it moves faster if we get community buy-in, community support, he said. A man, woman and young boy were shot to death Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Birmingham's Echo Highlands neighborhood.(Carol Robinson) Councilwoman Tate did not speak at the press conference but released a statement Sunday: I am heartbroken this morning. Birmingham has experienced an appallingly violent 24 hours, and I, like many in our city, feel grief-stricken. Weve said it too many times: these acts of violence are senseless. They must stop. We cannot become desensitized to this public health crisis. We all want--and envision--so much more for our city. As Chair of Public Safety, Ive also said this many times: we cant police our way out this. We need everyones help and commitment -- from our neighborhood leaders, our churches, our businesses, elected officials -- everyone has a part to play. We all have to work together to make the changes that we so desperately need in our communities. The victims of these violent acts deserve swift justice. If you know anything that can help police, please be part of the effort to make a positive change in Birmingham; report what you know. To all of those impacted by the violence that erupted in the last 24 hours, we mourn with you. We also stand with you in the belief that Birmingham deserves more, and we will continue to fight for that vision for our future. Similarly, city leaders including Mike McClure Jr., senior pastor of Rock City Church, said Sunday that they were troubled by the incidents. As a church, we condemn all forms of violence and stand in solidarity with those who are grieving and seeking justice, McClure said in a statement. I call upon our community to come together in love and unity, to support one another and work towards creating a safer and more peaceful city for all. We must come together to address the root causes of violence and work towards solutions that promote healing and reconciliation. Thurmond thanked first responders for their work over the past 24 hours, including Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, the Jefferson County Coroners Office, UAB Hospital and Princeton Baptist Medical Center. When you have a large-scale shooting like we did, its very taxing, Thurmond said. He also had a message for the shooters. To those responsible for those heinous crimes, I want you to know that well be coming for you full force, with every piece of law enforcement that we have, he said. We will be coming for you. To the community, we hear you, were with you, were doing everything can to bring justice to these families and to restore safety and peace to our communities, he said. We will not stop until that is achieved. Saturdays seven homicides raised the total number of slayings in Birmingham this year to 89. There had been 74 homicides as of July 13, 2023. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 112 homicides, including the 89 in Birmingham. People with information about the homicide can upload evidence in the triple and quadruple homicide investigations by following this link. The department on Sunday also provided a QR Code that community members can scan, which goes to the same information portal. People can scan and use this QR code to submit information about deadly homicides that took place in Birmingham, Alabama on July 13, 2024.The Birmingham Police Deparment Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-7777. Former President Donald Trumps chances to win the election have soared since he survived Saturdays assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Before the shooting, Trump had a 58.2 percent chance at electionbettingodds.com to win back the White House. On Monday, Trumps chances have shot up to 67.9 percent, which equate to the -211 favorite, at the site, which averages live odds from FTX.com, Betfair.com, PredictIt.org, Smarkets.com and Polymarket.com. President Joe Biden has a 17.7 percent chance (+465) to be re-elected, and Vice President Kamala Harris has a 6.7 percent chance (14-1) to win the election. Trump is an even bigger favorite at BetOnline. Hes -300 to win back the White House at the offshore sportsbook that isnt regulated in the U.S. That equates to a 75 percent implied probability. Following the disturbing event that happened Saturday evening, we immediately suspended betting odds for all political markets, BetOnline.ag political oddsmaker Paul Krishnamurty said. Everyone could anticipate the public reaction, so we adjusted the odds accordingly and moved Trump from (-200) to -250 for the presidency. Since then, weve seen nothing but Trump money come in. A negative number represents how much a bettor must wager to win $100. In this case, a bettor would have to wager $300 to win $100 on Trump to win the election. Biden is the +375 second choice at BetOnline. A positive number reflects how much a bettor would win on a $100 wager. In this case, a $100 bet on Biden would earn a profit of $375. Betting on politics isnt permitted at U.S. sportsbooks. Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on X. 2024 Las Vegas Review-Journal. Visit reviewjournal.com.. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Alabama U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville had high praise for Donald Trumps running mate selection during the Republican National Convention, telling reporters hed given the former president advice as recently as this morning on his pick. Trump announced on Monday that Ohio Sen. JD Vance will be his vice-presidential running mate in a Truth Social post. Weve talked several times over the last year about the VP candidate and Ive always put my two cents in, Tuberville told NBC News. Sometimes he listens, sometimes he doesnt. He had some great choices. JD Vance will be an excellent fit. Congratulations to my friend @JDVance1. In the last year and a half, J.D. and I have been in the trenches together fighting for the citizens of this country. He will work very well with President Trump. pic.twitter.com/ANxjlGrbFH Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) July 15, 2024 Alabamas other U.S. Senator, Katie Britt, who is set to address the RNC tonight, also praised Vance. As the Republican Partys nominee for Vice President, he will be a tireless advocate for the America First agenda. Its time to unite our nation and reverse Americas decline, Britt said. Both Britt and Vance were elected in 2022. Tuberville went on to say that he had recommended a couple friends in the Senate that could have been good candidates, but that Vance was a young, energetic pick who learned everything about politics in a short period of time. Tuberville said he had a call with Trump Monday morning ahead of the announcement, during which the former president was still making his decision. I dont know if someone was leading at that time, but he was asking me questions about [Vance] and a couple other people, Tuberville said. My good friend @JDVance1 is a tremendous voice for parents, families, and hardworking Americans. As the Republican Partys nominee for Vice President, he will be a tireless advocate for the America First agenda. Its time to unite our nation and reverse Americas decline pic.twitter.com/sI4dfZ5Yg2 Katie Britt (@KatieBrittforAL) July 15, 2024 Tuberville joined the Alabama delegation at the RNC in Milwaukee, where all 50 of the states delegates voted for Trump. Alabama is unwavering in our support for President Trump, Tuberville posted on X ahead of the roll call. The Alabama senator said he spoke to Trump early this morning first and foremost about this weekend. The former president was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Trump had blood coming out of his ear after the attempted assisination but was in good spirits this morning, according to Tuberville. Adrian Noria, 52, brings back gallons of gas for the generators powering his family home on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A fan cools off a dog in the Noria family home on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Neighbors in the Heights share power from a generator on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Jose Grinan, 71, talks to a Lineman checking his homes power on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The fallen roof of a gas station in Fifth Ward is seen on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer A fallen tree blocks the road of a residential area in Fifth Ward on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Donnell Blake, 60, is seen looking at fallen trees outside of his home on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Monday marks one week since Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda Bay, then devastated Houston's infrastructure and knocked out power to over 2.2 million homes and businesses. While CenterPoint Energy has since restored power to the majority of those customers, hundreds of thousands of people still woke up Monday without lights, or air conditioning, or any number of the vital necessities made possible by the miracle of electricity. The Houston Chronicle spent time with four households in different parts of the region Sunday to understand what a week without power does to the psyche, body and wallet. Here are their stories. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Maria and Adrian Noria look through gas receipts on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Adrian and Maria Noria, Northshore In the immediate aftermath of Beryl, the sight of CenterPoint trucks would give Maria Noria some hope that maybe, finally, power would soon be restored to her sweltering east Houston home. By the end of the week, that hope had long since given way to frustration. "The first couple days I was OK, thinking, 'They're coming, they're coming, they're going to fix it,' and then we started to hear it was going to take longer, and it started to bother me," Noria, 53, said in Spanish. Noria lives with her husband and daughter in a bungalow in Houston's Northshore neighborhood, north of Interstate 10 between the East Loop and Beltway 8. A week without power has tested all of their patience, though the family maintained a friendly disposition and was quick to crack a joke, even as they wiped sweat from their brows. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We've laid out the red carpet for you," Noria said as she led a pair of Chronicle journalists over a makeshift trail of concrete pavers, which helped us keep our footing in the muddy expanses of her backyard. Adrian Noria, 52, brings back gallons of gas for the generators powering his family home on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer After two days without air conditioning, the family borrowed a generator from Noria's sister, whose power returned to her home. The generator provided just enough wattage to light up the kitchen and power a few fans on the floor. During the day, they could concentrate all the fans in the living room; at night, they could place fans directly next to their bed for a modicum of relief. The Norias have learned, however, that using a generator can be both expensive and annoying. Maria's husband, Adrian, has had to run outside at 5:30 a.m. to fill the gas engine. He estimated he'd spent at least $150 on gas in the past five days to keep the generator running. After a week, the Norias, who moved to Houston in 2001, said they were still confounded about how they can still be without power after just a Category 1 storm. Even Hurricane Harvey knocked out their power for only a day or two. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We're Houston, the fourth-largest city in the country. Que pedo?" Adrian Noria said in Spanish. "What gives?" Stacy Humphrey, 48, is seen looking at fallen power lines outside of her home on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Stacy Humphrey and Donnell Blake, East Little York/Homestead For Stacy Humphrey, 48, and Donnell Blake, 60, a week without power was the difference between life and death. A pit bull in the northeast Houston rooming house that Blake owns gave birth to a litter of puppies two days before Beryl made landfall. By the end of the week, half of the litter was dead. "We couldn't take them anywhere, they got to be with their mama, they're newborn puppies," Blake said. "There was one dying every day. Their eyes just opened two days ago." Advertisement Article continues below this ad A dog is kept in front of the door to get fresh air in the home of Stacy Humphrey, 48, on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Humphrey tenderly carried one of the survivors, small enough to fit in one hand, to the living room so we could introduce ourselves, though the near-total darkness in the house made it difficult to see, even in the afternoon. The dog's fur was matted and sticky you could feel it struggling in 92-degree heat and the air, heavy with the smell of mildew, was thick enough to wade through. There were no generators here to provide even the most basic comforts. Humphrey had subsisted on "scraps" because she's had to throw out all the food in her refrigerator. Her days were spent out on the patio in front of the house. At night, she slept on the couch with the windows open, facing the street. The gentle breeze was worth the fear she got being vulnerable to intruders. "It's a whole lot of anxiety. That heat makes you fluctuate," Humphrey said. The dogs weren't the only casualties of Beryl at the rooming house. Near the back wall, two Oscar fish floated belly up at the top of an aquarium filled with putrid green water, lined with a thick white foam at the surface. The tank's water filtration system can't work without electricity. Humphrey said the water was clear before Beryl. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Amanda Bartusek, 36, checks on her cats in her car on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Amanda Bartusek, the Heights Going a week without power is tough. Being gaslit about it after throwing all your food away and living in hotel rooms for several days makes it even worse. Amanda Bartusek, 36, lives on a block in the Heights that has been without power since Beryl hit last Monday. On Saturday, CenterPoint released new outage maps that indicated her area's service had been fully restored. The roar of generators up and down Prince Street on Sunday afternoon was proof that that was most certainly not the case, and no one has been able to get an explanation out of CenterPoint. "Everyone is just up in arms, like, 'What can we do?" Bartusek said. Bartusek moved to the Bayou City from Iowa for work as an attorney two years ago, and Beryl was her first hurricane as a Houstonian. Longtime residents assured her that a Category 1 storm would probably just knock out power for a day or two, and she stocked up on a little extra food and water to prepare. She didn't think a generator would be necessary. Amanda Bartusek, 36, keeps her cats in her car to cool down on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer After the storm, Bartusek still came home every day to care for her cats and take them for a spin around the neighborhood in her car, soaking up the air conditioning. She's been staying with her partner in hotels every night since Tuesday, and in addition to what she called the flagrant price gouging going on, most hotels don't accept pets either. Bartusek estimated that she'd spent about $2,000 on hotel rooms in the last week, spending up to $800 one night for relatively modest lodging. She hit her breaking point when she secured a room at one downtown hotel after searching for three hours, only to be told after arriving in the lobby that her confirmation was mistaken. "You have a glimmer of hope that you won't have to sleep in a 90-degree house tonight, and everybody rushed with their confirmations only to be told, 'Sorry, there's nothing we can do,'" Bartusek said. Jose Grinan, 71, holds extension cables he used for his generator to power his home on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Jose Grinan and Kathryn Griffin, Riverside Terrace Jose Grinan, 71, had made it through a week without power by accepting that certain things are out of his control and making the best of the situation. He used his "old Boy Scout tricks" to hook up the generator in his backyard to a constellation of fans around the house, and he cooled himself Sunday with an ice-cold "batido," a banana-and-milk smoothie popular in his native Florida. "You just got to smile through it," Grinan, a retired Fox26 anchor, said with a laugh. His wife, Kathryn Griffin, has taken a decidedly less laissez-faire approach. She has been trying to get CenterPoint on the phone for days, and on Sunday, a crew of linemen was finally outside working on the house. Kathryn Griffin points to damaged power lines in her backyard on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer "It's hot, ain't it!" she said as she stepped through the back door of their home. Griffin was steaming, and not just from the heat. The couple's two-story house had been without power for a week, but the lofty ceiling in the main room left enough room for air to circulate that it's bearable to stay indoors with the fans running. But like Bartusek, the couple had been getting calls that their power had been restored when it hadn't been, and they worry about their neighbors, most of whom are senior citizens. Griffin, the director of the human trafficking division for the Precinct One constable's office, had just gotten home from Gov. Greg Abbott's news conference Sunday at Gallery Furniture. She said she agreed with the governor that CenterPoint needed to be held accountable for its failures to prepare for and respond to Hurricane Beryl. "CenterPoint is not the same company they were even two years ago. Now it seems to be money over people," Griffin said. Jose Grinan, 71, drinks a cool beverage with a fan at his side in his home on Sunday, July 14, 2024 in Houston, seven days after Hurricane Beryl caused major power outages. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Griffin was showing us the pole where a disconnected telephone box had been sparking dangerously over their backyard fence when a lineman in a neon shirt and cowboy hat came to tell her the power had been restored. In spite of the sweat beading on her forehead, Griffin's makeup remained immaculate, and only a few strands of hair were loose from her tightly pulled bun. Grinan went inside to check the electricity. The lights and ceiling fans seemed to be working fine, he said. Griffin needed more convincing. She walked to each external air-conditioning unit, which didn't appear to be operating. Last spring, principal Jon Cardwell met with some of his best teachers at Fairhope High School to discuss what he noticed was a lack of engagement and participation in many of their classes. One of the reactions startled him. Wed been tossing around the idea of some sort of (cell phone) restriction, but when one of your teachers talks to you about leaving the profession from frustration and feeling like they arent making a difference, you act, Cardwell said. The result: Students at the South Alabama high school will walk into their classrooms next month, put their cell phones into airplane mode, and drop them into a holding box. At the end of class, they will collect the phone and the process will repeat itself as they go to the next class. Students will be allowed to communicate with parents, work, and other people in between their classes. Seniors who are allowed to leave campus during lunch hours will be allowed access to their cell phones. Its a new policy but it is not a novel concept. School systems and state legislatures throughout the country are examining their electronic device policies, and considering how strict they should get toward banning cell phones amid a growing amount of data that illustrates how detrimental the devices have been to adolescent mental health. There are many districts across the country coming to the realization this is something that needs to be done, said Mobile County School Board member Don Stringfellow. Taking the lead The efforts, so far, have resulted in some of the more consequential crackdowns on modern technology in recent years. They are also occurring first in some of the more conservative or right-leaning states like Alabama. Florida became the first state to ban wireless communication devices during instructional time through legislation adopted in 2023. Lawmakers in Indiana and Ohio have also adopted restrictions. More recently, in Virginia, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order limiting or banning cell phone use statewide effective on Jan. 1, 2025. Its not just Republican areas. Leaders in the nations two largest school districts New York City and Los Angeles are pushing forward with policies to keep the cell phones out of the classrooms. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom is also supportive of a statewide ban. The recent efforts in Alabama, ahead of the start of 2024-2025 school year next month, comes about five months after the Alabama State Board of Education adopted a resolution encouraging local school districts to adopt policies banning cell phone use during school hours. Some schools are already ahead of the others. Montgomery County Public Schools the fourth largest in Alabama, with over 26,000 students -- adopted a cell phone ban in the classrooms last June, and it has resulted in a drop in discipline rates. The ban is also popular among school staff members who, according to a survey released in December, overwhelming say it has led to a reduction in distractions toward learning and engagement. Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey speaks to press during a regular meeting of the state Board of Education Thursday, January 4, 2021, in Montgomery. Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey has repeatedly cited his concerns about cell phones and social media use at schools and is encouraging state lawmakers to consider proposals soon to further crack down on the matter. We need to talk about getting cell phones out of the schools and getting kids off social media, Mackey said during the boards June work session. Every system that has been able to run the gauntlet and get cell phones out of the schools have been able to improve their discipline scores 35, 40 to 45 percent. Its unbelievable how discipline changes by getting cell phones out of the schools. Do something Superintendent Chresal Threadgill speaks during a Mobile County Public Schools board of commissioners meeting. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). The improvement over student behavior is one of the reasons why Alabamas largest school system the Mobile County Public School System, with approximately 53,000 students is looking at cell phone restrictions for the coming year. Superintendent Chresal Threadgill, during the school boards June 24 meeting, said there will be procedures established at individual schools on collecting phones and having them placed in a lockbox, a cell phone pouch, or to keep them inside a students vehicle. Its time to do something, Threadgill said. We cant sit back and do nothing. Mobile County already has some good feedback from a pilot program. Two middle schools Hankins Middle School in Theodore and Chastang-Fournier K-8 School in Mobile had a no cell phone policy last year, and Threadgill said there were no complaints, and no issues. Its not like were jumping cold turkey into this, he said. We took the time to do it at two other schools to work out the kinks and they played a tremendous role in making this happen. School board member Johnny Hatcher said one of the schools saw a 37% drop in disciplinary action, and a bump up in academic performance. Other school systems in Alabama are also looking at adopting stricter policies. The Madison County School System decided not to allow students to continue connecting personal technology devices to MCSS-owned wireless networks starting on July 1. The policy applies to all 21,000-plus students, no matter what grades they are in. The move is designed to bolster the learning environment at MCSS by safeguarding our networks, reserving our limited bandwidth for educational purposes, and curbing distractions during instructional time, said Carter Watkins, the school systems spokesperson. It mirrors a nationwide movement to limit student access to district-owned wireless networks, underscoring our unwavering dedication to a focused and productive learning atmosphere. Other schools have adopted policies to ban cell phones. In Dothan, the city school system adopted a code of conduct in June that included a cellphone ban for the districts approximately 8,200 students. Smaller school systems are also considering additional restrictions. At Geneva County schools in the Wiregrass, cell phones will no longer be allowed at all on campus during the day. Previously, the school system allowed students to use cell phones during breaks and lunch. Safety concerns Some schools have seen public pushback. A Facebook post in February announcing a cell phone ban at Barbour County High School was met with backlash from parents out of a concern over student safety. At least one leading expert on school safety says the presence of cell phones in schools creates very specific challenges to school safety, especially in an emergency situation. Kenneth Trump, president of the Ohio-based National School Safety and Security Services and a leading expert on pre-K to 12 safety, said that during an emergency at a school, a cell phone can actually detract from school safety. Among the examples he has cited include using phones instead of running, hiding, and listening to directions from first responders; and the sound of a phone can alert assailants to hiding places. Safety had been cited as the main reason to allow cell phones inside the schools to begin with less than a decade ago. NEA Today, the publication of the National Education Association, reported in 2016 that 70% of districts across the country that had once banned student phones reversed themselves and allowed them into the buildings. School officials had little way to control the situation, largely because of parental desires to reach their children via cellphone during the school day to ensure their safety if something concerning arises. There are ways to keep kids safe without them, said Yaron Litwin, digital safety expert and chief marketing officer at Canopy.us, a technology company that works to protect children from inappropriate content online. Schools can use landlines for emergencies, and teachers and staff can be trained to handle urgent situations. Litwin said schools can also implement systems like emergency alert buttons and communication devices for staff whenever a problem arises. Another solution includes providing designated phones in common areas for emergency use that would ensure students can still call for help without having to use their personal cell phones. These solutions may be imperfect, and more research is required to keep our kids as physically safe as possible, while also ensuring that they are digitally safe as well. Mental health School systems in Alabama are weighing what kind of restrictions to apply to cell phone use inside the schools. (Photo courtesy of Marty Coppola)special to cleveland.com The statistical benefits, meanwhile, favor moving toward cell phone bans or increased restrictions. A 2020 study of 210 middle and high school principals found that a vast majority them said cell phones used during school negatively impacted a students academic performance. A slightly higher percentage of middle school principals (89%) than high school principals (80%) had that belief. Mental health aspects are also playing a role, and statistics are alarming. In the book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt reports that the share of U.S. undergraduates diagnosed with anxiety disorder increased by a whopping 134% between 2010 and 2020, while those with depression increased by 106%. Suicide rates are also soaring among teens, while national test scores in math and reading have declined. The experts say that curbing cell phone use and social media is needed. Haidt writes that kids should have little to no access to either until they turn 16. The American Psychological Association is also saying that social media platforms are inherently unsafe for children. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called for warning labels on social media alerting users about its significant mental health harms for adolescents. Cardwell, in Fairhope, said that students are so involved in social media that they have seemed to have lost that human interaction facet that is so important to adolescent development. Many students have more than five different social media accounts and that can be exhausting, he said. Alabama lawmakers, while introducing legislation curbing cell phone use in schools, havent passed anything yet. Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, told The Alabama Reflector last month that he was working on legislation related to social media use that could impose restrictions for people under 16. He did not return a call for comment on Friday. Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, who chairs the Alabama House Education Policy Committee, said she would support a statewide ban on cell phone use during schools. She said she is hopeful that lawmakers will consider a similar approach to Montgomery County in requiring students to store their cell phones in pouches during the eight hours they are in school. Something like that statewide would be something Id be supportive of, Collins said. I believe it would be expensive to do statewide, but the costs would be outweighed by the benefits. Mackey said he will continue to beat the drum for more restrictions as awareness grows over the dangers of cell phone availability to youths and the detrimental effects of social media. My real concern is access to social media and instant messaging platforms being accessible during the school day, he said. I think the active research and anecdotal data are making the image more and more clear that student concentration, academic endeavor and behavior improve when smart phones are removed from the classroom experience. Cardwell said he is hoping his schools approach in keeping the phones out of the classrooms will lead to improving test scores as teachers reclaim their 50 minutes of engagement and interactions. It will help academic achievement and also aid us in better developing our students for the workforce going back to the good ole fashioned communication and social interaction, Cardwell said. We want them to get away from phones, air pods, etc. It boils down to a decision made for academic achievement and fostering employability skills in our kids. Reporter Trish Crain contributed to this report. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth put the blame for the deadly shooting at a President Donald Trump rally squarely on the candidates political opponents, saying the radical left has declared a jihadist-style attack on traditional Christian values. Trump survived an assassination attempt by a matter of inches on Saturday. In an X post, Ainsworth said that in church Sunday, his pastor reminded the congregation that the nation is facing a crisis of sin and a problem of the heart. He cited Romans 3:23, where all people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Ainsworth wrote that in addition to attacking Christian values, the radical left has spent time attacking Trump. He blamed the shooting in part on language from President Joe Biden, who recently told supporters to put Trump in a bulls eye. Ainsworth also referenced a congressional aide who after the shooting, posted that the shooter should get some training so you dont miss next time. The contrast in values is as obvious as the sun in the sky, Ainsworth wrote. Last night, there were no riots, no burnings, no smashed windows. There were just sad, angry, and concerned Americans. The problem is the radical lefts agenda, and the radical lefts agenda is evil incarnate. Biden said this weekend that his bulls-eye comment referenced political action, not violence. The staffer was dismissed from Rep. Bennie Thompsons office. Authorities have not identified any motive for the rally shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks. According to news reports, Crooks was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania, but had also given $15 to a progressive political action committee on Jan. 20, 2021, the day Biden was sworn in to office. Ainsworth added that he was praying for everyone at the scene and impacted by the tragedy. Other Alabama figures also offered prayers after the incident. Im thankful that God spared his life, said Alex Reynolds, part of the Alabama delegation to the Republican National Convention as chairman of the Houston County Republican Party. Torin Brazzle, 47, founder, CEO and president of IGNITE! , created the nonprofit with a single thought: It shouldnt be so hard for Black people to succeed at business. IGNITE! connects Black- and woman-owned businesses across Alabama with the resources they need to thrive, such as legal services, financial and business advisors, brick and mortars and capital. Since its inception in 2019, IGNITE! has worked with more than 1,400 businesses to secure 94 contracts and has put over $3 million in loans and $669,000 in grants into the hands of Black businesses owners in an effort to close wealth gaps. I was really frustrated looking at the state of our Black community and all of the obstacles that we were facing and dealing with in perpetuity. It cant be this hard. It cant be this hard for Black people to have a seat at the table, Brazzle said. IGNITE! is a message to the Black community to say lets focus on what we can change. In 2021, Black-owned businesses made up about 3% of all United States firms, according to a Pew Research Center study . A 2022 Brookings study found that while wealth in the Black community was increasing, so was the racial wealth gap with a total difference of $240,120 in wealth between the median white household and the median Black household. A 2020 Citi Global Perspectives & Solutions report found that if wage, education, housing and investment gaps were closed in 2000, $16 trillion could have been added to the U.S. economy. Brazzle said she created IGNITE! to combat this inequality. Were igniting the world, right here from the city of Birmingham, Brazzle said. Brazzles journey Brazzle was born and raised in Cleveland. She said that growing up, she often felt like she had no control over her life. Her mother struggled with addiction for more than 38 years. As an adult, Brazzle faced discrimination and said she often put too much energy into fighting against a broken system. In 1995, Brazzle moved to Birmingham where she met her husband, had two daughters and worked for nonprofits throughout the state. Brazzle said she saw how people in her community struggled with the same discrimination and obstacles she faced throughout her life. Brazzle began talking to business owners about their needs and obstacles to succeeding and found that the top complaints were the lack of access to capital and resources. She sought out agencies that could provide resources for small, Black owned businesses. Her partners include: Balch and Bingham, Stillman College, PwC, Hope Credit Union, TruFund Financial Services, Woodlawn United, National Business Incubation Center, Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, Small Business Administration and Small Business Development Centers. Brazzle also created a step by step manual for starting and operating a small business. Weve now pulled together an ecosystem, where we have over 90 agencies, local, state and nationally, that exist with a sole purpose to help support the Black business community, Brazzle said. In October 2019, Brazzle hosted IGNITEs first event, Doing Business in Alabama Minority Business Training Pilot Project, where participants could learn how to start and sustain a business. But as she invested in others, Brazzle said she also had to learn how best to focus her energy, especially in the wake of losing four family members, including her mother. I recognized that the way that I can help the most is to pause to make sure that I put the oxygen on IGNITE! first so that we can be around for years to come. I realigned my focus to only change what I could control. On Juneteenth 2024, Brazzle hosted the Black Family Wealth Roundtable , a resource fair in Tuskegee with more than 600 attendees. At the roundtable, small business owners could gain access to pro-bono lawyers, notaries, homeownership workshop registration, insurance consultations, health screenings, student loan forgiveness registration and guidance on investments, credit, banks and real estate. The most important part of the Black Family Wealth Roundtable is the education, the conversationThe roundtable is about creating a playbook to secure and build [generational] wealth, Brazzle said. On July 28, Brazzle will take the Black Wealth Family Roundtable to New York and is following up with another roundtable in Atlanta on Aug. 21. Small business owners or those interested in starting a business can connect with IGNITE! on their website and can support the nonprofit with a donation . My goal was always to create a replicable model that can help Black businesses and Black communities everywhere, Brazzle said. A business owners perspective Lensey King, a Birmingham electrician and business owner , said IGNITE!s resources not only grew his business, but also helped him thrive. King started his family business, Electrical Maintenance and Troubleshooting , in 2008. In 2020, a time when many small businesses were struggling through the pandemic, King began watching IGNITE!s Sunday Sip and Sort training videos on Facebook. To learn more, and fine tune our operations and stay competitive, I pursued the opportunity that IGNITE! offered, which was helping minority owned businesses grow, King said. Torin would have guest speakers on there talking about different topics like grant funding, competitive business plans, business financials, all of the things a small business owner needs. He said Brazzles step by step list for business owners was also a big help for him. Over the years, Kings business received multiple grants, certifications and subcontractor support through IGNITE!. King now works with a success advocate, assigned through IGNITE!, who helps him to grow his business. That is IGNITE!. That is what we are. We are that central resource, Brazzle said. President Trump will be announcing his running mate within the next few days, and opinions are flying about the qualities he should seek in his next vice president. Experience, state of origin, race, sex, loyalty, and past comments regarding President Trump are all factors voters are focusing on when deciding their preferred candidate to round out the Republican ticket. The common goal is to draw turnout from as many typically non-Republican voting demographics as possible. However, the most consistent theme is that many seem to believe that Trump needs to pick someone who can be his successor. A day is like a year in politics. Less than two years ago, the small and shrinking but noticeable establishment wing of the Republican party rolled out a campaign to discard President Trump by promoting Ron DeSantis as the most viable 2024 option. Just months later, DeSantiss disastrous campaign concluded with a historic Iowa Caucus victory for President Trump, with DeSantis dashing any future presidential ambitions he may have had for 2028 or beyond in the process. In the early 2010s, Reps. Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan, and Kevin McCarthy were deemed the Young Guns: A New Generation of Conservative Leaders. All three have since retired from public office, two as a result of humiliating defeats. There are many instances like these, which prove that attempting to project a viable successor for an election nearly five years from now, as opposed to seeking out whoever will be most effective in advancing the agenda of the next four years, would be unwise. This is especially true considering that history shows that a sitting vice president ascending to the presidency is a rarity in modern politics. Throughout Americas history, eight sitting vice presidents have sought the presidency upon their term as vice president ending. Four of them John Breckinridge, Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, and Al Gore lost the general election, halting their partys momentum by handing power over to the opposition party. Of the four who emerged victorious, just one, Thomas Jefferson, went on to serve two full terms, over 200 years ago. The other three victors John Adams, Martin Van Buren, and George H.W. Bush all lost their re-election bids as incumbent presidents. This means that the argument that Trump must find the 2028 Republican nominee for president right now is flawed and ill informed, as trying to determine the best option for four years from now prior to seeing how everything unfolds would be putting the cart before the horse. Instead, Trump voters should base their vice presidential preference on who will be fully dedicated to helping advance President Trumps agenda over the next four years. President Trump inherited a weak economy, a worsening immigration crisis, and a hostile North Korea from Barack Obama in early 2017. If he returns to the White House on January 20, all of those would pale in comparison to what he will inherit from Joe Biden. The illegal alien crisis is implausibly worse now than it was then, hostile foreign affairs have expanded beyond North Korea, and government weaponization is now a very real and present danger to America. Therefore, America would be best served if Trumps vice president were fully committed to tackling the present issues for all 1,461 days of the next Trump term, as opposed to planning a White House bid halfway through it. For those still concerned that this approach might jeopardize 2028 for Republicans, consider the following: no endorsement in American political history has ever been as powerful as President Trumps. Right now, there is a hunger among all races, religions, and creeds to return to what we had under Trump, which has given him more momentum than ever before. If this strong show of support extends down the ballot, Trump will likely achieve the policy proposals outlined in his Agenda 47. If this comes to fruition, the Republican party would possess a quasi-incumbency advantage, as Trump can serve only one more term. This means Trumps 2028 coattails would be longer than ever, as the nation would be motivated to ensure Trumps successful approach to governing and that his vision for America (the MAGA movement) continue long into the future. Whether the person Trump endorses served as vice president or not often cited as one of the most loosely defined roles in the federal government would be largely irrelevant, despite all the attention it is getting now. Instead, it is far more likely that the vast majority of the electorate would unify around Trumps judgment on who is most worthy to take up the MAGA mantle, given that he is the architect of it. If we as a nation are fortunate enough to have a vice president who is a key player in the successes of the next Trump administration and emerges as the consensus choice to become the 48th president, that will be a great thing. However, suggesting that the only path to a 2028 Republican victory is for Trump to pick that person now is rooted more in fear than in facts or data. In fact, since history is the only semi-reliable measuring stick for something like this, there is a greater chance the opposite of the intended result would occur. It has been a brutal four years in our nation's history, and people are understandably anxious about not only the immediate, but also the long-term future of America. However, if we focus too far into the future at the expense of the present, there may not be a country left to fight for based on the current trajectory. Therefore, the focus should be on delivering the most prosperous four years in American history to spark a revival of the American spirit never before seen. If we as a nation can accomplish that, 2028 will take care of itself, with President Trumps final parting gift as president being the endorsement he gives to represent the Republican Party, whether it be his vice president or another. Matt Kane graduated from Stony Brook University with a Bachelors degree in political science. His work has been posted by President Trump and published by Human Events, Real Clear Politics, American Thinker, and AMAC. Follow on Truth Social: @MattKane X, @MattKaneUSA. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. The deranged leftist goons who are excoriating the shooter for missing are evil but not wrong; at 150 yards, its a relatively easy shot that any number of amateurs and deer hunters could hit. Which is why it is outrageous beyond words that the security detail failed to prevent the shooter from getting into position at what has to be described as point-blank range. We naive citizens somehow assumed that every rooftop, telephone pole, open window and tree within a 1,000 yard radius would have been surveilled by a hundred drones and a hundred men. Putin, Xi, and the mullahs know now that they can easily get their (professional this time) assets within turkey-shoot distance with Barrett 50-cals. Heads need to roll. And the FBI is not the right agency to head up the investigation. The wives and daughters of men who are denied employment for which they are more qualified than the women who are hired in their place under DEI policies, do not benefit from DEI. Black heart attack patients do not benefit from having a black cardiologist who is less qualified that one who happens to be white. LGBTQ+ airline passengers do not benefit from having LGBTQ+ engineers, pilots and air traffic controllers servicing, flying guiding their planes, if these were artificially promoted ahead of non-LGBTQ+ candidates under DEI. In other words, DEI hurts members of the target beneficiary demographics as much as it hurts the deplorable white, Christian, heterosexual males that are targeted for suppression. One standard, no preference or prejudice. DEI kills. Its time for DEI to DIE. Image: Quinn Dombrowski Recently a friend arrived in New York with reservations at a boutique midtown hotel in Manhattan. Reservations were hard to obtain for a five-day visit as tourist season has recovered from pandemic-driven downturns. Early next morning he checked out, describing all-night noise in the halls with garbage and bottles strewn about. Getting reasonable priced hotel rooms was impossible and he left the city earlier than scheduled. Since 2022, under The Sanctuary Hotel Program, hotels that agreed to shelter illegals received $139 and $185 a night per room, occupied or not, under a $980 million contract with the city. When thousands of illegals began to arrive in New York City, many hotels, from swanky to just passable, began sheltering illegals and dramatically cut rooms available to tourists. Under its Right to Shelter policy, New York City guarantees housing and social services for illegals and in May 2023, the once stately and elegant Roosevelt Hotel, which was closed during the COVID pandemic, reopened as a registering service for immigrants providing health evaluations and supplies and aid in registering minors in public schools. 175 rooms for children and families grew to approximately 850 with maximum capacity causing overcrowding and straining all essential facilities. The hotel was totally trashed and closed. Mayor Eric Adams demanded temporary suspension of the Right to Shelter policy, but extended a city contract with more hotels for immigrants which was enthusiastically backed by the hotel unions and industry. This was supposed to finish this year but will now end in August 2026 and cost a total $1.365 billion -- almost five times the original price tag of $237 million. Since 2022, approximately 90 thousand immigrants have come to New York City, which expects to welcome an estimated 64.5 million tourists in 2024. What could go wrong? Everything did, and the New York Times noted: Two years in, as the citys peak tourism season is about to begin, the migrant crisis has helped dramatically shift the hotel landscape in New York. The conversion of hotels to shelters has sharply decreased the supply of rooms just as tourist demand has risen, nearly to prepandemic levels, and is projected to match a record high. By June 2024, one of every five New York City Hotels is now a illegal shelter. The cost to the city is $10 billion for three years billed to taxpayers, and illegals continue to pour into New York city boroughs and suburbs. The city government now pays about $385 a night per migrant family that needs housing and feeding. The average daily rate for a hotel stay in New York City climbed to $301.61 per person in 2023. At the same time, in 2024 uncontrolled immigration and the alleged right to shelter have caused a paucity of rooms available to tourists who are vital to New Yorks economy including restaurants, theaters, shops, and transportation. The spillover is also straining health services, public schools, social services, and housing. Occupancy in hotel rooms for illegals causes a loss of 16,532 hotel rooms, leaving only 121,677 hotel rooms for visitors. At present in New York City, the planned 47 hotels in various stages of plans, permits, and construction, will add 7,655 rooms, but who knows how many illegals will arrive through our porous and uncontrolled borders, and how many hotels will yield to the pressure and guaranteed income and become shelters. If you are lucky enough to get a hotel room, while walking there you will encounter homeless Americans, including veterans who are neglected and abandoned without funding and succor. No room at the inn for them and no American plan. Image: Oto Godfrey Im sure by now everyone has seen near-endless replays of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump on a campaign swing through Butler, Pennsylvania, hard on to the Ohio border. Real MAGA country. If youve done that, youve seen how the Secret Service didnt perform. Sadly, they looked like a bunch of Keystone Kops, a slapstick band of inept cops whose silent movie performances were so inept that your only options are to laugh at the insanity, or cry at, well, the insanity. Im not a law enforcement official never been one. But I have managed state-level media and strategy for three presidential campaigns, which means Ive been a part of planning presidential election campaign events in South Carolina and Tennessee. Each event was heavily screened by the Secret Service. Ive also dealt with the Secret Service when, in 1978, they designated the hospital I then worked for as the official Receiving Hospital if the then-President Carter had a medical issue on a flight from D.C. to his home in Plains, Georgia. Should that have happened, we were advised that the Secret Service would big-foot us, taking control of my hospital. This was not optional. Finally, in the mid-1990s, I was the unpaid PR advisor to the then Drug Czar, a retired general, Barry McCaffrey, a hard-charging former tank commander who knew less about PR than he did about drugs, or how to fight them. But thats a story for another day. I was unpaid by Gen. McCaffrey, but I was by my client, the National Drug Prevention Association. McCaffreys office was officially part of the White House, though his physical office was on the eighth floor of an office building across 17th Avenue from the Old Executive Office Building OEOB. As such, Gen. McCaffrey rated Secret Service protection. So I do have at least some experience with the Secret Service. Here's what I learned. They are (were) well-trained, reasonably well-paid and highly motivated. While there were no restrictions on hiring by race or gender, the Secret Service was a meritocracy. What they wanted at least for the presidential detail were large individuals who were amazingly fit, remarkably well-schooled in the use of firearms, and willing to put their bodies between shooters and the president. When John Hinckley, Jr. attempted to assassinate President Reagan forty-three years ago, he shot Special Agent Tim McCarthy in the abdomen, hitting him as the Special Agent was turning to protect President Reagan with his body proof that Secret Service Agents would actually become human shields, if necessary. However, today, while that credo may still be in the playbook, there are other factors now at play. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle had long experience with then Vice President Biden, so as president he appointed her to head up the agency. However, someone presumably President Biden set her priorities based on DEI: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, instead of the traditional priority of making sure the president doesnt DIE. One of her personal priorities was to ensure that thirty percent of all field agents including those who protect the president must be women. These women might be of the right mindset putting themselves between the president and a shooter but the ones we all saw on Saturday didnt meet one of the basic requirements. Specifically, they werent big enough to protect the president with their bodies. So ask yourself this: How well can a five-foot-six agent protect a six-foot-three president? Fast Forward to last Saturday. When President Trump was shot, heres what I noted: The president reacted before his agents did. He could be seen feeling and hearing the bullet. When he did, he put his hand to his ear and saw blood, then he dropped down, kneeling behind a bullet-proof half-wall covered with bunting, just as hed been trained. Only after this did the members of his presidential detail spring into action, finally putting their bodies between him and any potential shooters. Just as theyre trained, though not as efficiently. Once they decided to take President Trump to the Beast, the heavily armored SUV used by presidents and presidential candidates. Thats when their Keystone Kop-ishness became really apparent. The president, realizing that he hadnt been seriously hurt, wanted to let the thousands of supporters at the event know he was O.K. Thats understandable, but this diversion isnt in the Secret Service playbook, so a bit of chaos ensued. Then they more-or-less manhandled the president toward the Beast. Two of those agents were women who seemed to be about five-foot-six. President Trump, whom they swore to protect, stands around six-foot-three. This would have been funny if it wasnt so potentially dangerous. When they got the president safely into the Beast, one of the (female) agents had trouble holstering her firearm, a move that should be instinctive. While the president has executive oversight of the agency, it is up to the Secret Service agents to protect him as their only priority. So, when a president gives an order that runs contrary to their sole priority, they should follow that instead of his directions. Why is this important? Well, first, while its understandable why President Trump wanted to reassure his followers that he was fine and still in the fight, if there had been more than one shooter, he might be dead by now, because the Secret Service agents did the following: They didnt forcibly move him away from the podium while he was standing tall and not moving. When he said he wanted his shoes, they stopped while the shoes were retrieved; then, when he lost his MAGA hat, one of his female agents bent over, leaving the president vulnerable to another shot from the sniper. If the shooter hadnt already been dead something she didnt know shed been in the primary blocking position. This hat recovery, which might have proved fatal, also slowed down the move from podium to the Beast. When they got to the stairs leading down from the platform, there was a scrum among the agents because the stairs were not wide enough to hold the president and all the agents. If there had been other shooters, this inept decision could have proved fatal. Finally, when they got to the Beast, there was another scrum as they decided whod push President Trump into the very real safety of the protective vehicle. As I said, real Keystone Kops. Which makes me wonder if President Biden finally allows the Secret Service to provide the additional agents to President Trumps detail, which the Trump campaign clearly needs, will he be moved by DEI or by DIE? Ned Barnett, a contributor to American Thinker since 2006 and the author of forty published books, is the founder of Barnett Marketing Communications, providing services to political campaigns as well as high-tech and start-up businesses, along with book authors. For authors he provides ghostwriting (as needed), editing and most important, book marketing. He can be reached at nedbarnett51@gmail.com or 702-561-1167. Image: Screen shot from CSPAN video, via YouTube From Variety: President Joe Biden made an earnest plea for Americans to tone down the political rhetoric and pull together as a nation in the aftermath of Saturdays shocking assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, Bidens Republican presidential rival in November. We cannot, we must not go down this road in America. The political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated, Biden said in a rare Oval Office address that aired live across multiple networks at 8 p.m. ET. Its time to cool it down. Were the events of Saturday really all that shocking as the leftwing media says? For eight years, the media and other Democrats have set out to destroy Trump with lies. They have called him a dictator, an authoritarian, and a fascist. They have continued to compare him to Adolf Hitler, and labeled him a Nazi; just last month, The New Republic repurposed a 1932 Hitler campaign campaign poster, saying Trump was damn close enough and wed better fight his election: We chose the cover image, based on a well-known 1932 Hitler campaign poster, for a precise reason: that anyone transported back to 1932 Germany could very, very easily have explained away Herr Hitlers excesses and been persuaded that his critics were going overboard. After all, pic.twitter.com/x79Rkh86O1 The New Republic (@newrepublic) July 7, 2024 Theyve called him a literal and existential threat to democracy, freedom and the United Stateskind of like climate change. They have said he is a racist and a white supremacist who doesnt want blacks to be able to vote. Theyve described him as a rapist and an abuser, and made movies and television shows about him violently assaulting women. They painted Trump as a monster who put kids in cages and broke up familiesthough the cages were Barack Obamas brainchild, and family separation was actually getting trafficked children out of traffickers hands. Theyve lied, saying Trump adores dictators around the world. Joe Biden himself has lied, for seven years, pushing the very fine people hoax, and saying Trump thinks Nazis and white supremacists are good people. While they targeted political opponents, including raiding Trumps personal home and ready to use deadly force if necessary, prosecuted him relentlessly in both civil and criminal cases, thrown Trump supporters in jail for being near the Capitol (yet never going in)theyve said Trump is the danger to civility and freedom. When Trump said march peacefully and patriotically to the Capitol, they said he incited violence. They called violent protests throughout the country in 2020 mostly peaceful, and allowed their supporters to destroy cities, which even culminated in people being burned alive when trapped in the chaos. They had violent protests in 2016 when Trump won, and it was called freedom of expression. They have frequently challenged elections and electors, and never complained or called them a threat to democracy, but if Republicans do that? Theyre election deniers, and guilty of election interference. They have continually called Republicans liars and far right extremists for telling the truth about Joes incompetence and corruption. And now, they act shocked that a delusional young man tried to kill Trump, and theyre saying were all at fault for whats happened. What an absolute joke. Basically, they are trying to cover their a**es for their wildly successful efforts to divide the nation, sow discord, and incite violence. And they pretend they are the party of unity! Image: YouTube video screen grab. We are publishing continuously today. To see more blog entries, please click here. Obama, the Clintons, Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, and the rest of us are beginning to find out that getting Biden out of the White House is more difficult than getting him in. Joes comment, No one f$^ks with a Biden may be the most memorable line of his miserable presidency. The idealists among us believe that the most important job of any president is to protect and defend the United States of America. Democrats seem to believe that the most important job of a president is to protect their hold on that office. President Biden, as his famous quote declares, is all about protecting himself and his familys How To Get Rich In Politics enterprise. Biden has surrounded himself with people skilled at protecting him. Attorney General Merrick Garland has kept wayward son Hunter Biden out of jail so far, and that is noteworthy, given his love of vice. Members of his National Security team will say and write anything to protect Biden. There are no depths too low for his press secretary as she mangles words and logic in Joes defense. Image: YouTube screen grab. Joe is generous in providing protection for himself. However, this does not extend to his opponents. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has been asking for Secret Service protection for months in his third-party bid for the presidency. This is understandable since his uncle, JFK, and his father, RFK, were both gunned down by assassins. When the Supreme Court struck down the Roe v. Wade decision, Senate Majority Leader Schumer all but invited wannabe assassins to come to D.C. and shoot justices responsible for that result. Although there is a federal law requiring protection for all the justices, Attorney General Garland has allowed violent protestors to make threats to them outside of their homes. Behind the safety of his security detail, Joe Biden did nothing to discourage these violent assemblies. Yesterday, former President Trump barely escaped assassination as he was campaigning in western Pennsylvania. Much has been said and will be said about this terrible event, but according to eyewitness Greg Smith, Bidens Secret Service did a less-than-thorough job of securing the site. Smith says he saw the killer and would-be-assassin bear crawling with a rifle on the roof of a nearby building. He further says that he alerted the police and the Secret Service of the shooters alarming behavior. Biden and his party have done all they can to derail former President Trump. Today is July 14, 2024, and the election is three and a half months away. Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service Agent, now a radio host has warned his listeners that attempts on Trumps life would come. His prophetic words add to the national disaster that we call Biden. Ned Cosby, a frequent contributor to American Thinker, is a former pastor, veteran Coast Guard officer, and a retired career public high school teacher. His novel OUTCRY is a love story exposing the refusal of Christian leaders to report and discipline clergy who sexually abuse our young people. This work of fiction addresses crimes that are all too real. Cosby has also written RECOLLECTIONS FROM MY FATHERS HOUSE, tracing his own odyssey from 1954 to the present. For more info, visit Ned Cosby. Mayor John Whitmire, Greater Houston Community Foundation vice chair and chair-elect Bob Harvey and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announce Beryl Recovery Fund, a fund aiming to raise financial support for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl, during a press conference on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, a joint effort by the Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston, has organized this initiative to provide low-to-moderate income families with emergency financial assistance, home repairs, and help accessing resources. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo shake hands just before announcing the Beryl Recovery Fund, a fund aiming to raise financial support for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl, during a press conference on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, a joint effort by the Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston, has organized this initiative to provide low-to-moderate income families with emergency financial assistance, home repairs, and help accessing resources. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire, Greater Houston Community Foundation vice chair and chair-elect Bob Harvey and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announce Beryl Recovery Fund, a fund aiming to raise financial support for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl, during a press conference on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, a joint effort by the Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston, has organized this initiative to provide low-to-moderate income families with emergency financial assistance, home repairs, and help accessing resources. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire, Greater Houston Community Foundation vice chair and chair-elect Bob Harvey and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announce Beryl Recovery Fund, a fund aiming to raise financial support for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl, during a press conference on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, a joint effort by the Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston, has organized this initiative to provide low-to-moderate income families with emergency financial assistance, home repairs, and help accessing resources. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire, Greater Houston Community Foundation vice chair and chair-elect Bob Harvey and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announce Beryl Recovery Fund, a fund aiming to raise financial support for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl, during a press conference on Monday, July 15, 2024 in Houston. The Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, a joint effort by the Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston, has organized this initiative to provide low-to-moderate income families with emergency financial assistance, home repairs, and help accessing resources. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Officials with United Way of Greater Houston and the Houston Disaster Alliance announced Monday they are opening a Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund to help residents with storm recovery. The news conference with Mayor John Whitmire and County Judge Lina Hidalgo was a rare joint appearance by the two top local government officials. They also appeared at a joint news conference after Mays derecho. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The fund will go toward helping the most vulnerable residents in Houston and Harris, Waller, Montgomery and Fort Bend counties with emergency financial assistance, home repairs and resource navigation services. So far, the fund has accumulated more than $3 million. H-E-B has donated $1 million, the Sarofim Foundation has donated $1 million and CenterPoint Energy Foundation has donated another $1 million. Wells Fargo and Shell have also contributed, but its unclear how much. Those funds will be distributed to nonprofit organizations that have worked with United Way and are on the ground in their communities to identify those who are in need, and will complement state and federal efforts to rebuild after the storm. When disaster strikes, were reminded that no one organization can do it all, said Bob Harvey, vice chair and chair-elect of the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Hidalgo said that so far, more than 68,000 Harris County residents have reported damage to their homes, and that 142 of those reports are about homes that are completely destroyed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This support in the Beryl fund is a big, big opportunity, because we can never have enough, Hidalgo said. We can never make people whole, with the federal aid, with all the work that we try to do with government. Whitmire said that what everyone was witnessing was Houstons greatness. Theres no other community in Texas or the nation that comes together during a crisis and can bring the different diverse groups, united groups to be able to accomplish what is being proposed today in the Beryl fund, the mayor said. As frustration mounts against CenterPoint over ongoing power outages after the storm, some linemen who are in town to fix the issue have been subject to threats. Whitmire echoed calls to end those threats, but also hammered on the bottom line of residents growing concerns. I wouldnt be doing my job if I did not say thank you to CenterPoint and their foundation for their financial contribution, but what we really need is our power turned on, Whitmire said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Those who are in need of assistance and want to seek out funding from the Hurricane Beryl Recovery fund should fill out an assessment form at https://harveyhomeconnect.tfaforms.net/282. Those who wish to donate to the fund can do so at www.disasteralliance.org/beryl. Correction (July 16, 11:08 a.m.): A previous version of this story directed residents who are seeking assistance from the Hurricane Beryl Recovery Fund to call the 211 line. United Way/211 has since said the funds are not yet available, and have directed residents in need to fill out an assessment form. Justice Cannon, who has been presiding over the Mar-a-Lago documents case that purported special prosecutor Jack Smith brought against Donald Trump, just dismissed the case. Her decision, echoing Justice Clarence Thomass analysis in Trump v. United States, held that Jack Smith wasnt properly appointed and had no authority to indict Trump. Feeling themselves ascendant, the Democrats built an anti-Trump lawfare fortress. However, it was always built on sand, and, with the tide turned, its collapsing on them at warp speed. For those who find themselves confused and overwhelmed by the innumerable lawfare cases Democrats have brought against Donald Trump, the case in Florida was the consequence of the Mar-a-Lago raid. Donald Trump, as president, had plenary power over all national security mattersmeaning that neither Congress nor the bureaucrats who work for the president can override his decisions, including de facto declassifying documents by removing them from the White House. Nevertheless, Jack Smith claimed that Trump had violated national security laws by having a handful of documents at Mar-a-Lago that some bureaucrat had stamped Classified. His goal was to imprison Trump for the rest of Trumps life. Image: Jack Smith fades away. YouTube screen grab (edited). However, aside from President Trumps absolute and unlimited right to declassify documents, there was an even bigger problem with Jack Smiths indictment, and that was the fact that he had no authority to bring it. Justice Thomas wrote an important concurrence to Trump v. United States, which arose in the context of Jack Smith indicting Trump in D.C. for events surrounding January 6. The question in that opinion was whether presidents have absolute immunity for all acts arising under their constitutional powers. The answer, of course, is yes. But Justice Thomas didnt stop there. In an important concurrence, he laid out the larger problem with the D.C. case, which is that Jack Smith had no authority to bring an indictment in the first place. Smith, a private citizen, claimed his authority to indict Trump because the Attorney General unilaterally appointed him. Writes Thomas, But, I am not sure that any office for the Special Counsel has been established by Law, as the Constitution requires. Art. II, 2, cl. 2. By requiring that Congress create federal offices by Law, the Constitution imposes an important check against the Presidenthe cannot create offices at his pleasure. If there is no law establishing the office that the Special Counsel occupies, then he cannot proceed with this prosecution. A private citizen cannot criminally prosecute anyone, let alone a former President. Judge Aileen Cannon, in her 93-page order dismissing the entire classified documents case against Trump, opened the opinion by echoing Justice Thomas: The Superseding Indictment is DISMISSED because Special Counsel Smiths appointment violates the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution. U.S. Const., Art. II, 2, cl. 2. Special Counsel Smiths use of a permanent indefinite appropriation also violates the Appropriations Clause, U.S. Const., Art. I, 9, cl. 7... In other words, Smith is a private citizen and had no right to indict Trump or to use taxpayer resources (currently to the tune of around $24 million) to do so. Here is Judge Cannons summary of her decision: Both the Appointments and Appropriations challenges as framed in the Motion raise the following threshold question: is there a statute in the United States Code that authorizes the appointment of Special Counsel Smith to conduct this prosecution? After careful study of this seminal issue, the answer is no. None of the statutes cited as legal authority for the appointment 28 U.S.C. 509, 510, 515, 533gives the Attorney General broad inferior-officer appointing power or bestows upon him the right to appoint a federal officer with the kind of prosecutorial power wielded by Special Counsel Smith. Nor do the Special Counsels strained statutory arguments, appeals to inconsistent history, or reliance on out-of-circuit authority persuade otherwise. The bottom line is this: The Appointments Clause is a critical constitutional restriction stemming from the separation of powers, and it gives to Congress a considered role in determining the propriety of vesting appointment power for inferior officers. The Special Counsels position effectively usurps that important legislative authority, transferring it to a Head of Department, and in the process threatening the structural liberty inherent in the separation of powers. If the political branches wish to grant the Attorney General power to appoint Special Counsel Smith to investigate and prosecute this action with the full powers of a United States Attorney, there is a valid means by which to do so. He can be appointed and confirmed through the default method prescribed in the Appointments Clause, as Congress has directed for United States Attorneys throughout American history, see 28 U.S.C. 541, or Congress can authorize his appointment through enactment of positive statutory law consistent with the Appointments Clause. You can read the whole decision here. The bottom line is that the Mar-a-Lago documents case is dead in the water. Gone. Finito. And of course, Judge Cannons decision will affect the case before Judge Tanya Chutkan in D.C. regarding January 6. I dont know if Trumps lawyers have already filed their challenge to Smith in that court, but you can be assured that, if they havent, they will. If Chutkan is wise, shell see which way the wind is blowing and, taking Clarence Thomas as her guide, will follow Cannons lead and dismiss the case. If she is not wise (and she hasnt shown past signs of wisdom), shell leave the case in place, leading to emergency petitions to the D.C. Appellate court. And if that court is not wise, itll quickly go before the Supreme Court, which I have no doubt will definitively slap it down. The bottom line is that the Biden administrations practice of persecuting Trump through trumped-up prosecutions is over. The tide is turning drastically in America as Democrats maddened attacks on Trump and his policies are collapsing under their own weight. Democrats economic, national security, and immigration policies have devastated Americans. Bidens foreign policy weaknesses have unleashed war across the planet. Biden himself has been proven to be deep in the throes of dementia, but, by having propped him up for years, Democrats are stuck with him. And just this weekend, it became clear that Democrats DEI obsessions may have been a root cause of an almost successful assassination attempt against Donald Trump. Whats so horrifying for Dems, and so miraculous, is that everything theyve thrown at Trump has only made him stronger. Like George Washington coming through battle after battle unscathed (the same was true for Churchill during the Boer War), Trump misses death by literally a hairs breadth. He seems destined to fulfill an important role in America, and nothing the Democrats can do will stop him. The entirely righteous collapse of Smiths case because Smith is nothing more than an imposter fits right into this amazing narrative. XR enthusiasts have been eagerly waiting for the launch of a new Samsung Android XR headset for a while now. The South Korean tech giant announced its collaboration with Google and Qualcomm for a new XR headset initiative in February last year. The device was expected to launch in Q1 2024 but was repeatedly pushed back. The details regarding the new Samsung Android XR headset have been scarce, up until now. According to a report by Business Insider, Samsung will launch a developer version of its Android XR headset later this year. Samsung could start giving out an early version of its Android XR headset to developers at SDC 2024 According to the source, Samsung will launch a version of its Android XR headset for developers in October. Samsung has previously indicated that it will introduce something new in the XR segment before 2024 ends. But, this is the first time weve heard a specific month mentioned. The report didnt provide an exact launch date for the developer version. However, theres a Samsung Developer Conference on October 3. If the report is true, the company could showcase its Android XR headset at this event. The brand may also start giving out the early version of the device to developers around the same time. So they can start making applications for the new headset. Its worth mentioning that during the recent Unpacked event, Rick Osterloh, Googles SVP of Platforms & Devices, briefly mentioned the upcoming XR platform. Furthermore, TM Roh, President of Samsungs Mobile Division, revealed that the new XR platform is coming this year. However, Roh refrained from sharing any other details like the features or general availability of the upcoming XR platform-powered headset. The commercial product is said to be showcased in March 2025 Furthermore, the latest report suggests that Samsung could showcase the commercial version of the Android XR headset in March 2025. As always with rumors, nothing is certain until the company makes an official announcement. Unfortunately, theres not a lot known about the upcoming XR headset thats Samsung developing with Google and Qualcomm. It could be a mixed bag offering all VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality), and MR (mixed reality) experiences in a single device. Only time will tell, so stay tuned for more updates in the future. The population of England and Wales saw the biggest annual increase in 75 years because of growth driven by immigration, new estimates suggest. In the year to mid-2023, the population grew by almost 610,000 to 60.9 million, according to the estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published on Monday. This growth was primarily made up by the 1,084,000 people who were estimated to have migrated to England and Wales from outside the UK during that period. An estimated 462,000 people emigrated from England and Wales, meaning net migration the difference between the number of people legally arriving in the UK and leaving totalled 622,000. The population of England and Wales at mid-year 2023 was estimated to be 60.9 million. Although increasing at a similar rate to the previous 12 months, the year to mid-2023 saw the largest annual increase in at least 75 years, up by almost 610,000. https://t.co/CsuH9D06i4 pic.twitter.com/0UlGquX5sQ Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) July 15, 2024 By comparison, the natural change in the population the difference between births and deaths was only 400 in the year to mid-2023 the lowest figure since the year to mid-1978. There were an estimated 598,000 deaths in England and Wales in the year to mid-2023, an increase of 24,000 compared with mid-2022. The number of births in the year to mid-2023 was 598,400, a decrease of 21,900 compared with the year to mid-2022. Deaths outnumbered births in the period in 58% of local authorities across England and Wales, the figures indicate. In the year to mid-2023, we estimate that: 1,084,000 people immigrated to England and Wales from outside the UK 462,000 emigrated 13,800 net internal moves out of England and Wales to the rest of the UK pic.twitter.com/m6pM2bSCyV Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) July 15, 2024 Ten years ago, in the year to mid-2013, just 26% of local authorities found themselves in the same position. The largest increases in deaths were in coastal and less urban areas such as Rutland, which saw an increase of 21.7%, and North Devon, 17.9%. Areas with the highest rates of population growth from mid-2022 to mid-2023 were City of London (17.5%), Cardiff (3.4%), and Preston (3.0%). Middlesbrough had the highest number of international immigrants as a proportion of its population in the year to mid-2023 (4.6%), as well as Coventry (4.4%), Newham (4.0%), and Leicester (3.6%). Commenting on the figures, the head of population estimates for the ONS, Neil Park, said: High levels of international migration seen in recent years are the main driver of population growth. But the year to mid-2023 also saw an increased number of deaths, as well as the lowest number of births since 2002. In fact, in the most recent year, births outnumbered deaths by just 400, the lowest reported figure for natural change since the late 1970s. And, interestingly, there were more deaths than births in every region, with the exception of London and the West Midlands. The last time population growth was as high was the year to mid-1948, 75 years before mid-2023. In that period, the population estimate for England and Wales increased by 1.5 million because of the return of soldiers following the end of the Second World War in addition to the high number of births. A body has been found by Spanish police searching for missing Briton Jay Slater, it has been reported. The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared after setting off to walk back to his accommodation on the Spanish holiday island of Tenerife on June 17. In a widely reported statement, Spanish police said a body had been found in the Masca area by the Civil Guards mountain rescue team. The statement said evidence suggested the remains were those of Jay and that he could have died because of an accidental fall. On Sunday his mother Debbie Duncan said the family was desperate to find our beautiful boy in a statement released through British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global. Members of a search and rescue team working near the last known location of Jay Slater in June (James Manning/PA) Mr Slater had attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. He had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca, and the two men said to have rented the property were later ruled not relevant to the case. The search in the village of Masca, near Mr Slaters last-known location, took place in a steep rocky area, including ravines, trails and paths. His family endured conspiracy theories and awful comments being posted online during the search for the apprentice bricklayer, but supporters had raised 50,000 to help fund the hunt for the teenager. A body has been found in the search for missing Briton Jay Slater, who vanished on the Spanish holiday island of Tenerife last month. Charity LBT Global said that, while formal identification has not yet taken place, the remains were found with the 19-year-olds clothes and possessions near his last known location. Members of a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard discovered the body near the village of Masca on Monday. The force said Mr Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, could have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area where he was discovered. Jay Slater went missing in Tenerife last month (Family handout/LBT Global/PA) It released video footage of rescuers climbing rock faces and battling through scrub as they carried out the search. Part of the clip shows two members of the search team being winched out of the area by helicopter after the body had been found and recovered. Mr Slater had attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island, which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. He had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca after a night out, but the two men said to have rented the property were later ruled not relevant to the case. (PA Graphics) LBT Global, which supports the families of British people missing overseas, said: LBT Global is saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater. It is understood the body was found close to the site of his mobile phones last location. Although formal identification is yet to be carried out, the body was found with Mr Slaters possessions and clothes. A post-mortem examination and forensic inquiries will follow. LBT Global are supporting the family at this distressing time and ask for everyone to afford them space and privacy to come to terms with the news. A view of the Airbnb Casa Abuela Tina in Masca, Tenerife, where missing British teenager Jay Slater, 19, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, stayed the night before he disappeared (James Manning/PA) His family endured conspiracy theories and awful comments being posted online during the search for the apprentice bricklayer, but supporters had raised 50,000 to help fund the hunt for the teenager. Tenerifes Guardia Civil said on Monday that officers are waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination to confirm that Mr Slater died as a result of an accident. Spanish police called off the search for the apprentice bricklayer at the end of June after helicopters, drones and search dogs were deployed to find him. But in its statement on Monday, the force said teams had not stopped searching every day. The discovery was possible thanks to the incessant and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard during these 29 days, in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with onlookers, its statement read. The Queen was left amused after two cows including one she was patting became very friendly with each other during a royal visit to Jersey. Camilla could not help but laugh as the animal she was stroking was mounted by another. But she was quick to compose herself, while the King appeared to be unaware of the incident. The royals were on a tour of the Jersey Expo Event at Weighbridge Place in St Helier, an exhibition created to celebrate local agriculture, aquaculture and environmental initiatives. The King and Queen travelled to Jersey on Monday as part of their first visit to the Channel Islands which are Crown Dependencies off the north-west coast of France since the King acceded to the throne. They will travel to Guernsey on Tuesday, where they will attend a special sitting of the States of Deliberation and ancient ceremony of homage to the monarch, held outdoors on the St Peter Port seafront where islanders can watch the events. Watch: Mr Bigstuff co-stars Danny Dyer and Ryan Sampson discuss the Sky comedy Sky's new comedy series Mr Bigstuff asks some big questions, like what it means to be a man especially if you're struggling with erectile dysfunction. The show, which is created, written and stars Ryan Sampson, explores this notion through his character Glen, a carpet salesman who worries he's unable to satisfy his fiancee Kirsty (Harriet Webb). But it's also about so much more than that, it's about grief and reconnection when Glen's estranged brother Lee (Danny Dyer), who turns up with nothing but the clothes on his back and a tin of their father's ashes and is on the run. Dyer tells Yahoo UK how impressed he was with the way in which Sampson approached the more serious subject in the comedy, saying: "You were sort of delving into masculinity, and the most emasculating thing is if a man can't get his winkle hard... it's almost like 'oh God, I'm not a man [because] it won't function'. His co-star added that erectile dysfunction is a "mental thing", which Dyer concurred with by saying: "It's important because you're right actually in the grand scheme of things it's f**k all to do with being masculine, but you feel like if that's not working then what are you? What have you become? But I think we dealt with it in the right way." Mr Bigstuff is created, written and stars Ryan Sampson, and it explores masculinity and what it means to be a man through his character Glen which Danny Dyer praised for being done in the 'right way'. (Sky) (Rob Baker Ashton) Sampson was compelled to make the series for a wholly different reason than exploring masculinity, he says, it was inspired by his experience with grief. "It's a comedy show, and I wanted it to be a funny thing, but I also wanted to write something that was about broken families because in my family we lost my mum a few years ago and it sort of spun everyone off in [different ways]," he says. Read more: Danny Dyer ribs John Torode over 'hard peas' on This Morning "It's an unexpected thing, you lose someone and it's the worst thing ever, but the new, unexpected thing was that was the linchpin that held you all together so you're all fractured apart. And so, I suppose, in a way I wanted to write this thing about families in a fantastical way. "That they might come back together, these two people, who have lost their matriarch, and their dad as well." Mr Bigstuff sees Glen struggle with erectile dysfunction, and the show's approach to the subject showed that 'in the grand scheme of things it's f**k all to do with being masculine' according to Danny Dyer. (Sky) (Rob Baker Ashton) Dyer's Lee catapults himself into Glen and Kirsty's life in surprising ways, one of which is the fact that he is intent on not buying his own clothes but dressing in Kirsty's spare clothes from her dressing gown, to her shorts, and even her sunglasses. It's another exploration of masculinity in the series, but also was inspired by some unlikely movie legends. "Oh I loved it, I loved it," Dyer said of his outfits in the show. "The Big Lebowski springs to mind, great film, great look and also a masculine man wearing women's clothes and pulling it off. And [it's about] having the b*****ks to wear them and going 'no, actually, I own this s**t', my little silk kimono and especially the glasses." Speaking of the sunglasses, Sampson adds: "We found these glasses that were definitely women's glasses, but when you put them on him there's just a whiff of Jack Nicholson. So it's like, 'yeah, that's the one'." Dyer enjoyed being likened to the iconic Hollywood star, adding: "We went through a lot of glasses to find the right ones. Some I liked and Ryan weren't into them. Then I made the ultimate call on it cause I was actually [thinking] I don't know, because it could have been really camp, pink ones and it just needed to be right. And I think they were perfect, [they were] iconic." Another exploration of masculinity in the series is the way in which Danny Dyer's Lee dresses throughout the show, his clothes were meant to give him a 'whiff of Jack Nicholson'. (Sky) (Mark Johnson) The co-stars have an interesting rapport, constantly bouncing back and forth with one another in a way that is reminiscent of a brotherly bond like the one they share in Mr Bigstuff. Their connection first began when they worked together on the ITV sitcom Plebs, Sampson reveals. "We met like 12, 13 years ago in Bulgaria on the set of Plebs, and so me and the Plebs guys me, Tom Rosenthal, Joel Fry we were intimidated to meet the man, the myth, the legend," the actor says of Dyer. "So we decided to play a game called Do You Dare Do What Danny Dyer Does Dare Do? "He didn't know about this, this was just us, and so whatever he does we're gonna match it. We're sat outside this hotel in Bulgaria and he pulls in, fresh off this flight and I swear to God within seconds he's like, 'Limoncellos!' and the woman comes with a tray of limoncellos for everyone. We're like 'oh God, okay' and then suddenly he's got a cigar and he's eyeing me, and he smokes the whole thing in two to three lungfuls It was terrifying. Ryan Sampson said of creating Mr Bigstuff: 'It's a comedy show, and I wanted it to be a funny thing, but I also wanted to write something that was about broken families'. (Sky) (Sky UK LTD) "This is the curtailed version, but basically the end of that night it gave me a Bell's Palsy. I don't know if you know Bell's Palsy is, but it's not good, your face [is temporarily paralysed on one side]." Dyer then joked: "The weirdest thing about this story is that I've ordered limoncello in Bulgaria because it's an Italian drink, isn't it? I think the key is it gets you off your f***ing nut, that was important and that was our way of bonding I suppose. "I was always fascinated by the way he drunk the limoncello and you probably did have a go on a cigar because you had to Do What Danny Dyer Does. We had an early little bond up many moons ago, little did we know well he f***ing knew that we were gonna be brothers." Mr Bigstuff premieres on Sky Max and streaming service NOW from 17 July. This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/danny-dyer-mr-bigstuff-ryan-sampson-masculinity-073408118.html Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has condemned unacceptable scenes when violence flared and his officers came under sustained attack at a disused factory designated as accommodation for asylum seekers in north Dublin. Mr Harris said it had been a difficult policing day, while Taoiseach Simon Harris described the scenes at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock as reprehensible. Fifteen people, thirteen men and two women, appeared before a late-night sitting at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday, charged with a range of public order offences. Another four people have been arrested. Gardai carry out a baton charge at protesters on Malahide Road, Coolock (Niall Carson/PA) A number of Garda cars were damaged during the disturbances and garda public order officers used incapacitant spray on anti-immigration protesters who threw missiles at them. At one point on Monday the protesters tried to move away from the factory towards Coolock Garda station before they were dispersed. The area is now quiet, after large number of protesters gathered at the site earlier in the day and attacked gardai on several occasions with missiles. Speaking in Dublin, Garda Commissioner Mr Harris said: This has been a difficult policing day for us in terms of dealing with serious public disorder centred on the Crown Paints factory. He added: What we saw today was really unacceptable. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said it had been a difficult day (Niall Carson/PA) We have a number of people, 15, already charged and there will be more charges overnight. On top of that we have seen serious disorder throughout the day, attacks on gardai, criminal damage and also offences of serious public disorder. All of those will be under investigation. Mr Harris said almost 200 gardai were involved in dealing with the disorder. The public order unit responded. It was operational decisions in terms of deployment, assessing the situation and then making sure that our deployment was proportionate. We did call upon additional public order units to support the additional unit. We had almost 200 gardai deployed, both public order and normal uniform personnel, and that was sufficient with the disorder that we faced. Taoiseach Simon Harris said: The scenes we have witnessed in Coolock today are reprehensible. The Minister for Justice (Helen McEntee) has briefed me throughout the day and the law will be implemented. No person has a right to burn cars, damage property or attack members of An Garda Siochana and emergency services. Gardai during a stand-off with protesters (Niall Carson/PA) These actions are criminal and are designed to sow fear and division. He added: We should not accept them being legitimised in any way by describing them as protest. I want to thank An Garda Siochana, who have come under attack today. They have shown extraordinary professionalism. Incapacitant spray was used by the garda public order unit in an attempt to disperse a crowd which had gathered close to a makeshift anti-immigration camp. The violence flared in the morning after preparations were made to start work at a disused building which is to be redeveloped to house asylum seekers. Wheelie bins were set alight by protesters (Niall Carson/PA) Protesters gathered, some with their faces covered, and a number of fires were set. Videos and pictures posted on social media on Monday showed a digger in flames. Workers who were to begin renovating the premises were removed from the site. The protest camp was set up several months ago to prevent workers from renovating the premises, with people there around the clock. Videos on social media showed a stand-off between gardai and protesters, while some demonstrators shouted abuse at officers. Dozens of gardai formed a line to bar access to protesters. #Coolock The Malahide Road is closed in both directions near the industrial park as we deal with pallets and construction machinery alight. Three fire engines from Kilbarrack, North Strand and Finglas fire stations along with a turntable ladder are on scene. pic.twitter.com/zBzQxGZay0 Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) July 15, 2024 Officers from the Public Order Unit were also in the area as well as the Garda helicopter. The violence escalated as bricks and fireworks were thrown at garda officers and the fire service, and bins and mattresses were set alight. Traffic was diverted from the area and one of the citys main arteries, the Malahide Road was closed for several hours. A larger number of people gathered on Monday evening after a call on social media for a protest to take place at 6pm. Gardai were again attacked with missiles and responded by using incapacitant spray. Protesters with their faces covered approach gardai (Niall Carson/PA) A Garda car was set alight and two buses were surrounded as protesters moved towards Coolock Garda station A gardai spokesman said officers would remain at the scene overnight. The spokesman added: Over 200 members of An Garda Siochana were deployed in the operation, including frontline uniformed Gardai, supported by public order gardai. Gardai were subjected to both verbal and physical abuse throughout the day, which escalated into rocks, fireworks and other objects being launched towards them. A number of fires were lit and official Garda vehicles seriously damaged. I am appalled at the criminal behaviour that took place in Coolock today. I have spoken to the Garda Commissioner and he has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice. Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) July 15, 2024 As the situation intensified, members of An Garda Siochana used force to defend themselves as part of an escalated response to the situation. Assistance was provided by members of An Garda Siochana public order unit and the Garda air support unit. The use of force included the use of incapacitant spray and deployment of public order gardai in public order helmets and shields. An Garda Siochana is unaware of any injuries at this time. Ms McEntee said: I am appalled at the violent scenes in Coolock today. This is thuggish criminal behaviour and has no place in our society. Gardai officers detain a protester during (Niall Carson/PA) The Garda commissioner (Drew Harris) has kept me updated throughout the day and he has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice. Ms McEntee added: Public order units and regular Garda members have been out in force today. Arson and assaults are reprehensible and serious crimes. They will be fully investigated and those involved will be held to account for their actions. This is not protest. What we have seen today does not represent the decent communities of Coolock and surrounding areas. Gardai will continue to manage the situation and support the community. Gardai public order unit officers line up across a road during a stand-off with protesters (Niall Carson/PA) A spokesman for the Department of Integration said: This morning a provider attempted to begin work on the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock to allow it be used as accommodation for people seeking international protection. No international protection applicants were due to be accommodated today as the work is anticipated to take several weeks. Protests at the entrance to this site have delayed work beginning on this site for several months. The department condemns all acts of criminality and intimidation of providers and their employees. The King and Queen have embarked on a two-day whistle-stop trip to the Channel Islands. Charles and Camilla will travel to Jersey on Monday and then to Guernsey on Tuesday in their first visit to the two bailiwicks which are Crown Dependencies off the north-west coast of France since the King acceded to the throne. The King is known as the Duke of Normandy on the Channel Islands dating from when William the Conquerors son, Henry I, seized the Duchy of Normandy, including the islands, in 1106. The King and Queen with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte during the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations (Chris Jackson/PA) It comes as Charles returns to some public duties, despite his continued treatment for cancer. He attended the busy D-Day commemorations in Normandy, France, at the beginning of June, followed by Trooping the Colour, the Garter Day ceremony and the Royal Ascot. The trip will end the day before the planned State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday, which is also Camillas 77th birthday. She is said to have urged him to take it easy, but told author Lee Child he wont slow down and wont do what hes told. Charles and Camilla at the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023 (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA) The visit will highlight the relationship between the Channel Islands and the Crown which stretches back centuries. On Jersey, Charles and Camilla will visit the capital St Helier, and attend a special sitting of the States Assembly and the Royal Court, followed by a large-scale open-air expo. On Guernsey, the King and Camilla will attend a special sitting of the States of Deliberation and ancient ceremony of homage to the monarch, held outdoors on the St Peter Port seafront where islanders can watch the events. At official functions, islanders raise the loyal toast to The Duke of Normandy, our King. Charles and Camilla will also head to the Crown Pier to learn about the islands heritage and traditions, biodiversity initiatives, local food, and the work to promote the language of Guernesiais also known as Guernsey French. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall run under a brightly coloured parachute during a youth rally on their last visit to Guernsey in 2012 (John Stillwell/PA) Both Jersey and Guernsey have announced special public holidays to mark the royal visits on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. When the visit was announced in June, Bailiff of Guernsey Sir Richard McMahon said: It will be a great privilege to welcome Their Majesties to the Bailiwick for the first time as King and Queen, the year after their coronation. Their visit this summer shows just how special the relationship between the Crown and the Islands is. Deputy Lyndon Trott, Chief Cinister of Guernsey, said: As is well known, His Majesty also has a special interest in global efforts to combat climate change. We are looking forward to showcasing our initiatives to support those efforts and promote sustainability across a range of sectors. That includes the pioneering green finance initiatives of our main economic sector, which have a global impact. Both islands are forecast to see temperatures between 15C and 19C across both days, though the couples visit to Jersey may get off to a wet start as the Met Office forecasts rain in the morning before a drier afternoon. Time constraints mean the couple will not be able to travel to the islands of Alderney and Sark, which are part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The former Queen with Steve Morgan, seigneur of the Parish of Trinity, on Jersey in 2001 (Fiona Hanson/PA) The Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd, had previously said Charles and Camilla were looking forward greatly to the trip. The binding benefits of this special relationship remain as strong as ever and I know Their Majesties are looking forward greatly to their visit next month, Vice Admiral Kyd said in June. The Crown Dependencies are not part of the UK but are self-governing possessions of the British Crown. When the late Queen Elizabeth II visited Jersey in 2001, she was presented with two dead ducks on a silver tray part of an ancient tradition dating back to the Middle Ages when six seigneurs lords of the manor would pay homage to the sovereign as the Duke of Normandy with the mallards. Charles and Camilla last visited the Channel Islands during the Diamond Jubilee year of 2012. Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima on Strictly Come Dancing 2023. (BBC) Sacked Strictly pro Graziano Di Prima has said he kicked Zara McDermott in a single incident during the 2023 series. He had apologised at the time. The spokesperson told the BBC that this was a single incident and not something that went on in "weeks and weeks of training". "There is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right," his representative Mark Borkowski told BBC News. "And he knows that. He knows he's made a mistake. He apologised at the time." Zara McDermott has spoken out after the Strictly professional was dropped from the 2024 series. She wrote on Instagram: "I have wrestled with the fear of opening up - I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming." Di Prima has left the show following allegations about his conduct against his 2023 series dance partner McDermott that were recently brought to light. Reports suggested the dancer was axed 48 hours after BBC bosses were presented with video evidence. In the wake of the news, Di Prima initially said in a statement: "I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime." What we know Graziano Di Prima responds Strictly Come Dancing's Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima. (BBC) (BBC/Guy Levy) Di Prima's representative said the dancer had "crossed the line" in discussion with the BBC and said that the choreographer couldn't clearly remember the incident. Di Prima's representative has denied the reports to the BBC that the dancer spat on McDermott. Following his exit from the BBC show, the choreographer has moved back to Italy where he is doing manual labour on a remote farm. It is the second time that Di Prima has spoken out after being dropped from the show. First he posted an Instagram post saying he "deeply regrets the events" that sparked his exit from Strictly. He shared a statement on Instagram saying: "I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime." Zara McDermott speaks out Zara McDermott has broken her silence on social media. (Instagram) (Instagram) McDermott has broken her silence on the allegations with an impassioned Instagram statement. The Love Island star said she had always dreamed of being on Strictly. "When I was invited to be a contestant on the show it really was a childhood dream come true," she said in a statement. "I fully understood the level of commitment and hard work that Strictly was going to be and I dedicated everything to it. I am a resilient person and I was fully prepared to put in whatever it took." Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima dancing on Strictly. (BBC) (BBC/Guy Levy) Of the allegations, she added: "However, my experience inside the training room was very different. Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch. "I have wrestled with the fear of opening up - I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming. But after a lot of conversations with those I love, I've gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show. "The culture within our society makes it difficult for people to speak up especially in a aworld where social media opinions and voices are so loud. This is something I've seen through working with countless women on my documentaries. I would like to thank the BBC and BBC Studios for their swift action and incredibly high level of support, as well as everyone who has reached out to me - it really truly meas a lot. Love, always. Zara." BBC's response to Graziano Di Prima's exit Graziano Di Prima will not appear on Strictly 2024. (BBC) Di Prima has been part of the Strictly family since 2018. Previously, he has danced with Vick Hope, Judi Love and Kym Marsh. BBC spokesperson has confirmed Di Prima is "no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series". Instead, Strictly legend Aljaz Skorjanec will return to the show. The BBC said in a statement: "While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known that the BBC has established robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate." Read more: Strictly 2024 What we don't know Giada Lini's response Graziano Di Prima and Giada Lini pictured together in 2022. (Getty) (Joe Maher via Getty Images) Giada Lini has yet to speak out about the claims that saw her husband leave Strictly. Lini is also a dancer and a star on the Italian version of Dancing With The Stars. Before the drama unfolded, the couple gave a joint interview to OK! magazine where they discussed the impact their training schedules has on their marriage. Lini told the magazine: "When Dancing With The Stars begins in Italy, we are apart for three months. Of course, if one of us gets knocked out we can see each other, but of course, we hope we are not going out because we want to go all the way in the competitions." Di Prima spoke about how Strictly is one of the "toughest times" because he is apart from his wife. He said: "Its mixed feelings, because its the most wonderful time and Im doing what I love the most. I am so lucky, Strictly changed my life. But at the same time, I am apart from my wife. Its one of the toughest times. Strictly takes every minute of your life. From the moment you start until December, you work and live for Strictly." Strictly in crisis Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington dancing on 2023 Strictly series. (BBC) This is the latest drama to rock the 20th Strictly anniversary plans. Already this year there has been a lot of talk about the professional stars line-up. Amanda Abbington quit Strictly last year and later said Giovanni Pernice's teaching methods were "militant". After nine years on the BBC show, Pernice has left as the BBC investigate "serious workplace misconduct". Pernice said he "rejected any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour". "I look forward to clearing my name," he added. Head judge Shirley Ballas has given her public backing to Pernice and she has said, "The truth will prevail." The investigation is ongoing and we are yet to find out the outcome. This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/graziano-di-prima-strictly-sacking-what-we-know-102846885.html Singer Melanie Brown has said being awarded an honorary doctorate is as massive an achievement as performing at Wembley Stadium with the Spice Girls. During a ceremony at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on Monday, Brown, also known as Mel B and Scary Spice, accepted the award recognising her campaigning efforts for domestic abuse victims. The 49-year-old wore a red, blue and yellow robe with a leopardprint lining to the event, held by Leeds Beckett University, in a nod to her days spent in the girl group where she was known for sporting animal prints. Melanie Brown in her robes during the ceremony (Leeds Beckett University/PA) Being awarded this honorary degree from Leeds Beckett University has been life-changing, she said. I didnt just want to accept an award. I wanted to be accepted as a student at Leeds Beckett. Not only have I been awarded this degree, but I was also accepted as a student on the Trauma Informed Care course which has been a huge step for me in so many ways. I am proud to feel part of this university in my home town, proud to have come here as Melanie Brown, proud to have worked alongside other students and received excellent guidance from the teaching staff. Brown said that becoming a student was terrifying but added that it had changed her life. She said: In my life I have been to many, many places and done many extraordinary things, but being here today as a graduate of Leeds Beckett University is honestly as massive an achievement as performing at Wembley Stadium with the Spice Girls. To understand yourself you have to understand the world around you. To understand what has happened to you, you need to understand the impact it has had. I wanted to understand. I wanted to learn. Leeds Beckett gave me that opportunity, that gift. Walking through those doors as a student was probably one of the most terrifying things Ive ever done but its changed my life. And, just so you know, I passed my exams. I want to thank everyone here. I stand in front of you as Melanie Brown, daughter of an immigrant, who has learned to value British education in exactly the same way as her father. My degree certificate is going straight in a frame on my wall alongside my student pass. The universitys vice chancellor, Peter Slee, said Brown was exactly the type of citizen we are here to champion. He said: On behalf of all our students, colleagues and governors here at Leeds Beckett University, I would like to congratulate Melanie Brown MBE on this honorary degree. As a child of this city who reached the top of her industry and then used her platform to advocate for those who shared her hardships, Melanie is exactly the type of citizen we are here to champion. This year, she joins over 2,300 graduates from the School of Health, equipping a generation of professionals to meet the healthcare challenges of the nation both now and into the future. Brown was made a patron of Womens Aid in 2018 and has been invited to speak in Parliament about domestic abuse. In 2022 she was made an Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her service to survivors and this year she added a further three chapters to her memoir, Brutally Honest, focusing on overcoming the trauma of abuse. Brown made claims in her book that she had suffered abuse from her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte allegations he has repeatedly denied. Ministers and officials will hold talks next week following the alarming rise in intimidation and abuse of political candidates during the general election campaign, the Home Secretary has said. Yvette Cooper said there had been disgraceful scenes in some areas in the run-up to the July 4 vote as she announced she would chair a meeting of the Governments defending democracy taskforce. It comes as the Governments adviser on political violence John Woodcock, a former Labour MP who now sits in the House of Lords as Baron Walney, said he feared it was only a matter of time before there is another serious attack on a politician unless more is done to address the safety of MPs. Ms Cooper said in a statement on Monday: Political violence, intimidation and harassment have no place in our democracy. The recent general election campaign demonstrated some of the great strengths of our democratic traditions, including a smooth and peaceful transition of power from one party to another, but during this campaign, we also saw an alarming rise in intimidation, harassment and abuse towards candidates, campaigners and volunteers from all parties which simply cannot be tolerated. Some of those incidents are now being investigated by police. The disgraceful scenes we saw in some areas during this election campaign must not be repeated. Ms Cooper said the task force, which was set up by the previous Tory government and will bring together ministers and experts, would meet to make sure public safety, security and standards in our democracy can be upheld. The Home Office will carry out a rapid review of the election to gauge the level of harassment faced by candidates with police forces across the country investigating a number of cases, it is understood. John Woodcock was appointed the Governments adviser on political violence (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament) Speaking to the PA news agency on Monday, Lord Walney said that there is a much greater level of intimidation present in UK politics than what has appeared in the public domain. On Friday, he wrote to the Home Secretary suggesting a short but systematic review assessing the scale of the problem, and saying there had been a concerted campaign by extremists to create a hostile atmosphere for MPs within their constituencies to compel them to cave into political demands. Following the assassination attempt against Donald Trump on the weekend, Lord Walney said that in both Britain and the US there are some parts of our political debate that are deeply toxic and divided. My fear is that unless we can do more to address both the physical safety of MPs and a wider culture that too often is a permissive atmosphere for potentially violent threats, then it is only a matter of time before there is another serious attack on a serving politician in the UK, he told PA. Labour former minister Dawn Butler said there was definitely more aggression in the air during this years General Election campaign. Speaking to Sky News Politics Hub, the MP for Brent East added: I had somebody following me and being very aggressive and shouting and recording, but thats with the police so I dont want to talk too much about that. And just today, we had to report somebody to the police who was trying to advocate violence against me, and so I think social media has a huge role to play with it. She added: People have a right to ask a question and I dont mind people being angry, but being intimidating and violence and threatening to kill is a completely different matter. Earlier this month, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood recalled how she, her family and supporters had been targeted in the run-up to polling day, saying that some people had sought to deny her Muslim faith. Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy had the window of her office smashed days before the election while Jess Phillips used her victory speech in Birmingham Yardley to speak of repeated intimidation she and campaigners faced during the campaign. John Woodcock is a Boris Johnson appointment. He has no credibility. This is just a crude effort to demonise all those who support Palestinian rights.https://t.co/UIYNs96qS8 Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) July 15, 2024 Both Ms Phillips who quit Labours front bench last year to vote in favour of a Gaza ceasefire in Parliament and Ms Mahmood faced competition in their Birmingham seats from candidates who stood on pro-Gaza tickets. Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Diane Abbott criticised Lord Walneys intervention in a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying it was a crude effort to demonise all those who support Palestinian rights. Lord Walney said that during the election campaign there had been some deeply aggressive pro-Palestine campaigners seeking to single out and target (candidates), and that is an entirely separate thing to the expressions of protest on the streets. Ms Abbott said: John Woodcock is a Boris Johnson appointment. He has no credibility. This is just a crude effort to demonise all those who support Palestinian rights. Joe Biden on Sunday forcefully condemned political violence and appealed to a nation still reeling from the attempted assassination of Donald Trump to reject extremism and fury. In a primetime address from the Oval Office, Biden said Americans must strive for national unity, warning that the political rhetoric in the US had become too heated as passions rise in the final months before the November presidential election. Related: Biden gives Oval Office address after assassination attempt on Trump: Politics must never be a killing field latest updates There is no place in America for this kind of violence for any violence. Ever. Period. No exception, the president said in the six-minute speech. We cant allow this violence to be normalized. Bidens plea for Americans to cool it down came as Trump said that he would use his speech at the Republican national convention to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together. The speech will be a lot different than it wouldve been two days ago, Trump said in an interview with the Washington Examiner, adding that the reality of what had happened was just setting in. Biden had ordered an independent review into how a gunman was able to get on to a roof overlooking a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, and fire multiple shots at the former president from an elevated position outside of the venue. The FBI warned on Sunday that online threats of political violence, already heightened, had spiked since the shooting. The attack, which is being investigated as an attempted assassination and a potential act of domestic terrorism, left Trump with a bloodied ear, killed one spectator, identified as a former fire chief, and critically injured two others. We cannot, we must not go down this road in America, Biden added, citing a rising tide of political violence that included the assault on the US Capitol, the attack on the husband of the former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, the intimidation of election workers, and a kidnapping plot against Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan. In Bidens Oval Office address, only the third of his presidency, he praised Corey Comperatore, the 50-year-old former fire chief who was killed as he dove to shield his wife and daughter. Comperatore, Biden said, was a hero and extended his deepest condolences to his family. Investigators were still searching for the motive of the 20-year-old suspect, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. More than 24 hours after the attack, the investigation into how Crooks managed to open fire, reportedly using a AR-15 bought legally by his father, at the rally remained fluid. Investigators have seized several of Crookss devices and are starting to piece together his communications before the event. Authorities said they had discovered potential explosive devices in Crookss car. Meanwhile, details have begun to emerge about the suspect, who was shot and killed by Secret Service counter-snipers. Crookss political leanings remain unclear. Federal campaign finance reports show he donated $15 to a political action committee aligned with the Democratic party, on the day Biden was sworn into office, but eight months later he registered to vote as a member of the Republican party in Pennsylvania. Former classmates described the would-be assassin as a smart, and quiet student. One former classmate told Reuters that Crooks had not shown a particular interest in politics in high school, and would rather would discuss computers and games. He was super smart. Thats what really kind of threw me off was, this was, like, a really, really smart kid, like he excelled, the classmate told Reuters. Nothing crazy ever came up in any conversation. Another young man who described himself as a former classmate of Crooks at Bethel Park high school spoke with reporters on Sunday, recalling how his ex-companion was bullied almost every day on campus. The president, who was at church in Delaware during the time of the shooting, cut short his weekend and returned to Washington DC to confront the situation, arriving at the White House after midnight. He and Trump spoke late on Saturday. Biden spoke briefly from the White House earlier on Sunday, delivering a similar message from the Roosevelt Room after receiving a briefing on the investigation in the Situation Room. In those comments, Biden asked the public not to make assumptions about the shooters motives or affiliations, as conspiracy theories and misinformation swirl online. The Republican national convention will begin on Monday in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to receive a heros welcome by the partys rank and file, rattled but defiant. Trump, who arrived in Milwaukee on Sunday evening, is not scheduled to address the convention until Thursday evening, after he is formally nominated as the partys nominee. Speaking to the New York Post while en route to Milwaukee, Trump said he was supposed to be dead, adding: The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle. Bidens remarks came at a fragile moment in the election, a re-match between the president and Trump already defined by exceptional tumult and deep political polarization. For weeks, the president has been fighting calls from elected officials in his own party to abandon his re-election campaign after a disastrous debate performance last month that underscored concerns about his age and fitness for office. The 81-year-old Biden has insisted he will not be pushed out as the partys nominee, but has done little to quell the swirl of doubt that he is the best candidate to defeat Trump in November. Saturdays attack has frozen the debate, for now, while Biden embraces the role of healer at a time of national crisis. Trump earlier this year became the first former president to be convicted of a felony, and faces several more legal challenges related to his role in the January 6 Capitol attack and efforts to overturn the results of a lost election. At least one Republican senator, Mike Lee of Utah, has called for the criminal cases against Trump to be dropped in light of the assassination attempt. In his remarks on Sunday evening, Biden was realistic about the challenge of heeding his words, accepting that national unity was the most elusive of goals in an America deeply divided into camps. Already, Republicans were blaming the violence on the president, arguing that Bidens attempts to portray Trump as a threat to American democracy helped fuel a toxic political environment. Yet the attack has drawn condemnation from Republican and Democratic officials across the country as well as world leaders. We need to turn the temperature down, the House speaker, Mike Johnson, said on Sunday, in an interview on CNN. The president acknowledged that he and Trump offered drastically competing visions, and that their supporters diverged sharply. In Milwaukee, Republicans would offer sustained critiques of Bidens record, the president said, while he planned to travel on Monday to Nevada, where he would rally supporters around his agenda. Because of the attack, he postponed a trip to Texas, where he was scheduled to speak at the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the Lyndon B Johnson presidential library. We debate and disagree. We compare and contrast the character of the candidates, the records, the issues, the agenda, the vision for America, he said, arguing that the contest should be settled at the ballot box and not with bullets. After the attack on Saturday night, the Biden campaign reportedly moved to pull down its television ads as quickly as possible and pause all outbound communications. Politics must never be a literal battlefield or, God forbid, a literal killing field, Biden emphasized in his address on Sunday night. He urged Americans to get out of our silos and echo chambers where misinformation is rampant. Remember: though we may disagree, he said, we are not enemies. Simon Boas, his wife Aurelie and Pippin the dog - DAVID FERGUSON An inspirational cancer sufferer who received a private letter from the King died just hours before he was due to meet the monarch and the Queen. Simon Boas had hoped to meet the royal couple this week during their official visit to Jersey. The King sent the personal note to Mr Boas, 47, last week, shortly after the aid worker took a turn for the worse and was moved into a hospice. He died on Monday, just hours before the King and Queen arrived in St Helier for a two-day visit to the Channel Islands. Mr Boas, who worked for Jersey Overseas Aid, had been due to join the royal couple at a tea party on Monday. However, when his condition worsened just days before the royal visit, the King sent him a personal letter, telling him what an inspiration he had been. While the contents of the letter are private, it is understood that the King said he was deeply moved by his story and how much he had hoped to meet him. The letter was hand-delivered to Mr Boas by Vice-Adml Jerry Kyd, the islands Lieutenant Governor, at Jersey Hospice on Thursday. A bottle of Muscadet, a tipple Mr Boas enjoyed, was also brought over to Jersey as a gift. However, the aid worker died shortly before the King and Queen arrived, so instead the wine will be sent to his family. Mr Boas was diagnosed with throat cancer last September. He went on to write several articles about his illness, as well as a book called A Beginners Guide to Dying, which is due to be published later this year. On Monday, the King and Queen were rushed out of an engagement involving cows and potato farmers in Jersey because of a security concern. The visit to the outdoor expo event in St Helier was suddenly cut short and the couple were ushered into a nearby hotel. However, following an investigation it turned out to be a false alarm. The CFMEUs national executive decided that the unions Victorian branch should be placed into administration. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP The Victorian branch of the CFMEU has been placed into administration, with Jacinta Allan seeking the suspension of the unions construction division from the state Labor party over allegations of criminal links. The Victorian premier on Monday said she has also written to police and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission to investigate allegations of criminal links within the union, reported by Nine newspapers at the weekend. What we have seen here in recent days isnt unionism, Allan told reporters. Its unacceptable behaviour at its worst that I have zero tolerance for and has absolutely no place on any Victorian worksite. Allan said she had asked Labors national executive to immediately suspend the CFMEUs construction division from the Victorian Labor party, and asked the state branch to bar all political donations from the union during this period. The union itself has acknowledged that it needs to fix its conduct and it shouldnt have anything to do with the Victorian branch of the Labor party until it does, Allan said. Related: CFMEU could be deregistered if thats what needs to be done after allegations, minister says Guardian Australia understands a decision on the suspension from the partys Victorian branch could occur as early as Wednesday, when both Labors national executive and the Australian Council of Trade Unions are due to hold separate meetings. It comes after the CFMEUs national executive announced it would assume all senior executive powers of its Victorian branch, which has been placed into administration. The CFMEU national security, Zach Smith said an independent process, to be overseen by a leading legal figure, would investigate credible allegations of wrongdoing. The CFMEU has zero tolerance for criminality and anyone found to have engaged in criminal conduct while representing the CFMEU will be identified and removed, Smith said in a statement. The CFMEU has one purpose and one purpose only and that is to defend and advance the safety and conditions of workers. The Victorian Branch has been hugely successful in pursuing this purpose, but the national executive also recognises that a number of recent allegations are serious and demand an unprecedented response. However, Smith said he would not accept general smearing of officials and delegates because of their histories or personal relationships. He told 3AW Radio the decision to put the Victorian branch into administration was not an admission of criminality. Ive read the allegations, like your listeners have. I watched last nights [60 Minutes] segment. They are allegations, Smith said. People are entitled to procedural fairness I cant, and I wont, just hang people on mere media speculation alone. But the head of the ACTU, Sally McManus, called for anyone in the construction union subject to criminal allegations to be stood down immediately while investigations happen. We also call on the CFMEU to take all necessary steps to rid the union of any and all criminal elements, McManus said. Related: Anthony Albanese denounces John Setka after union heavyweight resigns as CFMEU boss Allan said she shared McManuss view. Anyone who has any association with any criminal behaviour, they shouldnt be there in the first place, she said. The Victorian government has also committed to toughen anti-bikie laws to prevent certain individuals from associating with each other, and to conduct an independent review to strengthen the power of Victorian government agencies who are engaged with construction companies and construction unions. Allan also urged the federal government to review and if necessary, terminate CFMEU enterprise bargaining agreements on Victorian construction sites to prevent criminal activity. The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, said there was no room for criminality in the construction sector and vowed to take action against anyone misbehaving in the CFMEU. He also said the NSW Labor party was not taking donations from the union other than affiliation fees. The workplace relations minister, Tony Burke, welcomed the national unions decision, describing it as a start, but only a start. He reiterated comments he made on Sunday, when he said he had asked his department to advise him on ministerial powers to respond to the reports, including deregistering it. As I said yesterday, I will be weighing up the departments advice, the evidence thats emerging and the response of the union, Burke said. The response so far is progress, but falls short. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, welcomed the national unions decision, describing it as a good next step. The CFMEU Victorian branch secretary, John Setka, resigned on Friday before Nine published the reports, claiming he had been the target of ongoing false allegations which had led to malicious attacks on the organisation. Setka had quit the Labor party in 2019 after a long-running dispute with Albanese, who had sought to expel the union official from the party over alleged remarks about domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty claims the secretary denied. 'Too many young lives are being blighted by delays accessing vital NHS care,' Sir Julian Hartley, the chief executive of NHS Providers, said - Halfpoint Images/Moment RF Covid risks creating a forgotten generation of children impacted by soaring waiting times for vital care, NHS chiefs have said. More than four in five NHS hospital trusts have said that, since the pandemic, they are unable to meet the rising demand on childrens services, including speech therapy, autism assessments, mental health services and paediatric surgery. A senior NHS figure said: Young lives are being blighted by delays to accessing vital NHS care, with waiting times soaring since the UK went into multiple lockdowns during the pandemic. A survey of hospital leaders by NHS Providers - the membership organisation for trusts - found that rising demand and long waits meant more and more children were in need of help but struggling to access it. Some 97 per cent of responses from 134 senior hospital leaders agreed that the demand for hospital services for children and young people had increased since the Covid pandemic. One trust said its waiting times for childrens autism assessments had risen from around 14 months pre-pandemic to 38 months now. Meanwhile, there were 5.3 million children and young people under 25 in contact with mental health services in 2023-24, an increase of 25.7 per cent from 2021-22. School-readiness Various studies have linked lockdowns to children experiencing social and emotional development delays, as well as a rise in behavioural and mental health issues. Sir Julian Hartley, the chief executive of NHS Providers, said: Were in danger of seeing a forgotten generation of young people. Too many young lives are being blighted by delays to accessing vital NHS care. He said: Long waits for services have far-reaching implications for a childs social development, school-readiness and educational attainment. Preventing ill health among children and young people is central to ensuring the next generation are able to live well, thrive and contribute to society and the economy. Cast-iron commitment He called on the new Government and NHS England to make a cast-iron commitment to improve childrens physical and mental health. Labour will set out the major laws it wants to pass in its first year of power during Wednesdays Kings Speech, which is likely to include bans on energy drinks for children under 16, junk food adverts before 9pm and a smoking ban which will prevent anyone turning 15 this year ever buying cigarettes legally. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has repeatedly declared that the NHS is broken during his first week in office. He pledged to improve access to family doctors and dentists, and cut the 7.6 million hospital appointment backlog. In its report, called Forgotten Generation, NHS Providers also revealed that 86 per cent of hospitals had experienced rising waiting times for an initial assessment. The main challenges facing trusts include increased complexity and severity of the patients condition and insufficient services being commissioned, it said. A shortage of staff was also highlighted as a barrier to providing safe and timely services. A healthy and thriving society Nine in 10 respondents said the health and wellbeing of children is not considered enough in national policy despite most long-term health conditions developing during childhood. For example, 75 per cent of mental health problems occur before the age of 24, it said. Intervening during this period is therefore critical to improving children and young peoples health outcomes both now, in the present, and into the future, ensuring a healthy and thriving society and population in the long term, the report said. Those responding to the survey included chairs, chief executives, strategy directors, chief operating officers and directors of childrens services, from a range of hospital, community, mental health, and ambulance trusts. Heck of a job, guys: Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott muffed the response to Hurricane Beryl, each in their own special way. Ricardo B. Brazziell/Associated Press The temperature was pleasant in Tokyo, Gov. Greg Abbotts third and final city on a nine-day run to the Far East, with rain, no wind. Seoul, South Korea, the second city on a junket that began July 5, was about the same but sunny. Taipei, Taiwan, the first city Abbott and his trade delegation visited, was hot but then, like those other two metropolises, Taipei has air conditioning. Each day, the governor posted X updates about how well his Asian hosts were receiving him and his entourage. But Gulf Coast Texans were, shall we say, less than pleased that Abbott was 7,000 miles across the Pacific when Hurricane Beryl wreaked havoc on our region. At least 13 people have lost their lives in the Houston area, and countless others suffered damage to their homes and businesses as trees and structures toppled across the area. Millions lost electricity. Still, the governor saw no need to cut his trip short. We dont begrudge Abbott a planned economic-development junket, particularly if he entices a few foreign companies to invest in Texas. But we do question his judgment. When disaster strikes, we expect a governor to be on the scene. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Greg, were tempted to remark, youre doing a heck of a job. Younger readers may not catch the reference to another Texan who muffed a hurricane response: That would be President George W. Bush, who in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, deigned to fly over the flooded city but not touch down. Bush then praised his overwhelmed director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the job he wasnt doing: Brownie, enthused George W., youre doing a heck of a job. With Abbott AWOL, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (Houstons own!) happily donned his official disaster shirt and dress-rehearsed his gubernatorial dreams. He did fine, except for the fact that he forgot that its up to the governor (in this case, the acting governor) to contact the White House and request an official disaster declaration. That call activates desperately needed federal aid. Incredibly, President Joe Biden told the Houston Chronicle last Tuesday that he had to personally reach out to Patrick for a formal request a day after the storm hit. Ive been trying to track down the governor to see I dont have any authority to do that without a specific request from the governor, Biden said in a call. Both Texans denied Bidens account. Patrick wrote on X that the president was falsely accusing him of being unreachable. An Abbott spokesperson called Bidens comments a complete lie. But neither the governor nor the lieutenant governor said they had tried to contact the White House themselves, even though federal law states that all requests for the president to issue a disaster declaration shall be made by the Governor of the affected state. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rafael Lemaitre, a former national director of public affairs for FEMA, told the Texas Tribune that Texas should have made its disaster appeal sooner, since reports of power outages, deaths and devastation were more than sufficient to initiate the request. He pointed out that governors can always amend their requests later as they get more information. Money from the feds is vital. It can be used to get tree limbs and other debris removed from yards and streets, to get a roof back on a house, to repair downed power lines and to provide emergency supplies. Federal aid also helps cover expenses for temporary housing. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: It's time to investigate CenterPoint Both Patrick and Abbott have said they intend to launch investigations into CenterPoint Energys abysmal failure to maintain a grid capable of withstanding a Category 1 hurricane. Abbott urged the state Public Utility Commission to investigate why the region has endured multiple outages in recent years. They should not be losing power, he told Bloomberg TV from Japan. As Chronicle business columnist Chris Tomlinson points out, CenterPoint is a $19 billion, for-profit corporation granted a monopoly over a hundred years ago to manage and maintain the transmission and distribution of electricity across the Houston region. This regulated utility failed to deliver power to 85% of customers during the height of a mild hurricane. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Neither Abbott nor Patrick (nor Attorney General Ken Paxton) seem all that interested in finding out why the grid is still broken, even after promises from state officials to fix it in the aftermath of Uri. Neither, it seems, is the PUC, its members appointed by the governor to represent the interests of consumers but apparently more interested in cozying up to the industries they regulate. As Tomlinson points out and as we have noted frequently thats what happens when Texans tolerate one-party rule for nearly three decades. Those consumers the PUC are supposed to represent include a Magnolia resident we talked to who works from home. He told us that in the first four days after losing power, he had driven a total of 316 miles to either a Lowes or Krogers parking lot five or six miles from his house to connect to phone service and the internet. Once his wife recuperates from the major surgery she underwent a few days before Beryl hit, the couple will have to deal with downed trees on their property. Maybe by then their house will be cool. The Magnolia couples story, of course, is different only in the details from countless others across the 121-county disaster area. Stories in this newspaper, in grocery store checkout lines and on Facebook community pages remind us that were all in this together, and no ones happy. Well, maybe that doesnt apply to everyone. Proud to announce in Seoul today that SeAH Group will build a new high-performance metal manufacturing facility in Temple, our globe-trotting governor posted Tuesday, the day after Hurricane Beryl hit, as millions of Texans sweltered, without electricity in a week of life-threatening heat. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Heck of a job, indeed. JD Vance at the Republican convention on Monday. Photograph: Allison Dinner/EPA Democrats were quick to seize on Donald Trumps decision to name as his running mate JD Vance, the hard-right Ohio senator whose past opposition to the former president and Republican nominee included calling him Americas Hitler but who now supports Trump with fiery populist rhetoric. Related: Donald Trump names JD Vance, formerly one of his fiercest critics, as 2024 running mate A Democratic party statement said: Vance is an ultra-Maga extremist whos ready to help Trump pass his Project 2025 agenda. Stop Trump-Vance. Vote Biden-Harris. Vance has praised Project 2025, a far-right blueprint for a second Trump term. Trump has tried to distance himself from the effort, which is co-ordinated by the Heritage Foundation. Democrats want to tie him to it. Joe Bidens campaign warned that Vance should not be trusted to put country over party, as Mike Pence did as vice-president when, on 6 January 2021, he refused to do as Trump demanded and block certification of Bidens election win. Trump picked JD Vance as his running mate because he will do what Mike Pence wouldnt on January 6: bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme Maga agenda, even if it means breaking the law and certainly no matter the harm to the American people, Jen OMalley Dillon, Bidens campaign manager, told reporters. On the same call, officials and surrogates highlighted Vances anti-choice record on abortion, accusing him of wanting to take women back decades. The Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren said Vance was a faux populist whose nomination was great news for the wealthiest Americans and lousy news for everyone else. Billionaires on Wall Street and Silicon Valley are cheering but there is no joy for working people, Warren said. Elsewhere, Robert Garcia, a California congressman, called Vance an extremist with views that are completely outside the mainstream and said: The fact that he immediately politicised the assassination attempt against former President Trump and blamed Democrats is shameful. There couldnt be a more irresponsible pick. On Saturday, at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump was shot in the ear. One person was killed and two injured. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Vance claimed Democratic campaign rhetoric led directly to President Trumps attempted assassination. The gunmans motive has not been determined. Mondays Biden campaign call marked something of a return to normal, after a pause in negative advertising. Officials said the contrast between the Trump-Vance ticket and Biden-Harris was clear. OMalley Dillon said: With Trump and Vance now entering the general election, theyre facing off against the Biden-Harris ticket, and I will certainly take that matchup any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Eager to turn the page on party turmoil set in motion by Bidens disastrous debate display last month, the campaign said it had committed to a vice-presidential debate, now a televised showdown between Harris and Vance. She is strong. She knows what shes talking about and she doesnt give an inch, Warren said of Harris. Im looking forward to this debate. Other Democrats highlighted Vances far-right views. Ayanna Pressley, a Massachusetts representative and member of the high-profile squad of House progressives, pointed to Vances opposition to abortion ban exceptions for rape and incest. JD Vance has told us who he is, Pressley said. Believe him. Young Democrats of America, a campaign group, said Vances radical attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, Bipoc Americans, and reproductive healthcare are only getting started. The Biden campaign pointed to remarks in which Vance called no-fault divorce one of the great tricks that I think the sexual revolution pulled on the American populace, because it allowed people to shift spouses like they change their underwear. JD Vance says women should stay in violent marriages for the sake of their kids, a campaign tweet said. Before entering politics, Vance was a public affairs marine turned venture capitalist and bestselling author, having written Hillbilly Elegy, about his upbringing in poverty-stricken Ohio. The book was widely seen as an important portrait of the kind of area likely to back Trump. But in 2015 and 2016, as Trump surged to the presidency, Vance came out against him and on Monday, many reached for examples of such anti-Trump statements. Shannon Watts, a leading campaigner for gun reform, was one of many to point to Vances description of Trump as Americas Hitler. In February 2016, in a message to a friend, Vance said: I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole like Nixon who wouldnt be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that hes Americas Hitler. Hows that for discouraging? Nicholas Thompson, chief executive of the Atlantic, pointed to a piece from the same year in which Vance wrote, under the headline Opioid of the Masses: To every complex problem, Trump promises a simple solution He never offers details for how these plans will work, because he cant. Trumps promises are the needle in Americas collective vein. Vance recently told Fox News that back then, he didnt think [Trump] was going to be a good president. He was a great president. And its one of the reasons why Im working so hard to make sure he gets a second term. Having won Trumps trust, notably by supporting his election fraud lie, Vance won a US Senate seat in Ohio in 2022. His elevation as Trumps running mate also came after he overcame Trumps reported aversion to beards. Nonetheless, it prompted predictions of tricky moments to come. Anthony Michael Kreis, a constitutional law professor at Georgia State University, said: JD Vance has said so many awful things about Donald Trump on tape, its going to be looped over and over and over again in every swing state. Secret Service agents rush to Mr Trump's aid following the shooting - BRENDAN McDERMID/REUTERS A Republican congressman has called the US Secret Service chief a diversity hire as he blamed a drive to recruit more female agents for security failings around the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Tim Burchett pointed the finger at Kimberly Cheatle, who wants more non-white and female agents but is now facing calls to resign as director of the Secret Service. The agency has the goal of increasing the number of women to 30 per cent by 2030, but critics claim females make less effective agents than men. Right-wing commentators have zeroed in on widely shared online footage of a female agents apparent struggles to holster her weapon after the shooting in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Others claimed the female agents in the presidential candidates security detail were too short to properly shield Mr Trump, who is 6ft 3in tall. Mr Burchett singled out the Secret Services adoption of DEI an acronym for diversity, equity and inclusion. Somebody really dropped the ball. Youve got a DEI person, a DEI initiative person who heads up our Secret Service, the representative for Tennessee told Fox News. You know she was working at Pepsi before this. I know she was a former CIA Secret Service agent, but still, this is what happens when you dont put the best players in. Ms Cheatle was an agent for 27 years, rising through the ranks, before she joined the soft drinks company as head of security. She returned to the Secret Service to be appointed the agencys second ever female chief by Joe Biden in 2022, having been the first female assistant director of protective operations earlier in her career. Im very conscious, as I sit in this chair now, of making sure that we need to attract diverse candidates, ensure that we are developing opportunities for everybody in our workforce, and particularly women, she told CBS in an interview last year. Ms Cheatle is facing calls to resign - KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP Ms Cheatle has faced calls for her resignation from, among others, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk, who claimed her last job was guarding bags of Cheetos. Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential nominee John, said on X: You need to be taller than the candidate to protect them with your body. Why do they have these short women (one who cant holster a gun apparently) guarding Trump? There should not be any women in the Secret Service. These are supposed to be the very best, and none of the very best at this job are women, said Right-wing commentator Matt Walsh on social media. Republicans have opposed the DEI policy at federal and state level in other sectors, such as education and agencies. CNN senior national security analyst Juliette Kayyem said President Biden should put Ms Cheatle on leave because the Secret Service had one job and they failed. The former Homeland Security official in the Obama administration said the security detail should have removed Mr Trump faster, rather than wait for him to put his shoes on and allow him to repeatedly punch his fist in the air in a show of defiance. Proud of agents Ms Cheatle has defended the Secret Service and said she was proud of those involved in a memo to staff, the New York Times reported. In the coming days, the Secret Service will face praise and criticism, she wrote. Do not get distracted by those who were not there and yet still pass judgement. The Secret Service first employed female agents in 1970. Ms Cheatle has revealed she has a photo of the first five women agents on her desk. These women created opportunities for me and I can help others grow and lead as well, she said in a 2022 interview for Security Magazine. Men and women are both subject to intense training, but women are held to a lower standard than men in physical fitness assessments. Women outnumbered men in graduating from the special agent training class for the first time in April 2021, but comprise just 24 per cent of the 7,500 employee-strong workforce. Going into the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump stood accused of 91 felony counts across criminal cases in New York, Florida, Washington DC and Georgia. In May, he became the first former president ever to be convicted of a crime. But as the election nears, the former president and presumed Republican nominee is unlikely to be sent to prison or see other trials move forward after the US supreme court ruled on 1 July that he has broad immunity from criminal prosecution. His sentencing in connection with his New York conviction has been delayed, and the presiding judge in Florida dismissed the case alleging he illegally retained classified documents. As Trump successfully attempts to delay and dismiss his criminal trials, hes already been hit with more than a half-billion dollars in penalties from a pair of New York civil trials. Trump has twice been found liable for sexually abusing and defaming E Jean Carroll by juries, awarding her a combined $88m in damages. In his New York civil fraud trial, a judge decided that Trump and the Trump Organization had lied about the value of their assets to secure better loan terms and fined him more than $350m plus interest, which has accrued to an additional $100m and counting. default Classified documents case in Florida Status: Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case on 15 July, siding with Trump and ruling that the special counsel who brought the prosecution had been improperly appointed. Key figures: default Charges: 40 counts, including willful retention of national defense information under the Espionage Act and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Summary: In the weeks before he left the White House in January 2021, Trump and his aides allegedly packed up hundreds of classified documents with his personal belongings and transported those documents to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Federal officials repeatedly tried to recover the classified materials, but prosecutors say Trump intentionally withheld dozens of documents from investigators and misled them as they attempted to locate the missing files. Hush-money case in New York Status: Trump was convicted of 34 felonies on 30 May, but his sentencing has been delayed.. Key figures: default Charges: 34 felony charges of falsifying business records. Summary: The case involves a hush-money scheme during the 2016 presidential election. Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to the adult film star Stormy Daniels to quash her story about having an extramarital affair with the former president. Trump has denied the affair took place. Prosecutors accuse the former president of illegally reimbursing Cohen for the hush-money payment by falsely classifying the transaction, executed by the Trump Organization, as legal expenses. The trial is set to begin on 25 March, making it the first of Trumps criminal cases to head to trial. January 6 case in Washington Status: Trump pleaded not guilty and on 1 July, the US supreme court ruled he has broad immunity from criminal prosecution. The ruling sent the case back to the trial court, where it remains pending. Key figures: default Charges: Four counts: conspiracy to defraud the US, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights in his relentless pursuit to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election and remain in office. Summary: On 6 January 2021, a group of Trumps supporters staged a violent attack on the US Capitol in an effort to disrupt the congressional certification of Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 election. A bipartisan Senate report later concluded that seven people died in connection to the insurrection. The House impeached Trump for inciting the insurrection, but the former president was acquitted by the Senate. He now faces criminal charges for attempting to overturn his 2020 election lossincluding his actions leading up to and during the attack. 2020 election meddling case in Georgia Status: Pending trial. Key figures: default Charges: Against Trump: 13 counts including racketeering, forgery, perjury, filing false documents, false statements and others. Summary: As part of his frantic efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, Trump infamously instructed the Georgia secretary of state, Republican Brad Raffensperger, to find enough votes to rob Joe Biden of his win in the battleground state. The Fulton county district attorney, Fani Willis, had been investigating Trumps efforts to overturn Bidens victory in Georgia for more than two years before charging Trump and more than a dozen co-defendants with attempting to illegally overturn Georgias 2020 election results. E Jean Carroll lawsuits in New York Status: Trump found liable for defamation in two separate civil lawsuits and ordered to pay more than $88m in combined penalties. Key figures: default Charges: Defamation and sexual abuse. Summary: The case centered on Trumps response to allegations by writer E Jean Carroll that he sexually assaulted her at a department store in 1996. Trump denied the allegations while repeatedly attacking Carrolls character. He was ordered to pay $5m in fines after losing his first case, but continued to attack Carroll, which led to a second trial where the judge ruled hed intentionally defamed her again and ordered him to pat an additional $83m. Trump Organization civil fraud case Status: Trump and co-defendants found liable and ordered to pay more than $450m including interest. Trump is appealing. Key figures: default Charges: Financial fraud. Summary: In February 2019, Trumps former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified to Congress that the then president had repeatedly lied on financial forms about the value of his assets to procure better tax and loan terms. It was my experience that Mr Trump inflated his total assets when it served his purposes, such as trying to be listed amongst the wealthiest people in Forbes, and deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes, Cohen told the House oversight committee. His testimony triggered a civil inquiry, led by New York attorney general Letitia James, into the Trump Organizations business practices. That led to a civil trial against Trump, his two eldest sons and the Trump Organization. They lost the case and were ordered in February 2024 to pay more than $350m in penalties plus interest, a combined sum that had grown to more than $450m by the time of the ruling. Trump is appealing the ruling. default Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, warned that the prison crisis could lead to a collapse of the criminal justice system - JOE GIDDENS/PA WIRE Drug dealers are set to be released up to 18 months early from prison under Labours scheme to tackle the jail overcrowding crisis. Possession of drugs with intent to supply class A drugs such as cocaine and heroin carries a maximum penalty of 16 years in jail. Under the current rules, any drug dealer convicted of intent to supply can expect to be automatically released from jail halfway through their sentence with the remainder spent on licence in the community. The new early release scheme announced by Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, last week will reduce the time spent in jail for such drug dealers from 50 per cent to 40 per cent of their sentence. This would mean up to 18 months less time spent in jail. The scheme will also apply to burglars, who could be released from jail up to 16 months earlier than at present, as well as fraudsters and people convicted of bribery. Drug dealers, burglars and fraudsters are eligible because the scheme applies to what are known as standard determinate sentences, where offenders are given a fixed time to serve in jail by the courts and an automatic release date at the halfway mark. More serious offenders who have to serve two-thirds of their sentence in jail and those who will only be released after a parole board decision are excluded and are not therefore eligible for early release under the scheme. Also excluded are criminals convicted of violence and jailed for more than four years, sex crimes, terrorism and offences linked to domestic abuse such as assaults of a partner, coercive control, non-fatal strangulation, suffocation and breaches of protection or restraining orders. Domestic burglary currently carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years, which would mean potential release up to 16 months early. The same would apply to possession of class B and class C drugs with intent to supply, which also carry a maximum jail sentence of 14 years. Conspiracy to defraud and bribery carry maximum sentences of 10 years, which could mean release up to 12 months early. Government sources said some of the jailed offenders would still be barred from the scheme because they would have been found guilty of other crimes of violence which would exclude them. Ms Mahmood admitted on Friday that the early release of prisoners jailed for offences of violence, burglary and robbery is a risk to public safety. This is an emergency measure She announced that thousands of criminals will be automatically released 40 per cent of the way through their prison sentences rather than at the halfway point in order to prevent jails in England and Wales running out of space. In a speech at Five Wells prison in Wellingborough, she said she had no option because of the risk the prison crisis could collapse the criminal justice system within weeks, leading to the total breakdown of civil law and order. I do not take this decision lightly. I fully understand there is risk attached with doing so but to disguise reality and delay further, like my predecessors did, is unconscionable and will lead to disaster. I will not let that happen, she said. I understand that people may feel worried. But we are taking every precaution that is available to us. Let me be clear, this is an emergency measure. This is not a permanent change. I am unapologetic in my belief that criminals must be punished. Jay Slater disappeared on the Spanish island of Tenerife on June 17 Human remains thought to be those of the missing teenager Jay Slater were found close to his mobile phones last location on Monday, Spanish police said. Mr Slater, a 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared on the Spanish island of Tenerife on the morning of June 17. In the hours before his disappearance, he made a call to a friend, saying he was lost and thirsty, with police able to track his location to a remote area close to where his body was later discovered. He is believed to have suffered an accident or fall that left him near the bottom of a very inaccessible valley close to the village of Masca, on the western side of the island. Officers announced the discovery after 29 days of intense searches close to where his body was later found. Mountain rescue workers, volunteers, drones, dogs and helicopters spent weeks hunting for the teenager. Video footage released by Spanish police showed people looking for Mr Slater clambering through near-vertical rocky mountain sides covered in thick vegetation. A force spokesman told The Telegraph on Monday: Today, the officers from this mountain rescue unit found a human body near the area where this man went missing. It is very probable that this is the body of Jay Slater, and the belongings and clothes found at the scene of the discovery of this body belong to him. This person may have fallen from what is a very steep, inaccessible area. Formal identification and a post-mortem examination will take place on Tuesday or Wednesday, The Telegraph understands. Mr Slater had been visiting Tenerife with friends to attend the NRG music festival. He left the festival at some time between 3am and 6am on Sunday, June 16, in the car of two other British men he had met that night, spending the night at an Airbnb property they had rented near Masca, in the islands west. Ofelia Medina Hernandez, the owner of the cottage, saw him outside just before 8am the following morning. After she told him the next bus to Los Cristianos, the resort in the south of the island where he had been staying, was two hours away, he decided to start walking. She drove past the teenager around 10 minutes later, and said he was walking quite fast. Twenty minutes later, Mr Slater phoned his friend Lucy Mae Law, who had been with him at the music festival, saying he was lost, thirsty, had one per cent charge left on his phones battery and had cut his leg on a cactus. She called police, and the apprentice bricklayers phone was last recorded at a point north of the cottage he had stayed at. After 12 days of searching, the Guardia Civil said its hunt for the teenager had ended but the case remained open, promising that any new clues will be investigated. Mr Slaters family, who flew to Tenerife, continued their search for him after police said the official efforts were ceasing. Yet after his body was found on Monday, the Guardia Civil said it had continued efforts to find him after all. In a statement, the force said: The discovery was possible thanks to the incessant and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard during these 29 days, in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with onlookers. The specialised mountain rescue team of the Guardia Civil never stopped searching for a British man since he went missing. Rescue workers have found a body in the search for Jay Slater Some amateur sleuths flew to Tenerife in attempts to help the official searchers. Paul Arnott, 29, who runs the TikTok account Down the Rapids and describes himself as an explorer, spent up to 400 on travel from Fort William, Scotland. Andrew Knight, 29, who lives in Tenerife and had been loaning cars to other British nationals who wanted to help with the search, added: The more people looking, the better. Other armchair detectives were less helpful in the hunt for Mr Slater. His mother, Debbie Duncan, said the day before he was found: We would also like to say that we are aware of the awful comments and conspiracy theories that are filling social media. These theories are hindering the people trying to help us in their investigations here in Tenerife, and are vile to see as a family. More than half a million people joined a Facebook group where bizarre theories about Mr Slaters disappearance were being posted. Ms Duncan described them as awful comments that were very distressing for the family to read. Some media commentators suggested the police had pretended to shut down the initial search in the hope that amateur detectives would pack up and go home. Search teams looking for Jay Slater on Tenerife near Masca, Tenerife - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph A GoFundMe fundraising page set up by Mr Slaters mother and his friend, Ms Law, raised 53,670 towards finding the 19-year-old. A spokesman for the fundraising site said: We are in regular contact with Jays family, and will work together with them in the coming weeks on the next steps around the funds donated. It is understood the money will be put towards repatriation and funeral costs. Follow the days updates below. 06:03 PM BST Live blog coverage ends Thanks for following our live coverage as police found a body in the search for Jay Slater. Here are the key developments today: Human remains have been discovered in the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater The body has not been formally identified but was found with his clothes and belongings Spanish police believe the victim could have suffered an accident or fall The body was found close to where Mr Slater last used his phone New footage was released showing rescue workers climb through mountainous terrain as they search for Mr Slater 05:25 PM BST Jay Slater disappearance timeline Sunday June 16 Mr Slater attends the NRG music festival with friends at Papagayo nightclub in the tourist resort of Playa de las Americas Monday June 17 In the early hours he goes to stay in an apartment in the north of the island with people he had met during the night He calls his friend, Lucy Law, to say he was trying to walk back to his accommodation after missing his bus. The journey would take more than 10 hours. He tells Ms Law he has cut his leg on a cactus and doesnt know where he is. Mr Slaters phone runs out of battery shortly after with his last known location being in Rural de Teno park and he is is reported missing. Tuesday June 18 His family fly out to Tenerife to join the search. Friday June 28 The Guardia Civil appeal for volunteer associations, such as firefighters, and individual volunteers who are experts in rugged terrain to assist in a busqueda masiva, or massive search, to take place on Saturday. Sunday June 30 Spanish police call off the search for the missing teenager. A Guardia Civil spokesperson reportedly says: The search operation has now finished, although the case remains open. Tuesday July 2 Ms Duncan says words cannot describe the pain and agony we are experiencing after searches fail to trace her missing son. Monday July 15 A body is found in the search for Mr Slater. Charity LBT Global says that, while formal identification has not yet taken place, the remains were found with the 19-year-olds clothes and possessions near his last known location. 05:01 PM BST Rescuers climb over rough terrain to find Slater New footage shows rescue workers scrambling over the mountainous terrain in the search for Mr Slater. They are seen climbing over rock faces and battling through scrub in their search. 04:20 PM BST Guardia Civils mountain rescue team never stopped searching Spanish police insisted its mountain rescue unit never gave up searching for Mr Slater. The search had been called off at the end of June. But in a statement to The Telegraph, a Guardia Civil spokeswoman said: The specialised mountain rescue team of the Guardia Civil never stopped searching for a British man since he went missing. On Saturday we asked for volunteers to help the search. Today the officers from this mountain rescue unit found a human body near the area where this man went missing. 03:44 PM BST Police searched rough terrain in bid to find Slater Footage previously released during the police search shows how difficult the terrain was to travel over. Aerial clips and images from the ground show how authorities had to negotiate rugged, mountainous areas to try and find Mr Slater. 03:18 PM BST More than 50,000 raised to find Jay Slater A GoFundMe fundraising page set up by Jay Slaters mother Debbie Duncan and his friend Lucy Law has so far raised 53,670 towards finding the 19-year-old. A GoFundMe spokesperson said We are in regular contact with Jays family and will work together with them in the coming weeks on the next steps around the funds donated. It is understood that the money will be put towards repatriation and funeral costs. 02:56 PM BST Conspiracy theories hindered search, teenagers mother said The discovery of the remains comes after Mr Slaters mother Debbie Duncan issued a statement criticising online conspiracy theories. She had said awful comments and conspiracy theories on social media were very distressing, and the family had even been approached about a movie. In the statement, issued on Sunday, she said: As we approach four weeks of our beautiful Jays disappearance, we cannot put into words the heartache we are suffering as a family. Jay is a typical young man who loves life with a bright future ahead of him. This month will mark the end of his three-year apprenticeship with the world at his feet. 02:44 PM BST Guardia Civil did not stop looking every day despite calling off search in June Tenerifes Guardia Civil said officers are waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination to confirm that Mr Slaters death was an accident. Spanish police called off the search for the apprentice bricklayer at the end of June after helicopters, drones and search dogs were deployed to find him. But in its statement on Monday, the force said teams had not stopped searching every day. The discovery was possible thanks to the incessant and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard during these 29 days, in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with onlookers, its statement read. 02:29 PM BST Lancashire Police issue statement Lancashire Constabulary, Jay Slaters home police force, said in a statement: We have today been notified by the Guardia Civil that they have found the body of a man and that the indications are that this is Jay Slater. While at this stage no formal identification has been carried out our thoughts are very much with Jays family at this time, and we continue to offer them our support. 02:11 PM BST Police: Accident is principal hypothesis for cause of death A Guardia Civil spokesman told the Telegraph: My colleagues have told me that it is very probable that this is the body of Jay Slater and the belongings and clothes found at the scene of the discovery of this body belong to him. But we have to wait for the autopsy to confirm this. It is likely to take place today or tomorrow. The principal hypothesis for the cause of death is an accident. This person may have fallen from what is a very steep inaccessible area of the Masca park in Tenerife. This body was found by the Guardia Civil mountain rescue team. 02:09 PM BST Mountain rescue team found body The Guardia Civil says its mountain rescue team found the body believed to be Jay Slater. 02:04 PM BST Watch: Police searched Rural de Teno national park for 13 days 01:49 PM BST Statement: Missing persons charity LBT Global is saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater. It is understood the body was found close to the site of his mobile phones last location. Although formal identification is yet to be carried out, the body was found with Mr Slaters possessions and clothes. A post-mortem examination and forensic enquiries will follow. LBT Global are supporting the family at this distressing time and ask for everyone to afford them space and privacy to come to terms with the news. 01:43 PM BST Body found close to site of last mobile signal The body was found close to the site of the last known GPS location of Jay Slaters mobile phone, the missing persons organisation LBT Global said. The signal was picked up in the mountainous Rural de Teno park near Masca, in north-west Tenerife. 01:39 PM BST Jay Slaters possessions and clothes found with body Possessions and clothes belonging to Jay Slater were found alongside the body discovered by Spanish police, missing persons organisation LBT Global has said. 01:38 PM BST Post-mortem examination yet to take place Spanish police are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination before they can confirm that Jay Slater died as the result of an accident. 01:29 PM BST Pictured: Area where Jay Slater was last seen The area around the village of Masca, where Jay Slater was last spotted - JULIAN SIMMONDS The rugged hillsides of the national park where Jay Slater disappeared in Tenerife - Julian Simmonds 01:10 PM BST Spanish police statement in full A spokesman for the Guardia Civil said: After 29 constant days of searching the lifeless body of the young man has been found in the Masca area. The discovery has been possible thanks to the tireless and discreet search carried out by the Guardia Civil over these 29 days. Everything is pointing to the body being that of the young British man who disappeared on June 17, pending full identification. Initial inquiries are pointing to him having suffered an accident or fall in the area where he was found. 01:09 PM BST Private search launched Jay Slaters family had previously mounted a private search party in Tenerife after the Spanish Guardia Civil police force called off its 12-day search. A party of nine people, including Mr Slaters father, Warren, and his brother, Zak, begin their search in the arduous terrain of the mountainous area in northwestern Tenerife on July 6. More than 50,000 had been donated to a crowdfunding campaign to keep searching for the 19-year-old. After leaving the music festival Mr Slater went to the rental home of two men, described as much older than the teenager, in remote Masca. Guardia Civil officers interviewed the two men, but allowed them to leave the island and return to the UK as they were not relevant to the investigation. Jay Slater's brother Zak and father Warren in the village of Santiago del Teide 01:04 PM BST Where Jay Slater was last seen Jay Slater vanished on June 17, after leaving a music festival in Playa de las Americas in Tenerife with two British men. The 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer was last seen in Masca, a small mountain village nearly 20 miles away, walking up a steep road. The Guardia Civil scoured the nearby Rural de Teno national park for 13 days before calling the search off at the end of last month. Ron 'Dixie' Lee, left, and Jim Burrowes, right, have died within hours of each other Jim Burrowes and Ron Dixie Lee, who have died in Melbourne within hours of each other, aged 101 and 100 respectively, were the last two Australian coastwatchers of the Second World War. The legendary and secretive coastwatchers represent one of the most illustrious chapters in Australias military history. Prewar the Royal Australian Navy had the foresight to set up a network of expatriates who would covertly report on Japanese movements around the coastline of New Guinea and the Solomons. This Coast Watch Organisation morphed into the Combined Field Intelligence Service, which reported to the Allied Intelligence Bureau. In 1939 the network was greatly expanded by the Swedish-born, former New Guinea district officer Lieutenant Commander Eric Feldt, formally known as Staff Officer (Intelligence) at Port Moresby. He named it Operation Ferdinand, after the classic childrens book The Story of Ferdinand, about a bull who did not fight but sat under a tree and just smelled the flowers. The point was to remind his coastwatchers that it was not their duty to fight and so draw attention to themselves. A typical coastwatcher's camp Feldt recruited planters, policemen, a priest, and one woman, the Sydney-born Ruby Boye, for the dangerous task. When the Japanese invaded the Pacific islands in 1942, these coastwatchers accepted their changed mission with great courage and at great personal cost. Some were captured and beheaded, others simply disappeared, while others continued their clandestine task for months on end with the help of local villagers. This unsung, heroic group of people displayed selfless bravery, and as the value of the coastwatching network became more fully appreciated, servicemen were also recruited for this most dangerous of missions. Among them were Signaller Jim Burrowes and Able Seaman Coder Dixie Lee. They joined a cohort of radio operators who provided crucial communication links using the cumbersome AWA teleradio. The AWA was supposedly portable, but in practice only with the help of a dozen local native men who also risked their lives. The coastwatchers contribution to the war effort in reporting on Japanese shipping and air movements had a strategic impact. Their finest hour was in the decisive Guadalcanal campaign, which lasted from August 1942 to February 1943, when they reported on waves of enemy aircraft, assisted in the rescue of the future president John F Kennedy, and oversaw the launch of guerrilla raids on the Japanese with the assistance of fearless Solomon Islanders. It led USN Admiral Bull Halsey to say: The coastwatchers saved Guadalcanal, and Guadalcanal saved the South Pacific. Jim Burrowes in 1942 when he joined up James Burrowes was born on March 29 1923 in Melbourne and served both on the north coast of New Guinea and then on the island of New Britain, where he and two fellow coastwatchers reported on the Japanese stronghold of Rabaul. That town had a special significance for Burrowes as his older brother Bob had been in the army and captured there in 1942. Bob lost his life when the Japanese prison ship, Montevideo Maru, was sunk later that year by the submarine USS Sturgeon with the loss of more than a thousand prisoners of war and civilians. Jims twin brother Tom was a wireless air gunner in a Beaufort bomber which was lost over Rabaul in 1943. Burrowes was proud of the role he had played. The singular mandate of coastwatching was not to confront the enemy but to report their movements, he wrote. I was lucky to be selected to be a radio operator, instead of infantry. I was lucky to be replaced as the radio operator in the disastrous Hollandia infiltration party when the original guy, Jack Bunning, was ambushed by the Japanese and killed. I was lucky not to be caught and killed by the Japanese, while hiding in the jungle. Thirty-eight other coastwatchers were killed. I was lucky to come home. Postwar, Burrowes qualified as a chartered accountant, a chartered secretary and a licensed companies auditor, and joined AV Jennings Industries, then the largest housebuilding company in Australia, as assistant to the company secretary. He was to work at Jennings for 33 years, eventually becoming executive director of the Jennings Mining and Manufacturing Groups. Ron 'Dixie' Lee aged 17 on joining the Royal Australian Navy Ronald George Dixie Lee was born on July 4 1924 in Ulverstone, Tasmania, and joined the Royal Australian Navy as a coder aged 17. A high-spirited young rebel who got into his fair share of scrapes, he was still only 19 when he was encouraged to join the Allied Intelligence Bureau and he volunteered for coastwatching duties. He served in the Treasury group of islands and the nearby Stirling Island, and then Finschhafen, Milne Bay and Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. At Bougainville he served with Lieutenant Snowy Rhodes, one of the most famous coastwatchers, and provided some invaluable reports of Japanese aircraft approaching Guadalcanal. In 2020 Lee told the Australian War Memorial: The [Treasury] islands were completely controlled by Japan, and we set up a little camp there. There were three of us, an officer, a sergeant in the army, and then me, a coder from the navy. Your heart probably beats a little bit faster because you dont know whats ashore but I realised early on that I was immortal, so nothing frightened me. Terrible things happened and some of our blokes were beheaded, but I just did my job. The fighter pilots, and tail gunners, and things: they were the brave ones. After nearly five years in the RAN, over half of them as a coastwatcher, Lee was discharged in early 1946, going on to become a successful land surveyor. Lee, left, with Burrowes in 2019 In the 1970s he hand-built a 30ft wooden ketch, but gave her up after forever chasing leaks occurring after rough weather. He next yacht was larger and drier, a custom-built, steel-hulled 45ft ketch, and he sailed in her for three years through much of the South Pacific, retracing some of his wartime adventures. He was especially anxious to reach the Treasury Islands and Bougainville, and for a time worked there as a surveyor. It was like stepping back in time, and Masta Dix was reunited with many of his wartime friends. In 2015 Lee was among the Second World War veterans who returned to Papua New Guinea to mark the 70th anniversary of victory in the Pacific. JFKs daughter Caroline Kennedy, who serves as the US ambassador to Australia, recalled having had the privilege to meet and honour Jim and Dixie at a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial... An Australian coastwatcher and two Solomon Islander scouts rescued my father and his crew when their PT109 sank in the Solomon Islands. My sympathies go out to their families and friends I am truly grateful for their service. Burrowes is survived by his wife Beryl, whom he married in 1950, while Lee is survived by his fifth wife, Mem. Jim Burrowes, born March 29 1923, died July 7 2024; Dixie Lee, born July 4 1924, died July 8 2024 Yasmeen Khuwaiter with her triplets, who were born prematurely in April. Khuwaiter and her husband learned of her pregnancy just before 7 October. After many moves and struggles to find food and medicines, the family are now having to care for their children in a tent. Photograph: Care After a night spent shaking in fear as the roof rattled from explosions, and a long walk along a crowded road, Diana Mahmoud arrived at the hospital where she gave birth to her son, Yaman. Mahmoud, 22, discovered she was pregnant a week after the outbreak of the war in Gaza and, like other mothers who became pregnant about that time, spent her entire pregnancy fearing for her own safety as well as that of her child. Miscarriages are three times more likely than before the war, according to a February report by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health. It was not a day or two no, it was nine months. Every day we lived through it we died a million times because of the bombing and destruction, says Mahmoud. The UN estimates more than 13,000 women will give birth in the next month in Gaza. As well as anxiety about safety, the women face practical struggles that come with repeated displacement and a constant search for food and medicine. According to the UN, 95% of pregnant women do not have enough to eat. The destruction of Gazas healthcare system meant that Mahmoud received no antenatal care during her pregnancy and was discharged by the overburdened hospital immediately after Yamans birth. The situation in the hospitals is so bad, every moment some place or house near you is being targeted so its difficult for the hospitals to care for pregnant women. The total focus is on the wounded, says Mahmoud. Within 10 days she had to seek medical help again because Yamans skin had turned blue and then, while at the al-Aqsa hospital, his heart stopped briefly. The doctors said there had been a problem with his circulation that probably affected his brain but after 10 days of monitoring and testing they released him, saying he was healthy. Save the Children says 50,000 babies have been born in Gaza over the past nine months, and repeated displacements mean some women are inducing labour themselves because they fear giving birth while on the move. God blessed me with triplets, a boy and two girls, but they were in poor health due to their premature birth Yasmeen Khuwaiter Israels invasion of Gaza, including raids on several hospitals, has destroyed the Palestinian territories health system, with very few hospitals able to operate and the ones that can are struggling with a lack of fuel and medicine. Of Gazas 36 hospitals, 13 are partly running and only three are able to support the estimated 180 women giving birth each day. Women are routinely having their babies in tents. Madeleine McGivern, the humanitarian advocacy adviser at Care UK, says: Women are giving birth without any pain relief whatsoever, living in fear, not being able to access any doctor or antenatal care, not knowing whether theyll give birth in a boiling hot tent or, if they are able to go to a hospital, risk being hit by a bomb or shot by a sniper on the way there or the way back. The constant trauma took its toll on Yasmeen Khuwaiter, who found out about her pregnancy two weeks before the war, and gave birth to triplets in April, two months before her due date. She conceived through IVF treatment after nine years of trying to have a child, but instead of joy she spent the pregnancy in a constant state of anxiety about losing the children. She could not find the medication she needed and was forced to rely on unhealthy processed food which she believes weakened her body and led to several health problems. Related: Pregnant in Gaza with no clinics: I have no idea where I will give birth When she was in need of treatment in November, she arrived at a hospital to find it closing because of a shortage of medical supplies and electricity. Khuwaiter and her family fled from Gaza City to central Gaza, with her husband having to push her in a wheelchair. Weeks later she had to flee again, to Rafah in the south of the strip. Doctors referred her for treatment in Egypt, but after a month of waiting to be allowed out of Gaza, the area Khuwaiter was staying in was bombed, forcing the family to flee again to central Gaza, where she gave birth in hospital. God blessed me with triplets, a boy and two girls, but they were in poor health due to their premature birth, she says. The birth was difficult Khuwaiter suffered bleeding during the caesarean section, for which she was given some of the very limited stocks of anaesthetic, and one of her daughters spent several days in intensive care. But after two weeks their health improved and the family were discharged. We returned to live in a tent. A tent that lacked the necessities of human life, she says. You can imagine three premature babies in need of extreme care, living in a tent. Suspect Yostin Andres Mosquera (left) with Albert Alfonso (middle) and Paul Longworth, who were named by police as the two victims The murder suspect accused of dismembering two men and putting their remains into suitcases lived with his alleged victims and had joined them on holiday in his native Colombia. Photographs posted on social media show Yostin Andres Mosquera enjoying a boat ride with his alleged victims, who had been partners, in March. The partial remains of Paul Longworth, 71, and 62-year-old Albert Alfonso were discovered after a man was seen acting suspiciously while carrying a suitcase on Clifton Suspension Bridge, in Bristol just before midnight on July 10. Mosquera, 34, appeared in court on Monday charged with two counts of murder, having been detained by police at Bristols Temple Meads railway station on Saturday. Wimbledon Magistrates Court heard that the deaths of the two men had occurred up to two days before their remains were found. Wearing grey custody-issued clothing, the Colombian national spoke to confirm his name and date of birth through a Spanish interpreter. The court was told he is accused of murdering both Mr Alfonso and Mr Longworth between July 8 and July 10. Asked for his current address, the translator told the court that Mosquera said: I do have an address, however I dont know the exact details. Yostin Andres Mosquera, charged with two counts of murder, arrives at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court - Belinda Jiao for The Telegraph He had been living with Mr Longworth and Mr Alfonso in a flat in Scotts Road in Shepherds Bush, west London, for a short time before the alleged murders. Pictures posted on Mr Alfonsos social media account show the three on holiday in Colombia on March 5, on a boat off the coast close to the city of Cartagena. Another photo, taken two days earlier, shows them sitting on a city beach. Mosquera was also photographed by Mr Alfonso eating fish and chips in London in October last year, suggesting he had been in the UK for at least nine months. Mr Alfonso, who had worked as a high-end concierge, had been in a relationship with Mr Longworth until recently. They had continued living at the Shepherds Bush flat, which Mr Alfonso had bought for 455,000 in 2020, although neighbours said they had lived on the street for 15 years. On his Flickr photographic account, Mr Alfonso, who was a keen traveller, said he had posted thousands of photos to leave a digital print of my brief appearance on Earth. Some of his pictures were of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. He had worked for the Saudi royal family in the 1990s, and until his retirement had been the estate manager at luxury flats in Kensington, then run by Harrods Estates, and then by Rendall & Rittner, until retiring in 2019. Mr Longworth is thought to have worked at the same property business. A spokesman for Rendall & Rittner, which bought the development in 2017, said: We are shocked and saddened to learn of the deaths of Albert Alfonso and Paul Longworth, who were both valued former members of our team. Our thoughts are with their families and friends at this very difficult and distressing time. Andres Mosquera (left) with Albert Alfonso and Paul Longworth In a statement, Scotland Yard said: Albert and Paul had previously been in a relationship and still lived together at the flat in Scotts Road, W12. Both victims were known to the man arrested, and he had been staying with them at the Scotts Road flat for a short period of time. We are making thorough enquiries to establish whether there may be any linked offences in the UK or overseas, but so far none have been identified. Detectives will continue to build a full picture of the circumstances, including any previous incident that may be linked in any way to this case. The Metropolitan Police said it had initially categorised the murders as a hate crime, but that evidence so far did not suggest there was a homophobic motive. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said: I know that this awful incident will cause concern not just among residents in Shepherds Bush but in the wider LGBTQ+ community across London. I hope it will be of some reassurance that, whilst enquiries are still ongoing and the investigation is at a relatively early stage, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the two murders. Forensic officers at the scene in Shepherd's Bush, west London, on Friday - Julian Simmonds for The Telegraph At 11.57pm on Wednesday, officers had been called to reports of a man seen acting suspiciously with a suitcase on the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Avon and Somerset Police said. A spokesman said officers arrived at the bridge within 10 minutes, but the man had already fled the area, leaving the suitcase behind. A second suitcase was located nearby a short time later. The property in Scotts Road was raided by police on Friday. Detectives later confirmed that more human remains were found. Neighbours on the road spoke of their shock at the discovery. John, 77, who has lived there since 1984, said the victims had lived together on the road for about 15 years, and that Mr Longworth was a regular at the local pub. Elizabeth Polmear, 48, said: Paul had his little routine. Hed get up at 5am for work and then go to the pub on the corner for about an hour a day at 12.30pm. He was always happy and jokey. He was very friendly. Its very very difficult to get my head around. Its absolutely awful. You want to feel safe in your street, and thats put the wind up me. It takes a lot to frighten me, but that really did. Albert Alfonso (left) and Paul Longworth, who lived together at a flat in Shepherds Bush, west London. Photograph: Web A man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with two counts of murder over the deaths of two men whose remains were found in suitcases in Bristol. Yostin Andres Mosquera, from Shepherds Bush, west London, was charged earlier on Monday with murdering Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, between 8 and 10 July in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The defendant, 34, assisted by a Spanish interpreter, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth in a short hearing at Wimbledon magistrates court on Monday. He was remanded in custody and will next appear for a hearing at the Old Bailey on Wednesday. The lead magistrate Christina Ruiz told him: You are remanded in custody as this court has no powers to consider bail. The mens remains were found in two suitcases dumped near Clifton Suspension Bridge on Wednesday, while further remains were found at an address in Scotts Road, Shepherds Bush, on Friday. The victims lived together at a flat in Shepherds Bush and were known to the suspect, the Metropolitan police said. Longworth was British, while Alfonso was originally from France but had obtained British citizenship, the force added. The Met said Mosquera had been staying with the victims at a flat in Scotts Road for a short period of time. Mosquera was arrested in the Bristol area in the early hours of Saturday after a joint operation carried out by the Met and Avon and Somerset police. Evidence in the investigation so far has not pointed to a homophobic motive, Scotland Yard added, but it has been classified as a hate crime under national guidelines. Andy Valentine, a deputy assistant commissioner at the Met, said: My thoughts are first and foremost with Albert and Pauls loved ones who are coming to terms with this terrible news. While we do not believe either of them had any close family, we have identified other next of kin who have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. We are continuing to try and identify any extended family members. I know that this awful incident will cause concern not just among residents in Shepherds Bush but in the wider LGBTQ+ community across London. I hope it will be of some reassurance that whilst inquiries are still ongoing and the investigation is at a relatively early stage, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the two murders. Avon and Somerset police were called at 11.57pm last Wednesday after a man was reported to have been seen acting suspiciously on Clifton Suspension Bridge. Officers arrived less than 10 minutes later and the man had left the scene, leaving behind one suitcase. A second suitcase was found nearby a short time later. Both were found to contain human remains. Blower cartoon Lies, damned lies, and statistics. If anyone knows how to falsify figures to bolster weak causes, it is the Kremlin. From Stalins manipulation of Soviet productivity statistics during his Five Year Plans, to Khrushchevs exaggeration in the Cold War of his missile numbers, no entity has proved as effective at fabricating facts to demoralise, unsettle and outmanoeuvre opponents. Today, in a similar manner, Putin points at Russias 144 million citizens and argues, through his propaganda mouthpieces, that it is impossible for Kyiv to win his war, given Ukraines population is a paltry 37 million. By this logic, figures released by British intelligence this week that Russia lost more than 70,000 troops in the past two months, averaging daily conflict highs of 1,262 and 1,163 in May and June become irrelevant. Russia can always find more men, one hears people say, justifying Western inaction. Except it cant. Raised on documentaries about the unstoppable Russian bear capable of tearing its way through Eastern Europe, as it did in the Second World War we forget that this is not possible in modern Russia. Nor is it even desirable for Moscow. For one, while Putin has conducted several large-scale mobilisations, he remains cautious both in terms of the numbers of men he recruits and where they come from, prioritising conscripting in poorer communities far away from the power centres of Moscow and St Petersburg; often marginalised ethnic minorities. Already, some of these communities have given all they can, with reports of entire generations of men being wiped out in some towns and villages, triggering widespread, if localised (for now), protests. Moscows caution in this regard means it is obliged to empty prisons, exonerating murderers and rapists so they can serve in the Russian army or mercenary outfits like Wagner. Again, this resource is not infinite: numbers are now said to be so low that Moscow is turning to womens prisons. Given that, by design, women only make up 4 per cent of the Russian army, this is extremely telling. But these are still relatively minor impediments when considered against broader trends. Russias fighting age population, at 14 million, is not gargantuan. With many not eligible or undesirable for recruitment for geographic reasons, the number shrinks further. Many of Russias young fled after the full-scale invasion: an estimated 300,000 by mid-March 2022, 500,000 by the end of August, and an additional 400,000 by early October. Estimates put the current number of the departed at over a million. Then theres the fact that the full-scale invasion deepened Russias demographic crisis. Deaths have outnumbered births in the country since 2000. That two and half years into the full-scale invasion as many as 350,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded is indicative of the scale of the catastrophe. I could go on. Russia is not as powerful as the Soviet Union: approximately half of the Soviet population came from what today are non-Russian countries and even then, twice as powerful in numerical terms, it lost its war in Afghanistan in the 1980s. That conflict underscores that army size is only part of the equation. Indeed, many of the vital components necessary to win wars like military adaptability and modern tech work in Kyivs favour. Thats before one considers its will to survive as a free nation. And one cannot put a figure on that. Francis Dearnley is one of the presenters of The Telegraphs daily podcast Ukraine: The Latest Buffalo Bayou floods near Downtown Houston just after Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Monday, July 8, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer The spaghetti plot for Beryl shows how many weather models are now predicting a Southeast Texas landfall. WeatherBELL As Hurricane Beryl began to re-form in the Gulf of Mexico after a tumultuous and deadly journey through the Caribbean, meteorologist Matt Lanza was struggling to predict the storms path. Many meteorologists abide by the axiom all weather models are wrong, some models are useful. Yet even by the inexact science of hurricane forecasting, Beryl was confounding. The fast-growing, early-in-the-season storm ripped through Grenada and Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane. After slamming the Yucatan Peninsula, it weakened to a Category 2. At that point, on July 6, the weather models were as messy as the storm itself. Lanza, who co-runs the indispensable Space City Weather blog, was looking at potential paths. Most sent the system into Mexico or slightly farther north into the Rio Grande Valley. Other models showed the storm could wobble northeast as far as Galveston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The uncertainty was unsettling, particularly for coastal and inland residents from Brownsville to Bolivar Peninsula, who would soon have to decide whether to prepare to hunker down or bolt for safety. Houstonians pride ourselves on our ability to stare down and recover from any disaster that comes our way. Yet the scar tissue from surviving previous hurricanes may have contributed to our letting our guard down just a bit. A small chance of what appeared to be a small hurricane? Why worry? The storms path became clear only in that 48 hours leading up to its July 8 landfall in Matagorda. And its rapid development made it much more violent than many Houstonians expect a Category 1 to be. Lanza told the editorial board this fits a pattern that he and other meteorologists have been monitoring for the past decade: Storms intensify quickly in the last few hours of their lifecycle, propelled by increasingly warm water temperatures near the Gulf coast. They come ashore at their peak intensity, which means it takes them a little bit longer to decelerate, Lanza said. So you get more damage farther inland, even from just a Category 1 storm. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is why many meteorologists will tell you its futile to compare Beryl to previous storms that battered the Houston region. Each hurricane is a multi-faceted threat, and no two are exactly alike. In 2008 Hurricane Ike, a Category 2 storm, was mostly a storm surge event, pushing as much as 17 feet of water across Galveston and Bolivar Peninsula. In 2017 Hurricane Harvey, a Category 4 storm at landfall, brought hardly any storm surge, but dumped as much as 51 inches of rain on our area, flooding much of Houston and Harris County. Beryl, meanwhile, didnt produce nearly the same level of flooding as Harvey, but its 80 mph gusts toppled trees and power lines, knocking out electricity for more than 2 million Houstonians. Both Ike and Harvey taught us crucial lessons about our critical infrastructures vulnerability. Ikes storm surge prompted realization that a catastrophic storm surge could one day inundate the petrochemical complex along the Houston Ship Channel, sloshing toxins across the city and delivering a gut punch to the American economy. To prevent that, the federal government has approved though not yet funded a $57 billion system of levees, dunes and gates that might someday protect our coastline. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: It's time to investigate CenterPoint Harvey, one of the costliest storms in U.S. history, led Harris County to overhaul building codes, and motivated county voters to pass multi-billion dollar bonds that shored up our flood infrastructure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What lessons should we glean from Beryl? Here are a few. If Beryl proved anything, its how much damage even a low-category hurricane can do. Government officials, utilities and residents shouldnt view a Category 1 as nothing to worry about. Heck, by the time Harvey parked itself over Houston it was a mere tropical storm, yet still managed to be probably the worst U.S. flood storm ever. Its astounding, for instance, to hear a spokesperson for CenterPoint, Houstons largest electric provider, tell reporters that the company didnt anticipate Beryl making as much of an impact on Houston as it did. At the very least, given the shakiness of CenterPoints past performance during natural disasters, the utility should lean towards over-preparing. Pay close attention to forecasts. Weather resources, such as the Houston Chronicle and Space City Weather, track each and every storm system that comes across the Atlantic. The National Weather Service issues regular alerts on storm systems that could affect our region, sometimes multiple times a day. Even if you think a storm is almost certainly not going to hit Texas, remember that, in a span of days, Beryl went from peeling off to Mexico to heading straight for the upper Texas coast. Myriad factors, from wind shear to water temperatures, affect a hurricanes path. Dont be caught without food in your pantry, gas in your car, and your batteries fully charged. Finally, Houstonians must prepare for storms even more seriously than we have been. Given that the scale of Beryls power outages could easily be repeated this year, the typical suggestion to have three to five days worth of nonperishable food may no longer be sufficient. Stock up for at least a week. And dont wait for an official evacuation notice if you fear serious damage to your home. Pack your go-bags with enough supplies to last weeks. There are nearly three months left in what experts expect will be one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record. We pray that Beryl will be the only Texas storm this year, but there will be plenty more opportunities for storms to develop. Plan accordingly. Want to stay up to date on our most recent thought-provoking editorials, columns and Letters to the Editor? Our Opinion-focused 'SaysHou' newsletter delivers our weekly highlights, directly to your inbox. Sign up now. Kimberly Cheatle speaks in Washington DC on 24 January 2024. Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA The director of the US Secret Service said she had reviewed and strengthened security plans for the Republican national convention in Milwaukee, as the failed assassination attempt against Donald Trump in Pennsylvania on Saturday put her agency under immense political pressure. Amid demands for answers over how 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to carry an AR-15-style rifle to a rooftop close to Trump at the Butler Farm Show Grounds, and to fire multiple shots, the secretary of homeland security slammed a failure of security. A direct line of sight like that to the former president should not occur, Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC News on Monday. Trump, the former president and presumptive Republican nominee, was shot in his right ear, saying later he felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Related: Biden urges US to reject extremism and fury after Trump assassination attempt One rally-goer was killed and two wounded. Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper. On Monday, authorities were still searching for a motive. Mayorkas told ABC: We have to learn everything about the assailant who, of course, the Secret Service neutralised. We are going to really study the event independently and make recommendations to the Secret Service and to me so that we can assure the safety and security of our protectees, which is one of our most vital missions. Elsewhere, CNN reported that one of two local counter-sniper teams was supposed to cover the building from which Crooks fired. Pennsylvania state police said they were not responsible for the area. Butler county police did not immediately comment. The Secret Service has highlighted the extent to which it relies on local-level law enforcement for support at campaign events. It has also denied reports in rightwing media that it diverted resources from protecting Trump to protecting the first lady, Jill Biden, or that it rebuffed requests for additional security resources from the former president. Mayorkas said: We keep very close watch on a very dynamic threat environment. The president, the former president, are commonly consistently under threat. We take every single threat seriously. We make security adjustments as are warranted. We had enhanced security for the former president, beginning in June. We had not received any requests for additional security measures that were rebuffed. That is false. Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the Secret Service, said: In addition to the additional security enhancements we provided former president Trumps detail in June, we have also implemented changes to his security detail since Saturday to ensure his continued protection for the convention and the remainder of the campaign. Cheatle said she was confident in the security plan for the RNC, which began in Wisconsin on Monday, adding that it had been reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturdays shooting. Security plans for major events are designed to be flexible, she added. Cheatle also offered her deepest condolences to the family and friends of Corey Comperatore, the 50-year-old former fire chief killed in the shooting on Saturday, as well as those who were injured during this senseless act of violence. A former agent who also directed global security for Pepsi, Cheatle was appointed by Joe Biden in 2022 as the 27th director of the Secret Service and the second woman to fill the role. Rightwing calls for her resignation have included claims she was appointed under policies meant to increase diversity, which she has championed. In her statement on Monday, Cheatle said the tremendous responsibility of protecting the current and former leaders of our democracy was something she took incredibly seriously. I am committed to fulfilling that mission, she said. Cheatle also said she was coordinating with the protective detail for former president Trump and have briefed President Biden. On Sunday, Biden said he had directed Cheatle to review security for the Republican convention. Regarding the attempted assassination, Cheatle said the Secret Service was working with all involved federal, state and local agencies to understand what happened, how it happened, and how we can prevent an incident like this from ever taking place again. We understand the importance of the independent review announced by President Biden yesterday and will participate fully. We will also work with the appropriate congressional committees on any oversight action. Keir Starmer was targeted by a protester who showered him with glitter as he spoke at the Labour Party conference in October 2023 - ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Security measures for British politicians need radical change, Dominic Cummings has urged after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. The political strategist and former chief adviser to Boris Johnson said existing arrangements in place to protect the prime minister are clearly lax. Mr Trump was taken to hospital after multiple shots were fired in his direction at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, killing one spectator and critically injuring two others. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Cummings said: His Majestys Government also needs radical change on this. In 2019, I asked the Cabinet Secretary to intervene because of clearly lax protocols around the PM about 100 times laxer than around Trump yesterday, with random people able to walk up and touch the PM from behind without anybody noticing. Security in most of Whitehall, including counter-drone capabilities around Downing Street, is a joke, and [the] Cabinet Office is as useless on this as on roughly everything. The Prime Minister is among a number of high-profile politicians who have been affected by apparent security failings in the past year. Last year, Sir Keir Starmers speech at Labours annual party conference was interrupted by a protester throwing glitter over him, after complaints about utterly terrible security. Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, was targeted twice in a week while on the campaign trail during the general election. He was hit by a milkshake on June 4 during a walkabout in Clacton, before objects were thrown at him on a visit to Barnsley on June 11. And Labour politicians have been vocal about intimidation they faced from members of the public over their partys initial refusal to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Mr Cummings unveiled plans in May for a new Start-Up Party, which he claims could replace the Conservatives. Nigel Farage had a milkshake thrown over him during a pre-election walkabout in Clacton - TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The Vote Leave mastermind said there was an opportunity for a new party completely different from Labour and the Tories that could do well at the ballot box. He was among the first to predict the damage that would be done to the Conservatives by Mr Farages return to frontline politics. It emerged last year that Mr Cummings had held meetings with Rishi Sunak in which he claimed he discussed a return to Downing Street to join his team. Mr Cummings said his price for returning was radical reforms, and when Mr Sunak declined he decided he would rather the Tories lose than return to No 10. A Government spokesman said: Our protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. Security measures for MPs are kept under review to ensure their continued safety and the police continue to work to ensure that appropriate security measures are taken to protect all elected representatives. Although Donald Trump has been reinstated on Facebook, Instagram and X, Truth Social remains a cornerstone of his social media strategy. Photograph: Giorgio Viera/AFP/Getty Images Shares in Donald Trumps media company surged by about a third to reach their highest value in five weeks after the attempted assassination of the former US president, adding about $2bn (1.5bn) to the valuation of the business behind the X rival Truth Social. Trump Media and Technology Group, which uses his initials DJT as its ticker, has been a volatile stock since its blockbuster debut in March. However, after Saturday nights attack increased Trumps perceived chances of winning Novembers presidential election, traders pushed the share price back to the highest level since 10 June. It soared as high as $46.27 on Monday morning in New York, up from $30.89 on Friday evening. The price then dropped back to $40.58 at closing. Trump Media is 60% owned by the former US president, meaning the paper value of his stake, worth about $3.8bn on Friday, has risen by about $1bn. Related: Trump prepares for Republican National Convention following assassination bid US politics live The companys shares had risen as much as 71% at one point in pre-market trading a period of buying and selling shares before stock markets open officially. If that move had been sustained when markets opened, it would have added $4bn to its valuation. Neil Wilson, the chief analyst at the brokerage company Finalto, said the share price move was a bet on Trump and the widespread perception that the shooting had improved the former presidents chances of regaining the White House in November. DJT is moving on Trumps improved odds of winning. But its also because you think more people will be drawn to the platform to access a re-elected Trump, he said. Trump launched Truth Social after being banned from X, then Twitter, following the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021. Although he has been reinstated under the subsequent ownership of Elon Musk, who has urged the former president to return, Trump has posted only once on his X account since, preferring to share his thoughts on Truth Social. Trump Media reached a high of more than $79 on 26 March when it started trading in New York, and hit a closing low of $22.84 on 16 April as the former presidents criminal hush-money trial began. Trump was later found guilty of the charges. The Dow, S&P and Nasdaq stock market indices all rose in early trading on Monday, as some investors bet that potentially higher spending and inflation under a Trump administration would raise corporate earnings. Bob Savage, the head of markets strategy and insights at the investment bank BNY Mellon, said: The narrative for the day rests on the Trump trade with many investors assuming the weekend events add to the former president being re-elected. The logic being that the chances of tax cut extensions and higher trade tariffs leading to even higher US fiscal deficits, even alongside potential growth headwinds and intense political pressure on the Federal Reserve to ease as inflation continues to subside near term. Bitcoin, the cornerstone of the cryptocurrency market, has also rallied since Saturdays shooting. The price of one bitcoin rose above $63,000 on Monday, and was up 9% over the day, according to the data provider Refinitiv. The cryptocurrency, which tends to be more volatile than many traditional assets, had slumped from above $70,000 in early June to below $54,000 in early July. Its record high was in March, when it hit $73,803. File image of a drink being spiked Spiking a drink is to be made a standalone offence under a new law to be announced in the Kings Speech on Wednesday. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, and Dame Diana Johnson, the new policing minister, believe the move will help improve the investigation, prosecution and reporting of cases. Currently, spiking can be prosecuted as an assault or under the Offences Against the Person Act, but it is not a specific offence. The home affairs committee, which both Ms Cooper and Dame Diana have chaired, previously recommended it should be recognised as a standalone crime punishable by up to 10 years in jail. The proposed new law is expected to be among 35 Bills announced by the monarch on Wednesday morning. Spiking involves putting alcohol or drugs into a victims drink without their knowledge or permission. It can also include injecting someone with a drink or drugs, as well as adding such substances to food, vapes or cigarettes. Police received 6,732 reports of spiking in the year ending April 2023, including 957 cases involving needles. The average age of victims was 26, with women accounting for 74 per cent of all cases. Most reported incidents 80 per cent occurred in public places, particularly in bars or nightclubs, according to figures from the National Police Chiefs Council. Some 10 per cent of women and 5 per cent of men reported being the victim of spiking in a YouGov poll carried out in December 2022. The Metropolitan Police also said there was a 13 per cent increase in recorded cases in London last year. Yvette Cooper and Dame Diana Johnson believe the move will help improve the prosecution of spiking incidents - Jonathan Chen/Home Office Insidious act A report by the home affairs committee in April 2022 under Dame Diana concluded that making spiking a standalone offence would have a positive impact. It said victims would be more likely to come forward to report cases if they were reassured that it was a criminal act that would be prosecuted. The report also said it would send a clear message to perpetrators that such behaviour would not be tolerated and result in severe penalties. Speaking in 2022, Dame Diana said: Spiking is an insidious act. Victims will often have little idea of what has happened, who spiked them, when it occurred or what has been put in their system. They are left with feelings of self-doubt and vulnerability. Yet, while the threat is well known, little has been done to prevent it from happening. There needs to be a concerted effort to stamp out spiking. Much more work needs to be done to improve understanding and awareness so that people are reassured that the help will be there should they need it. They need to know that they will be taken seriously and action taken. Starmer has pledged to put Britain at the heart of Europe. Photograph: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock Keir Starmers chance to introduce himself to nearly 50 European leaders in the historic surroundings of Blenheim Palace this week very nearly did not happen, according to some diplomatic sources. Rishi Sunak, unlike Liz Truss, his predecessor as prime minister, who took Britain into the European Political Community (EPC), was not a great enthusiast for this still nascent addition to the crowded field of world summitry. He did not share Trusss enthusiasm for hosting such an event in election year and in late 2023 dispatched his foreign secretary, David Cameron, to Paris to see if the difficulties over a mutually convenient date may mean the event could be cancelled, or at least another host could be found. Emmanuel Macron, the French president who invented the concept of the forum after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, gave a clear indication of what might happen to Anglo-French relations if Sunak pulled out. But Sunak had a point. The 47 leaders, including those outside the EU27, have busy diaries and some still question whether yet another summit is what the world needs, especially one where there is no secretariat and, at its last iteration, not even a closing press conference. Others say the forums flexibility is its strength, and provided it remains security focused and broadly defined, it has added value to the EU, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, of which Russia is a member. But the fourth meeting of the body is a test. The first summit in Prague Castle in October 2022 that was attended by 44 heads of state or governments including the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan was a Europe-wide phenomenon. But the second two summits, in Chisinau, Moldova, in June 2023 and Granada, Spain, in October, received mixed reviews. At the latter, disputes over the agenda, including the relevance of migration, led to Spain cancelling a closing press conference. Forty-nine leaders, 700 journalists, dozens of bilateral meetings and no decisions, was Politicos fair summary. Also in Granada, neither Erdogan nor Azerbaijans leader, Ilham Aliyev, showed up. Erdogan overall seems unenthused by the EPC, reflecting his reluctance to give up the privilege of being an east-west hedger. The fiasco in Spain places onus on the UK to rescue the EPC concept at Blenheim Palace at the latest edition of the forum this week. It cannot afford to be a one-day summit to welcome Starmer to the continent. Nor indeed can it be a self-interested launchpad for the UK to reset its relations with the EU, a project that will take many months to prepare and has only indirect relevance to the wider EPC membership. Starmer needs to show how the EPC can develop Europes sovereignty. The recent Biden debacle in the CNN debate studios in Atlanta and then the shooting at the Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, will hang heavy in the room. The closer Trump comes to victory in the November presidential contest, the more Europe knows it must become Trump-proof or at least Trump-prepared. But the way for Europe to become stronger and more prepared for whatever a second Trump term might hold is not to focus exclusively on defence spending levels or improving EU competitiveness vis-a-vis the US. Officials say the EPC needs to address the three large problems that are weakening the entire continent, not just the EU: irregular migration, disinformation and lack of energy security. Fortunately the Centre for European Policy Studies, a Brussels-based thinktank, says the Foreign Office has been assiduous in holding pre-summit workshops to help frame the issues for debate at the summit. Whether any new tangible answers will be provided by such a large body is unclear. Related: Zelenskiy expected in UK for meeting with European leaders What has been left unresolved at present is the degree to which the EPC is a coherent ideological body supporting democracy against Russian authoritarianism. This lacuna is made more acute by the fact that Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, is due to host the next EPC in November and would like to invite Trump to the summit. Blenheim, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, gives Starmer a chance to offer a vision of Europe distinct from authoritarianism. He can draw connections between Churchills postwar support for the European court of human rights and his own belief that the European convention on human rights, the credo that the court enforces, represents the best of Europe. Churchill saw Britain as part of what he called three majestic circles. They comprised the Commonwealth, the English-speaking world, and Britains friendly association with a united Europe. All three circles are in need of some repair and Blenheim will be a good to place to start. A family sits on their front porch as they get some air while their home is without power in Houston, Texas, on 12 July 2024. Photograph: Brandon Bell/Getty Images Power outages persist in Houston, Texas, after Hurricane Beryl tore through the area last week leavings hundreds of thousands of residents without electricity in the middle of a brutal heatwave. Nearly 300,000 customers have now gone almost a week without electricity and air conditioning during excessive heat where temperatures are reaching 94F (34C). CenterPoint Energy, the regions primary utility company, has been slammed by residents, as well as city and state officials, for what many have called poor communication about a timeline for power restoration and a lack of proper planning. Initially, more than 2.2 million Houstonians had found themselves without power in the immediate aftermath of Beryl, igniting a crisis in the city that led to at least three heat-related deaths, hospitalizations and the forced displacement of people from their homes to find cooler locations. CenterPoint said on Monday it restored power to more than 2 million customers and expects to approximately 98% restoration by the end of Wednesday, as lineman crews work around-the-clock and in difficult conditions to turn the lights and a/c back on. The company blamed fallen trees and branches from the severe weather for damaging infrastructure and customer-owned equipment, which delivers power to much of the city and surrounding areas. But the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, said in a statement that CenterPoint has repeatedly failed to deliver power to its customers and has given the energy company until the end of the month to provide specific actions to address power outages and reduce the possibility that power will be lost during a severe weather event. CenterPoint did not respond to a request for comment. Abbott, who was in Asia on an economic development trip during the crisis in his state, has also directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) conduct an investigation into the situation. It is unacceptable that millions of Texans in the Greater Houston area have been (or were) left without electricity for multiple days. It is imperative we investigate how and why some Texas utilities were unable to restore power for days following a Category 1 Hurricane, Abbott wrote in a letter on Sunday to PUC chairman Thomas Gleeson. Cassandra Hollingsworth, who lives in the Spring area of northern Houston and is disabled, told the Guardian that CenterPoint has been wholly unprepared, which is unacceptable as the largest energy provider in the Houston area. Many elderly and disabled people are suffering and unable to care for themselves in these extreme temperatures, and as far as Im concerned, anyone who perishes due to the prolonged outages is on CenterPoint, Hollingsworth, 42, said. There has to be a stronger system and/or a more urgent response, particularly when most summer days in Houston either are, or feel like, triple digit temperatures. JD Vance has been described as an 'heir to the Maga movement' - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP Donald Trump picked a firebrand US senator as his running mate on Monday night after promising to unite the nation following his attempted assassination. Trump said JD Vance, 39 one of his staunchest supporters, who has been described as an heir to the Maga movement was best suited to become vice president if he wins back the White House later this year. It comes a day after Mr Vance suggested Joe Bidens rhetoric had led directly to President Trumps attempted assassination. Trump launched a new unity message in the 48 hours after the assassination attempt, pledging that his campaign would remain resilient in our faith and not allow evil to win. On Monday night, he wrote that Mr Vance would continue to fight for our Constitution, stand with our troops, and will do everything he can to help me make America great again. Meanwhile, Trump received two major boosts on Monday as one of his major criminal trials was dismissed by a judge and polls showed him gaining rapidly in swing states. On Monday, the White House said the Secret Service had failed to protect Trump during a string of security blunders at his rally on Saturday, where he was shot in the ear. Trumps running mate announcement came on the first day of the Republican national convention in Milwaukee. The former president also celebrated after a court in Florida dismissed a criminal case against him, in which he was accused of improperly storing classified documents after leaving the White House in 2021. He said the decision by Aileen Cannon, a judge he appointed, was the first step in uniting the nation after the horrific events on Saturday, and that other judges considering cases against him should do the same. Judge Cannon ruled that the appointment of Jack Smith, the governments special prosecutor, was illegal under the US constitution. Mr Vance is a strong supporter of Trumps brand of Maga Republicanism, who rose to prominence after publishing a memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which explores the life of white working-class Americans. JD Vance once called Trump 'America's Hitler' but he has since become one of his most fervent supporters - REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo He served as a military journalist in the US Marine Corps during the Iraq War before being elected as a senator in 2016. Mr Vance had previously criticised Trump as Americas Hitler and cultural heroin, but later reinvented himself and grew close to the Trump family. He is a prominent sceptic of Western support for Ukraine, having argued that US support doesnt add up and that the Biden administrations position of not negotiating with Vladimir Putin is absurd. On Saturday, after 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks shot Trump, Mr Vance accused the Biden campaign of inciting the violence. He said the attack was not just some isolated incident and had happened because Mr Biden depicted Trump as an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs, adding: That rhetoric led directly to President Trumps attempted assassination. Mr Bidens campaign has since pulled adverts describing Trump as a dictator and a threat to America. Responding to Trumps announcement on Monday, the Biden campaign said Mr Vance would bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme Maga agenda, even if it means breaking the law and no matter the harm to the American people. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White Houses spokesman, said on Monday that the Biden administration would not politicise the shooting, and called for America to unite after the attack. She claimed there had been no change in the overall direction of Mr Bidens campaign. Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, admitted that security officials at the rally had allowed a direct line of sight between Trump and a nearby rooftop where Crooks was positioned. He said an independent review would identify immediate and longer-term corrective actions required to ensure that the no-fail mission of protecting national leaders is most effectively met. The review is understood to be investigating why the rooftop, which was around 150 metres from Trump, was outside the secure zone created for his rally. The Secret Service is also under pressure to explain why warnings from passers-by were not heeded in the minutes before Crooks opened fire. Security has been increased at the Republican convention, and Mr Mayorkas said the Secret Service would provide protection to Robert F Kennedy Jr, an independent presidential candidate who is also the nephew of John F Kennedy. Ahead of the convention, Trump said it was a miracle that he had survived by tilting his head to look at a screen in the moment before the bullet struck his ear. The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle, he said. Im not supposed to be here. Im supposed to be dead. The former president also received a boost in the polls on Monday, as a new survey showed he was just three points behind Mr Biden in Virginia, which the president won by a considerable margin in 2020. He is also ahead in Pennsylvania in a poll conducted by Siena College before the shooting. One senior Democratic congressman effectively admitted defeat, telling the Axios website: Weve all resigned ourselves to a second Trump presidency. Thomas Matthew Crooks' Bethel Park High School classmates described him as an intelligent student with few friends - Bethel Park School District/via AP The gunman who opened fire on Donald Trump purchased 50 rounds of ammunition on the day of the shooting as it also emerged his father owned more than 20 firearms. Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was identified by the FBI as the man who tried to assassinate the former president at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening. He had travelled to a local gun store hours before clambering onto a rooftop on the edge of the Butler Farm Show Grounds and opening fire on the former president minutes into a speech. The federal investigators said he had used an AR-15-style rifle, one of the many guns legally purchased by his father, CNN reported. Former classmates of Crooks revealed he had been rejected from his schools rifle club because of his poor aim. Crooks was shot and killed by Secret Service agents moments after he began firing, injuring Mr Trump, killing a spectator and seriously wounding two more. Classmates at Bethel Park High, where the shooter graduated from in 2022, described him as an intelligent student with few friends. He liked to play chess and video games and was learning computer coding. Many of the details surrounding Crooks life and his potential motives remain unclear to investigators. FBI officials have said they are treating the incident as a possible case of domestic terrorism as the shooter had left explosive materials in the vehicle he drove to the event. Investigators found a transmitter on the gunmans lifeless body, CNN reported, citing an anonymous source. Further examinations of Crooks vehicle revealed a receiver with wires connected to a metal box, possibly loaded with explosives, in the boot of his Hyundai Sudan. They are looking into whether the device could have been remote controlled and part of the failed assassination plot. One theory being pondered is whether the shooter could have detonated the device to distract and draw security personnel away from his firing position. Jameson Myers, who attended both elementary and high school with the suspect, said Crooks had attended trials for their schools rifle team, but had been asked not to return after preseason. He didnt just not make the team, he was asked not to come back because of how bad of a shot he was, it was considered like, dangerous, Mr Myers told ABC News. An anonymous member of the team, cited in the report by ABC, said Crooks wasnt really fit for the rifle team. They added: He also shot terrible. Crooks former classmates largely described him as an intelligent but quiet student. Mr Myers said he was a nice kid who never talked poorly of anyone, adding: I never have thought him capable of anything Ive seen him do in the last few days. When I did speak with him, he just seemed like a normal boy who was not particularly popular but never got picked on or anything. Another classmate, Summer Barkley, told CBS Pittsburgh that Crooks was a good student beloved by his teachers. Mark Sigafoos, who graduated with Crooks, said: This is one of the things that is being misconstrued he was not some type of loner trench coat wearer. He was definitely nerdy, for sure, but he never gave off that he was creepy or like a school shooter. He seemed like he wouldnt hurt a fly. Secret service agents rush a bloodied Trump off the stage following the shooting - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images However, one classmate, cited in a report by the Wall Street Journal, said Crooks would sometimes wear camouflage or hunting attire. If someone would say something to his face he would just kind of stare at them, Julianna Grooms, who graduated one year after Crooks, said. People would say he was the student who would shoot up high school. Investigators have not unearthed a manifesto or any evidence that the suspect had strongly held political beliefs. There are no signs of him having accounts on the popular social media networks Facebook or Instagram. He did have an account on the online Discord messaging platform, but the firm said it was rarely utilised and we have found no evidence that it was used to plan this incident or discuss his political views. The nursing home where Crooks worked said its staff had no reason for concern over their former colleague. He was a registered Republican but had also donated to a progressive cause in 2021. His parents were registered as a Democrat and Libertarian. A police officer walks past a home believed to be connected to the shooter in the Donald Trump assassination attempt in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, on Monday. Photograph: Gene J Puskar/AP FBI agents went house to house scouring the Bethel Park neighborhood lived in by Thomas Matthew Crooks and his family as mystery continued to surround the motives of the gunman who tried to assassinate Donald Trump while he was addressing a crowd in nearby Butler, Pennsylvania. The FBI said it had managed to access Crookss phone but preliminary analysis of the information at the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, had reportedly not advanced the search into Crookss reasons for shooting at Trump, injuring the former US president, killing a rally-goer and wounding two more. Crooks was almost instantly killed by Secret Service agents returning fire, but the shocking incident has plunged America into political turmoil and roiled an already brutal election campaign, marred by fears of political violence and growing unease about the prospect of civil unrest. Related: Former classmate describes Trump rally gunman as definitely conservative The FBI is investigating whether Crooks was a politically motivated homegrown domestic violent extremist. In an updated statement on Monday, the agency said that the search of the suspects residence and vehicle were complete, and it had conducted nearly 100 interviews of law enforcement personnel, event attendees and other witnesses who had been at Big Butler Fairgrounds on Saturday. The firearm used in the shooting was purchased legally. The shooter was not known to the FBI prior to this incident, the agency said. It added: While the investigation to date indicates the shooter acted alone, the FBI continues to conduct logical investigative activity to determine if there were any co-conspirators associated with this attack. At this time, there are no current public safety concerns. On Monday, it was disclosed that Crooks, 20, may have been trained in marksmanship at the local Clairton Sportsmens Club where he was registered as a member. In a statement to the New York Times, the clubs general counsel said the organization fully admonishes the senseless act of violence that occurred yesterday but declined to describe what training Crooks may have had, citing the FBI investigation. At the gun club, a ramshackle collection of huts on a hillside 15 miles south of Pittsburgh, a US and a POW/MIA flag, symbolizing US commitment to prisoners of war and missing in action during the Vietnam war and all conflicts, flew over the range. The sharp crack of rounds could be heard as two club members fired at rifle targets, some farther away than the estimated 130 yards between Crookss rifle and Trumps podium when the shooter squeezed off as many as eight shots, striking Trumps ear, killing a member of the audience and injuring two others. A manager at Clairton refused to discuss what instruction Crooks had received, and ordered reporters to leave the property. A firearms instructor at a local gun shop, Legion Arms, said Crooks had not been a customer at that store but opined that the distance of the shot was not great for the type of gun, an AR-15-style rifle, to be fired accurately in the right hands. That kind of round and gun are good for 700 or 800 yards, the instructor, who declined to be identified, said. Crooks, he added, had shown inexperience in his aim, which may also have been affected because he had been rushed after being spotted on his perch above a glass research factory. He shot at the head and not the body the body is what you shoot at when youre shooting long distance, the instructor said. Shooting for the head is what people do because theyve seen it in movies. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper reported that Crooks purchased 50 rounds of ammunition at Allegheny Arms and Gun Works in Bethel Park hours before the Butler rally. Investigators also said Crooks bought 50 rounds the morning of the shooting. The Allegheny county bomb squad confirmed on Monday that it had joined the investigation after explosives, some appearing to be grenades, were found in Crookss car. Separately, the Butler sheriff, Michael Slupe, confirmed to the news outlet KDKA-TV that an armed municipal officer with the Butler Township had encountered Crooks before he fired shots at the former president from outside the perimeter of the fairground. All I know is the officer had both hands on the roof to get up on the roof, never made it because the shooter had turned towards the officer, and rightfully and smartly, the officer let go, Slupe said. In Bethel Park, where Crooks lived with his mother, attended Bethel Park high school, and later got a job in the kitchens of a nursing home, residents continued to puzzle over his motives for attempting to assassinate Trump. Multiple school friends have described an isolated student who excelled at math but fell short socially. Some described him as conservative-leaning in his politics but overall the picture that has emerged so far is unclear. Unusually for many young people, Crooks had little online presence which might have revealed his political leanings or state of mind in the run-up to the attack. Alex Williams, 23, who graduated a year before Crooks, said the local community was still reeling. Nothing really crazy happens in Bethel so I think a lot of people are disturbed, because its not normal, Williams said. Theyre disappointed that the guy came from here and disappointed it happened at all. Williams said he did not recall if Crooks had been bullied, as some direct contemporaries have said. Bullying at the school was often limited to eye-rolling and social exclusion, he recalled. One former student at Crookss school, Jason Kohler, has said Crooks was bullied often. He was quiet, but he was bullied. He was bullied so much, Kohler said. Williams said he believed his generation had been deeply affected by Covid lockdowns that had made us really online and the extreme political environment had made it possible to become very right-leaning or very left-leaning theyll go down like a pipeline whether its left or right. As the investigation continues, Biden has called on Americans to reject politically motivated violence. Trump has said his speech to the Republican national convention will focus on unity. Its 100% possible for someone to go down pretty far and be, like, yeah, Im gonna kill the president, Williams said. Crookss neighbor Steve Riviere told KDKA that the community is shocked and surprised, maybe not as surprised as we should be, but shocked that this kind of thing happened and hoped this will be the end of it and well get to a position where people can have regular polite discourse about their issues rather than pulling out a gun and climbing on a roof. Tiffany Trump, Eric Trump, Lara Trump and Donald Trump Jr react as they watch the roll call of states during the Republican national convention on Monday. Photograph: Julia Nikhinson/AP Less than 48 hours after a gunman shot at Donald Trump during a Pennsylvania rally a bullet grazing the former president and killing a spectator Trump was formally nominated to head the Republican presidential ticket in November. Trump also announced his running mate on Truth Social on Monday, tapping the Ohio senator JD Vance as his vice-presidential pick. Vance, who once called himself an anti-Trump Republican, has since become a fervent supporter of the former president. Vance was formally confirmed as the nominee on Monday afternoon. Trump, who holds a marginal lead over Joe Biden in polling, was widely expected to change course this week and focus on a message of unity after the incident on Saturday, as many have called on the campaign to help bring down political tension in a year marked by threats of political violence. Shortly after the convention opened on Monday, more transformative news broke for Trump: a US district judge in Florida agreed to dismiss the criminal case on charges of mishandling classified documents. In siding with Trumps legal team, Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed to her position by Trump, found that Jack Smith, the special counsel bringing the prosecution, had been improperly appointed. The dismissal came just two weeks after the US supreme court ruled that presidents enjoy broad immunity from criminal prosecution, throwing into question Trumps numerous criminal cases and giving him more fodder for his campaign, during which he has consistently held that he was politically persecuted. Just before the convention, and in the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt, Trump appeared resolute. Related: Donald Trump shooting: authorities attempt to determine motive as suspects devices seized I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and the Republican National Convention, by two days, he wrote on Truth Social, but have just decided that I cannot allow a shooter, or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else. An internal campaign memo struck a similar tone, stating: It is our fervent hope that this horrendous act will bring our team, and indeed the nation together in unity and we must renew our commitment to safety and peace for our country, and reiterating that the RNC convention will continue as planned in Milwaukee. The failed assassination attempt, which left several rallygoers injured and two dead, including the shooting suspect, cast a pall of anxiety over the RNC. It raised tensions already felt between the diverse, working-class and heavily Democratic city and the Republican party which were on display from the start of the convention on Monday, when a rally held by the Coalition to March on the RNC protested against the event. The convention will feature a lineup of conservative speakers whose remarks will highlight key issues for the Republican party and Trump campaign, including immigration, the economy and abortion. The convention comes amid uncertainty in Bidens campaign after a devastating debate performance raised questions within the Democratic party over the presidents fitness and ability to campaign and govern. In the wake of the shooting, the Biden campaign announced it would be pulling television ads and pausing all outbound communications. The event will offer Trump an opportunity to set the tone for the Republican party following the shooting in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Trump pumped his fist in the air several times as he descended the stairs from his plane after arriving in Milwaukee on Sunday evening. This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together. The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it wouldve been two days ago, he told the Washington Examiner. Speaking to the New York Post while en route to the city, Trump said he was supposed to be dead, adding: The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this. He called it a miracle. Samsung teased its upcoming Android-powered XR headset during the launch of the Galaxy Fold 6 and Watch Ultra at the recent Unpacked event. According to Business Insider, the device is currently under the codename "Moohan" which is slated to be released in October for developers. Samsung Plans Schedule for XR Headset Launch Samsung briefly confirmed that the XR platform project, in partnership with Qualcomm, is still going strong and is under development at the moment. The project was first announced last January 2023. Samsung's president of Mobile Division, TM Roh, also revealed that the new XR platform is slated to come this year. However, the launch and public availability could be longer than that. According to the new report, Samsung is planning to unveil the developer version of the XR headset by October. Meanwhile, the consumer launch will follow through by March 2025. As of writing, the company has yet to provide more details about the new platform and device. The device was initially expected to launch ahead of Apple Vision Pro but was eventually pushed back to give time for further development. Google Moves Out of XR Competition, Offers Partnership Instead to Samsung Earlier this year, Google laid off employees under its first-party augmented reality hardware team. An employee also disclosed that the company does not have any ambition to compete for the foreseeable future. Google is reportedly focused on relationship management and creating partnerships with other companies to continue its AR ambitions. The tech giant is speculated to be running prototypes of Moohan and other devices using Qualcomm chips. A rumor is also building up about Samsung's plan to be the first one to develop glasses that are compatible with Google's AR software. A Ukrainian artilleryman fires a howitzer towards Russian troops near Chasiv Yar, Donetsk, on Sunday - Stringer/Reuters A Ukrainian army deserter has been shot dead, and a military recruitment centre has been bombed as tensions rise over the countrys aggressive mobilisation drive. As pressure on the front line mounts, with Russia sending waves of soldiers to overwhelm Ukraine, Kyiv has launched a forceful recruitment campaign. It has led to reports of Ukrainian men fleeing over borders to avoid service, while The Telegraph has been told that medically unfit men are being mobilised. A kindergarten was the target of a Russian attack in Myrnohrad, Donetsk, one of the many areas of fighting where Moscow is sending waves of soldiers to wear down Ukrainian opposition - Andriy Karmchenkov/Suspilne Ukraine/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Almost 44 per cent of Ukrainians now believe it is time for Kyiv to hold official peace negotiations with Russia, a new survey published on the ZN news website has found. The figure is double the 22 per cent who said the same in May 2023. But more than 80 per cent of those polled refused to back Vladimir Putins ceasefire demands, under which Ukraine would cede four partially occupied regions to Moscow. On Monday, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said the deserter who was killed was one of four servicemen held as they tried to cross the Moldovan border on foot in the southern Ukrainian region of Odessa. One of the fugitives attacked the border guard while trying to escape. In response, he used his service weapon and shot the attacker, the SBU said, adding that an investigation had been opened. Andriy Demchenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian border guard, claimed that the guard used the firearm in self-defence. Border guards say over a dozen individuals have been killed this year alone while attempting to cross the Tysa River, which runs along Ukraines western border. In recent months, they have apprehended dozens of people attempting to smuggle themselves out of the country. Grenade hurled at military office Meanwhile, police are hunting an attacker who hurled a grenade at a military recruitment office in the town of Busk in Lviv, western Ukraine. No one was injured in the incident but the building was damaged, regional police said. Such attacks are relatively common in Russia, with dozens of people detained for attacking conscription offices and military facilities, but so far they have been rare in Ukraine. However, recruitment officers in Ukraine are now reporting they are receiving abuse from the public, as mobilisation is stepped up. And even those medically unfit to serve say they are being targeted for conscription. In Ukraine, we have forced mobilisation, Vladislav, from the eastern Severodonetsk region, said. They send people to war with hepatitis, tuberculosis respiratory diseases, with cardiovascular diseases. Vladislav, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, told The Telegraph that despite suffering from cavernous angioma in the brain, which causes seizures, stroke symptoms, haemorrhages, and headaches, and requires surgery, he is being sent for training. Sometimes I lose consciousness, (suffer from) nausea, high blood pressure, he said. I will first be sent for training, for about one month, and then to the front line, where I will either be killed or I will become disabled. I cant fight, I cant handle it due to my health no one cares about problems like mine. Russia losing 1,000 soldiers a day The challenge of recruiting Ukrainian soldiers to achieve meaningful advances on the eastern front line is compounded by a high attrition rate among Russian forces. Ukraine faces formidable opposition owing to the sheer volume of personnel Russia is deploying to the front line. British military intelligence believes Russian ranks have been depleted by as many as 70,000 personnel over the last two months an alarming rate that shows no signs of slowing. The latest death toll figures of Russian soldiers is equivalent to an average of above 1,000 a day, the British Ministry of Defence said on Friday. Elizabeth Donowho was seriously injured following a collision with a car - JACOB KING/PA An American driver who fled the UK after a car crash left a nurse seriously injured has been arrested in Texas almost a year later. Issac Calderon, 22, will appear in a US court on Monday regarding his potential extradition to the UK. He stands accused of causing Elizabeth Donowho serious injury by dangerous driving. Ms Donowho was left unable to walk for six weeks, having suffered two broken ankles and a fractured sternum after the collision in Shucknall, Herefordshire in July last year. In an email, seen by The Telegraph, Ms Donowho was due to be informed of the arrest on Monday. West Mercia Police previously said the suspect was not arrested immediately after the incident due to requiring medical attention for serious injuries. Mr Calderon had been due to appear before magistrates on Dec 1 2023. A warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to appear. Police later confirmed he left the UK on Nov 25 and flew to the United States, where he was tracked down to his familys detached house in a residential street in Humble, Texas. Issac Calderon reportedly fled to the US following the collision - SKY NEWS At the time, Manuel Calderon, his father, told Sky News that his son was back at home and claimed the situation had been blown out of proportion. He said his son had been in the UK on a work visa and had recently been employed in a warehouse. He added that he had paid for him to fly home in November because he was struggling to support himself and to help him seek medical treatment following the collision. Ms Donowho, of Malvern, Worcestershire, has previously told journalists that West Mercia Police said Mr Calderon was working on matters that might come under the Official Secrets Act. Manuel Calderon told Sky News his son was part of the American National Guard and said he served a few weeks a year. He was later described by the US embassy as a private citizen. It is understood Mr Calderon does not have diplomatic immunity. Ms Donowho has been supported by the family of Harry Dunn, the teenage motorcyclist who was killed by Anne Sacoolas, a US citizen, in 2019. Donowho was left with two broken ankles and unable to walk for six weeks - UNPIXS Ms Sacoolas, who had been driving on the wrong side of the road, was able to leave the UK when diplomatic immunity was asserted on her behalf by the US government. A spokesman for Ms Donowho said she was delighted to see an extradition process might now be underway. Radd Seiger told The Telegraph: Its almost a year since the crash happened in which Elizabeth very nearly lost her life. We dont know why the extradition process has taken so long but we are delighted to see that it is now under way and we look forward to Mr Calderon being returned to the UK shortly so that he can face our justice system. We know that the Americans are very reluctant to extradite their nationals to the UK, so this feels like a tremendous step. Obviously Elizabeth hopes its sooner rather than later. Mr Seiger said Ms Donowho was one of 10 victims he was supporting where the defendant was a US government employee and the crime had taken place in Britain. He claimed eight others were driving-related cases. Kate Leonard, specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Services Extradition Unit, said: We continue to work closely with US authorities, to ensure that our extradition request is progressed expeditiously through the American courts. While proceedings are ongoing in the USA, it would be inappropriate to comment further. The Queen meets a cow at the Jersey Expo Event in St Helier The King and Queen got the giggles as they were introduced to some Jersey cows that proved a little frisky. The couple were given seven Jersey heifers as they embarked on their two-day visit to the Channel Islands. The cows, which represent an outstanding cross-section of breeding from the leading herds in the island, are expected to be shipped to the Kings Highgrove home in Gloucestershire. But as the Queen gave one of them a friendly stroke, another mounted it from behind, causing much laughter. They say never work with animals or children, muttered one aide. The cows were originally due to be presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. Actor Noel Clarkes libel claim against the Guardian newspapers publisher is set to go to trial in 2025 for up to six weeks, the High Court has heard. The 48-year-old is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles, including one from April 2021 which said 20 women who knew Mr Clarke in a professional capacity had come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct. In a statement at the time he vehemently denied any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing. Noel Clarke arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice, central London (Ken Brown/PA) The Doctor Who actor is bringing a libel and data protection claim against the publisher and is seeking 10 million in special damages, with further damages expected to be sought over loss of future earnings. GNM is defending the claim on the grounds of truth and public interest. At a preliminary hearing on Monday, lawyers for GNM said that the full trial of the claims is due to start in March 2025. Ben Gallop, for the publisher, said in written submissions: There are substantial disputes of fact which will require a full six-week trial to determine, at which the parties between them expect to call the oral evidence of around 45 witnesses. During a hearing in March, the High Court in London was told that some of the women who made the disputed allegations against Mr Clarke could give evidence. In a judgment last year, Mr Justice Johnson said that seven of the articles mean that there are strong grounds to believe that the claimant is guilty of various forms of sexual harassment with the eighth meaning grounds to investigate. The judge also ruled all of the articles could be defamatory, which had not been disputed by GNM over seven of the pieces. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have called on fans to be heroes by donating blood in a new appeal video for the NHS. The Hollywood stars have formed the collaboration with NHS Blood and Transplant ahead of the launch of their superhero movie Deadpool & Wolverine later this month. In an appeal video, the pair explain that while their action film sees a lot of fake bloodshed, it is real blood that is needed to help save lives. Our characters have spilled countless hot tubs worth of blood in the name of entertainment, but dont worry its all fake mostly, Vancouver-born Reynolds says in the clip. Australian actor Jackman adds: Real blood is harder to come by, thats why the NHS needs heroes like you to donate blood. Just one hour of your time could save up to three lives. The video finishes with Reynolds asking Will you be a giver to a receiver in need? and urging viewers to book an appointment, with Jackman and Reynolds both apologising for the Deadpool stars tongue-in-cheek comment. The clip is already showing on Channel 4 on demand and will be shown in cinemas with the tagline be the giving type. The upcoming collaboration film, which will debut in cinemas on July 25, sees Reynolds return to his role as the foul-mouthed anti-hero Deadpool, while Hugh Jackman reprised his role as the almost indestructible Wolverine. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman attending Deadpool and Wolverine UK sneak peek in London (Ian West/PA) . The director of donor experience for NHS Blood and Transplant, Mark Chambers, said: We are delighted to team up with Marvel Studios Deadpool & Wolverine and have the incredible support of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman to highlight the lifesaving power of blood donation. Deadpool saves the day, but blood donors save lives. We hope film fans will be inspired to become a hero in their own story by giving blood. Right now the NHS needs more young people to become the donors of the future. And we urgently need more donors of Black heritage to help patients who need ethnically matched blood. Giving blood is quick and easy and each donation saves up to three lives. Please register today and book an appointment to donate. After all, not all heroes wear capes and saving lives is more impressive than any superpower out there. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care added: Blood donors are real-life superheroes, and were so grateful to everyone who can step forward and help save lives. Getting the NHS back on its feet will need to be a national mission, and that includes the efforts of everyone who volunteers to give blood. NHS Blood and Transplant has previously collaborated with Disney with Free Guy in 2021 and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022. Blood donation appointments can be made on www.blood.co.uk or on the NHS Give Blood app. Sir Keir Starmer has underlined the UKs enduring commitment to peace and security in the Middle East during phone calls with international leaders. Topics such as the war in Gaza, defence and the UKs trading relationships were raised during the conversations on Monday afternoon. The Prime Minister spoke separately with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Jordan and said he looked forward to meeting them in person soon. King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan (Chris Jackson/PA) Both Sir Keir and Jordans King Abdullah II agreed that ensuring an immediate ceasefire is vital to getting the hostages out and aid into Gaza. The leaders were also aligned on the UK and Jordans deep and historic relationship. Turning to the situation in Gaza, the leaders discussed the situation on the ground and the Prime Minister updated on the Foreign Secretarys visit during the weekend and commended King Abdullah for his strong leadership in ensuring regional security. Ensuring an immediate ceasefire is vital to ensure hostages get out and further aid can get into Gaza, the leaders agreed, a Downing Street spokesperson said. Sir Keir and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia discussed working together to strengthen areas of shared interest, including trade, investment and defence cooperation. The Prime Minister praised the Saudi leaders leadership to support regional stability and underlined the UKs enduring commitment to peace and security in the region. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (Leon Neal/PA) During the phone call, the Crown Prince also congratulated the Labour leader on his election. When speaking to the Sultan of Oman, Haitham Bin Tariq al-Said, Sir Keir said he looked forward to expanding UK-Oman ties across defence, security and economic prosperity. Reflecting on the situation in the Middle East, the leaders agreed that regional security was paramount and agreed to work closely to ensure stability. The leaders agreed to remain in contact and looked forward to meeting soon, a Downing street spokesperson said. A terrorist who used social media platforms such as TikTok to encourage terrorism has been jailed for four years, the Crown Prosecution Service has said. Hamza Alam, 22, from Chadwell Heath in Romford, Essex, disguised himself before posting videos on TikTok and described himself as merely an online librarian in an effort to evade detection, according to the CPS. His videos included hostile references to Jewish people alongside a post that encouraged viewers to attack and kill Jews following the Gaza and Israel conflict. Another post celebrated the 9/11 attacks. One of his TikTok accounts, which was public, had 126 videos that had amassed 31,000 likes. Alam also created a shareable folder that included Islamic State propaganda and videos containing images of public floggings. He was previously found guilty of three counts of disseminating a terrorist publication and one count of encouraging terrorism and sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday. He was arrested in June 2022 by the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command who had been looking into a Telegram discussion group, which counted Alam as one of its main contributors. The CPS said his phones were seized and investigators uncovered photographs in which his face had been superimposed onto Islamic State fighters. Warnings were issued from TikTok moderators saying there had been multiple breaches of community guidelines and that further breaches could result in account penalties. Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Services counter terrorism division, said: Hamza Alam used social media platforms including TikTok to discuss, share and spread his vile extremist views. He also recklessly shared material that glorified the commission, preparation and acts of terrorism. Alam thought that by disguising his appearance and claiming he was merely an online librarian he would not be caught out but he was wrong. She added: Posting such extreme and illegal material online poses a high risk of serious harm to the public through encouraging and inciting others into extremist activity, and it is only right that Alam has been brought to justice today. British teenager Jay Slater vanished on the Spanish holiday island of Tenerife last month, prompting a search effort which spanned weeks and involved family members, police and volunteers. The apprentice bricklayer, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, had attended the NRG music festival with friends before his disappearance, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island, which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. A body has been found in the search for the 19-year-old, and below are the key events leading up to the discovery: Jay Slater was an apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire (Family handout/LBT Global/PA) Sunday June 16 Mr Slater attends the NRG music festival with friends at Papagayo nightclub in the tourist resort of Playa de las Americas in the south of the island. Monday June 17 In the early hours of Monday he goes to stay in an apartment in the north of the island with people he had met over the course of the night. 7.30am Mr Slater posts a picture on Snapchat from the doorway of the property he stayed at overnight, tagged as being in Rural de Teno park. 8.30am He calls his friend, Lucy Law, telling her he had attempted to walk back to his accommodation after missing his bus a journey that would take more than 10 hours. In the frantic last phone call, Mr Slater says he had cut his leg on a cactus and had no idea where he was. Ms Law says her friend told her he was lost in the mountains, he wasnt aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%. Mr Slaters phone runs out of battery shortly after with his last known location being in Rural de Teno park. 9.04am He is reported missing. Tuesday June 18 After friends spend the previous day searching to no avail, local police and mountain rescue teams scour Rural de Teno park for Mr Slater. His family fly out to Tenerife to join the search. Police were involved in the search (James Manning/PA) Wednesday June 19 The search is temporarily moved to the Los Cristianos area in the south of the island because of a potential lead, but this is quickly discounted and the search returns north. Mr Slaters mother, Debbie Duncan, says she feared her son had been taken against his will. Thursday June 20 The search returns to Rural de Teno park, around the village of Masca. Emergency workers meet in various locations throughout the day, combing bushes, overgrown terrain, hillsides and rivers, but fail to find the missing teenager. Friday June 21 Spanish police reject an offer of support from Lancashire Constabulary as the hunt continues. Police, firefighters and search and rescue personnel comb a vast area of land in and around the village of Masca. Search and rescue personnel carefully look through dead palm trees covering a river at the bottom of the hillside near to an Airbnb property Mr Slater had reportedly been driven to. The owner of the property tells reporters she saw Mr Slater walk up the road past her property but did not see him again after that describing the situation as worrying. Saturday June 22 Mr Slaters mother issues a direct plea to her missing son on the sixth day of the hunt, saying: We just need you home. Firefighters appear to conduct the majority of the searches as they wear helmets to tackle dangerous hillside terrain in Tenerife. The search parties seem noticeably smaller compared with other days with only a handful of emergency workers visible in the village of Masca and the surrounding areas. Sunday June 23 Search teams narrow their efforts on small buildings close to where Mr Slaters phone last pinged. Officers from the Guardia Civil in the Canary Island can be seen circling two structures at the bottom of a ravine in Rural de Teno Park. Efforts appear to be solely focused on the one area after days of searches in the village of Masca and the surrounding landscape. Thursday June 27 Mr Slaters mother says she will use donations from the GoFundMe appeal set up by Ms Law, to fund her stay on Tenerife. (PA Graphics) Ms Duncan says the 36,000 raised by more than 3,200 individual donations will be used to support mountain rescue teams, and to cover her own accommodation and food costs during her extended stay on the island. Friday June 28 The Guardia Civil appeal for volunteer associations, such as firefighters, and individual volunteers who are experts in rugged terrain to assist in a busqueda masiva, or massive search, to take place on Saturday. Saturday June 29 A renewed search for Mr Slater gets under way in the village of Masca, near to his last-known location, co-ordinated to take in a steep rocky area, including ravines, trails and paths. Sunday June 30 Spanish police call off the search for the missing teenager. A Guardia Civil spokesperson reportedly says: The search operation has now finished, although the case remains open. It is understood that Mr Slaters family and friends will stay in Tenerife to continue to look for him. The area around Masca in Tenerife (James Manning/PA) Tuesday July 2 Ms Duncan says words cannot describe the pain and agony we are experiencing after searches fail to trace her missing son. In a statement issued through the British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global, she says the land search for her son has been called off, but thanks the Guardia Civil who she says worked tirelessly up in the mountains where Jays last phone call was traced. Wednesday July 3 In a statement on the GoFundMe appeal Get Jay Slater Home, which had raised almost 50,000 as of Wednesday, Ms Duncan thanks the vast generosity of donors, saying her family are grateful for all of your support and kindness during this unimaginable time. She writes that part of the funds will be used to support volunteers hunting for Mr Slater in the mountains near to where his last phone call was traced. Sunday July 14 The missing teenagers mother speaks of her heartache and criticises awful comments and conspiracy theories as it approaches a month since Mr Slater disappeared. In a statement released through LBT Global, Ms Duncan says: As we approach four weeks of our beautiful Jays disappearance, we cannot put into words the heartache we are suffering as a family. Ms Duncan says the family wish to thank the public for their continued support and well wishes and praises the British Embassy and police for doing all they can to support us. But she also criticises awful comments and conspiracy theories posted on social media, which she brands vile and says were hindering people trying to help locate the teenager. Monday July 15 A body is found in the search for Mr Slater. Charity LBT Global says that, while formal identification has not yet taken place, the remains were found with the 19-year-olds clothes and possessions near his last known location. Members of a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard discovered the body near the village of Masca on Monday. The force says Mr Slater could have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area where the body was discovered. Two women have been arrested after staging a protest against the Governments Gaza policy at the Cenotaph in central London. A video showed the women, from the protest group Youth Demand, laying flowers and a Palestinian flag in front of the Cenotaph in Whitehall, before spray-painting 180,000 killed on the pavement in front of the memorial. They then sat down in front of the Cenotaph holding signs saying Stop arming Israel and Never again for anyone. BREAKING: YOUTH DEMAND LAY PALESTINE FLAG & PAINT NEXT TO CENOTAPH Never again means never again. Everything that the cenotaph stands for is contrary to the Labour government allowing companies to profit from genocide. Help us take action ->https://t.co/Fyk6gk3Y3j pic.twitter.com/zrGYH1pccw Youth Demand (@youth_demand) July 15, 2024 In a tweet, Youth Demand said: Never again means never again. Everything that the Cenotaph stands for is contrary to the Labour Government allowing companies to profit from genocide. The demonstration is the latest in a string of protests calling for the suspension of licences for arms sales to Israel against the background of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Metropolitan Police said the two women had been quickly arrested on suspicion of criminal damage caused to the road and not the Cenotaph. The force added: Everyone has the right to peaceful protest but where that crosses the line into criminality, we will take action. Veterans minister Al Carns criticised the protest, saying the Cenotaph was special for all of us. He said: The act of vandalism is abhorrent. No matter what is happening in the world, the Cenotaph must be respected. It stands in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy today. A warrant has been issued for an asylum seeker who did not attend his court sentencing over possessing cannabis and assaulting a police officer on board the Bibby Stockholm. Kenson Noel, 29, had pleaded guilty to the offences that happened at the Home Office accommodation on May 16, and was due to be sentenced at Poole Magistrates Court on Monday. Magistrates ordered a warrant not backed for bail because of the defendants absence, for him to be brought before the court. Noel, of Bournemouth, previously admitted having 6.5 grams of the Class B drug and beating a police officer from Portland Port. South China Sea issue should be resolved by countries directly concerned 09:49, July 15, 2024 By Koh King Kee ( People's Daily Recently, countries like the United States (U.S.) and the Philippines have been fueling fire on the South China Sea issue. On April 11, the leaders of the U.S., Japan and the Philippines held a trilateral summit in Washington and issued a Joint Vision Statement after the summit, smearing and attacking China on the South China Sea issue. Besides, the U.S. and the Philippines carried out joint military exercises in the South China Sea, and the U.S. has deployed the Mid-Range Capability missile system, also known as Typhon, in the Philippines. These moves have escalated tensions in the South China Sea, further complicated the situation, and posed grave threats and dangers to regional peace and stability. The U.S. has been frequently building exclusive blocs in the Asia-Pacific region, including its attempts to strengthen the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) among the U.S., Japan, India and Australia, advance the AUKUS security partnership among the U.S., the United Kingdom and Australia, and host the U.S.-Japan-South Korea trilateral meeting at Camp David and the U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral summit. The intention is to further its geopolitical interests in the region and contain China's development. Such attempts by the U.S. and some of its allies to create division and confrontation in the South China Sea have raised concerns among ASEAN nations. Under the instigation of external powers, certain Philippine politicians have been actively engaging in reckless confrontations and provocations in the South China Sea in disregard of the interests of their nation and people. Such acts serve no purpose other than undermining the joint efforts of regional countries in addressing the South China Sea issue and will ultimately damage the long-term interests of the Philippines. The South China Sea issue should be resolved by countries directly concerned through dialogue and negotiation. The intervention of external forces only complicates the situation and hinders the resolution of the South China Sea issue. The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), signed by China and the ten ASEAN countries in November 2002, is a milestone in the dialogue relations between ASEAN and China. It reflects the shared aspirations of ASEAN countries and China to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and is instrumental in stabilizing the situation in the South China Sea. The countries involved in the South China Sea issue should adhere to the principle of the DOC, exercise restraint, and avoid any actions that could complicate or escalate disputes. ASEAN has always stayed independent and self-reliant, believing that its own affairs should be decided by ASEAN itself. ASEAN countries value their stable and sound relations with China, advocate for jointly promoting peace and stability in the region, and pursue win-win outcomes through cooperation. ASEAN is neither willing nor likely to participate in any U.S.-led exclusive blocs aimed at confronting China simply to please the U.S. The South China Sea issue should not be exaggerated. As long as dialogue and consultation are maintained and differences are handled properly, the issue is not insurmountable. In October 2023, China and ASEAN announced the start of the third reading of Single Draft Negotiating Text of the Code of Conduct (COC) and agreed to accelerate negotiations so as to reach at an early date an effective and substantive COC that is consistent with international law. ASEAN countries and China should work together to actively promote negotiations on the COC, strengthen cooperation on marine fisheries, scientific research, ecology, and security, and build the South China Sea into sea of peace, friendship and cooperation. (Koh King Kee is president of the Centre for New Inclusive Asia, a Malaysian think tank.) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu) Global smartphone demand saw a 6.5% growth according to IDC as manufacturers continuously launch AI-powered features and huge discounts. China's 618 shopping festival boosted the global smartphone growth rate due to huge discounts and sales offered during the event. Read Also : Samsung Announces Development of Android-Powered XR Headset iPhone Improves Sales Despite Pressure From China IDC reported that Apple shipped 45.2 million devices in the quarter, accounting for a 1.5% improvement from its previous sales in the same period last year. The tech giant is gradually recovering from China's earlier request to stifle Apple's growth. Last year, Apple experienced immense pressure from China after employers started to ban the use of foreign devices for state-run operations and workplaces. IDC shared that the tech giant managed to improve its sales in the second quarter after the Worldwide Developers Conference. "This is in part due to heavy discounts and promotions in many regions but also thanks to renewed customer confidence after WWDC when Apple finally announced its AI strategy," said IDC research director Nabila. It is also expected that Apple will continue to grow in the following quarter as Microsoft announced that its China-based employees will be required to use Apple products starting in September. Samsung Outranks Chinese-Based Smartphone Manufacturers Samsung ranked first in terms of shipments for the second quarter of 2024. The electronics giant recorded 53.9 million shipments during the quarter and had a 0.7% growth from 2023. Apple landed in second place despite restrictions from China. Chinese-based manufacturers like Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo also recorded a big growth increase. Xiaomi had the best growth among the companies with 27.4% increase rates in sales and ranked third. The company narrowly missed the second spot to Apple by around three million. Britain will be battered by rain and floods at the start of this week in what could be a bad omen that the country can expect yet more drizzly weather this summer. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning between 3pm on Monday and 9am on Tuesday, meaning much of the country will experience heavy rain and localised flooding, and downpours of up to 40mm over the course of a few hours. Bands of showery rain are tracking north across the South West with further outbreaks of rain, which will be heavy at times with a risk of thunder expected to develop later, moving northwards through the evening and overnight. (PA Graphics) It follows a soggy first seven months of the year so far, which has seen rain blamed for dampening economic performance and consumer spending. The news comes as a bad omen for the weather this summer according to the centuries-old legend of St Swithins Day. According to traditional folklore, the weather experienced on St Swithins Day (July 15) will continue for the next 40 days meaning parts of the country could be in for a soggy summer if superstition holds true. But Andrea Bishop, Met Office spokesperson, said that the legend of St Swithin is not backed up by statistics. She said: While the story is compelling, its not entirely backed up by historical records and, similarly, when it comes to the weather folklore, its not backed up by weather statistics. Soggy weather has affected much of the country this month (Steven Paston/PA) The proverb of St Swithin says: St Swithins Day if thou dost rain, for forty days it will remain, St Swithins Day if thou be fair, for forty days will rain na mair. Ms Bishop said: Since the start of records in 1861, there have never been 40 dry or 40 wet days in a row following July 15. Today, we have a day of rain across most parts of the country, with three yellow rain warnings issued over the next 24 hours and the forecast for the week ahead remains unsettled. Ms Bishop said that despite the drizzly start on Monday, there is warmth on the horizon with temperatures due to rise by midway through the week, with parts of the South East reaching 26C on Thursday and Friday. She said: There is some good news, though, with some improvement by midweek, at least for southern parts of the country with a ridge coming in and temperatures looking to rise. Parts of the southeast could see up to 26C on Thursday and Friday. One expert said the dreary weather could affect peoples mood. People will be hoping folklore over St Swithins Day does not hold true (Mike Egerton/PA) Professor Trevor Harley, emeritus professor of Psychology at the University of Dundee and author of the book Psychology Of Weather told the PA news agency: For most people rainy days lower mood. This effect isnt so much because of the rain itself as the lack of sunshine. Sunshine is good for our mental health, and helps produce serotonin, the brains good mood chemical. Serotonin also helps control appetite so we might find we eat too much on rainy days! We also need sunshine to regulate our sleep-wake cycle, so too much rain is going to get in the way of that. It isnt all bad news though. Rain helps clear the air of pollen and pollutants, and rain hitting the earth can release a chemical called geosmin, which can help raise mood. The smell caused when rain hits soil goes by the wonderful name of petrichor. And believe it or not, some people really dislike sunshine and like rain, so they must have been very happy recently. Google is based in Mountain View, California. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images Alphabet is nearing a $23 billion deal for cybersecurity startup Wiz, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Google owner is in advanced talks to buy the startup, unnamed sources told the outlet. Wiz was founded in 2020 and became one of the fastest-growing startups a year later. Alphabet is closing in on a deal to buy Wiz, a cloud cybersecurity startup, for about $23 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported. Unnamed sources said the Google owner is in advanced talks to buy the four-year-old company, and a deal is imminent if talks don't fall apart. Wiz would be Google's largest acquisition, worth more than double the $12.5 billion it paid for Motorola Mobility in 2011. Alphabet has traditionally been cautious about large acquisitions. Its $2.1 billion acquisition of fitness company FitBit in 2021 previously faced regulatory scrutiny before being approved. Wiz was founded in March 2020 by Assaf Rappaport, Ami Luttwak, Yinon Costica, and Roy Reznik, and offers security for companies that use cloud computing providers such as Amazon Web Services. Assaf Rappaport, CEO of Wiz, at Web Summit 2021 in Lisbon, Portugal. Harry Murphy/Getty Images In less than a year, Wiz was valued at $1.7 billion and won investment from Salesforce, Blackstone, and Algae, making it one of the fastest-growing startups at the time, BI previously reported. The company was established in Israel but moved its headquarters from Tel Aviv to New York City amid big growth. Wiz employed about 900 people across the US, Europe, and Israel as of February 2024. Rappaport is CEO, while Luttwak is the CTO. Fellow cofounders Costica and Reznik are the VPs of product and research and development, respectively. The four cofounders first met in an elite intelligence unit of the IDF during Israel's mandatory military service. Rappaport spent two years at consulting giant McKinsey after his time in the Israeli military. Rappaport, Luttwak, and Reznik previously founded cloud security company Adallom, which was later acquired by Microsoft. They reportedly netted $25 million each from the deal, which was worth $320 million, per The Times of Israel. The potential Wiz deal comes amid rising antitrust scrutiny by the Biden administration. The Justice Department sued Google in 2020, accusing the search engine giant of monopolization. A verdict on the yearslong, landmark trial is expected later this year. Google recently abandoned efforts to buy HubSpot, a maker of customer relations management software, Bloomberg reported. Google and Wiz did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Kyle Carrozza, an animator for several Cartoon Network, Disney and Nickelodeon shows, was arrested on child porn possession charges. A Cartoon Network series creator has been arrested on child pornography charges. Kyle Carrozza, an animator who created the television series "Mighty Magiswords" and worked on multiple Cartoon Network, Disney, PBS Kids and Nickelodeon shows, was arrested in Burbank, California, on June 20 on two child pornography possession charges, according to Burbank Police Department arrest records. In a statement provided to USA TODAY Tuesday, the Burbank Police Department confirmed Carrozza's arrest and that police served him a search warrant. After a review of Carrozza's case, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed one count of possession of over 600 images of child pornography, the department said. USA TODAY has reached out to Carrozza's rep and Cartoon Network for comment. Carrozza, 45, has worked as a storyboard artist and animator on several cartoons, including "Adventure Time," the 2020 "Animaniacs" reboot, "Doc McStuffins" (and its miniseries spinoff "The Doc Files"), "Fish Hooks," "Fanboy & Chum Chum," "Danger Rangers" and "Teen Titans Go!" He also worked as an animator on "The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water." Nickelodeon actors allege abuse in 'Quiet on Set' doc: These former child stars have spoken up "Mighty Magiswords" was Cartoon Network's first online original series, debuting in 2015. The show premiered as a full-length TV series in 2016 and ended in 2019. Carrozza also served as a voice actor voicing over a dozen characters including one of its main characters, Prohyas Robert Warrior as well as composer and executive producer of the series. In California, possession of child pornography can be either a misdemeanor or felony and carries a sentence of up to one year in county jail or three years in state prison and/or a $2,500 fine. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cartoon Network 'Mighty Magiswords' creator Kyle Carrozza arrested The 56-year-old actor takes on a whole new persona in the fashion house's latest campaign David Sims Daniel Craig for Loewe. James Bond, who? Daniel Craig is showcasing his range in a new Loewe campaign. The 56-year-old British actor is unrecognizable in the luxury fashion house's FW24 global campaign, which also stars brand ambassador and Past Lives star Greta Lee. In the minimalistic shots, Craig ditches his signature close-cropped haircut in favor for a longer style complete with a dramatic side bang. Shot by David Sims, the photos intentionally lack props so that "the photographic gaze focuses on the subjects and what they are wearing as an extension of who they are and how they want to be perceived," per the press release. In one particularly striking shot, the actor stares straight into the camera, his piercing blue eyes cutting through a pair of yellow-tinted glasses. He wears a multicolored knit sweater, olive trousers and a brown belt, his long, straight hair framing his face. David Sims Daniel Craig for Loewe. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Another photo shows Craig in a light blue button-down shirt and multicolored drawstring pants. He looks slightly more like his usual self in a black leather jacket, black undershirt and tan cargo pants, but the colorful looks are certainly a new style for the Knives Out actor. David Sims Daniel Craig for Loewe. "Craig brings to life the work of artist Richard Hawkins, who inspired the collection, through a collage of personalities," says the brand via press release. "He wears the knitted jumpers, the cargos, the leather blousons but also the boots, trainers and embroidered pants that are key, Americana-inflected pieces of the collection, with much bravado and a confrontational stance." David Sims Daniel Craig for Loewe. The statement continues, "With its crude directness, the campaign is a study on how characters and their clothes are intimately related." 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. Beloved by celebrities like Zendaya and Jennifer Lawrence, Loewe is known for its eccentric fashion campaigns, In 2023, the brand set the internet ablaze with their Spring/Summer 2024 pre-collection campaign starring 88-year-old actress Maggie Smith. Alongside supermodel Kaia Gerber, actors Josh O'Connor and Jessie Buckley and K-Pop star Hyun Ah, Anthony Hopkins appeared in Loewe's pre-Fall 2022 collection campaign. The then-84-year-old actor leaned into the brand's playful style, wearing a colorful donut tee shirt paired with a studded coat. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Delaying the development of type 2 diabetes can significantly lower cardiovascular disease and mortality risk. Image credit: Mihajlo Ckovric/Stocksy. Researchers based in China conducted a post-hoc study of people with a prediabetes diagnosis. People often receive a diagnosis of prediabetes before developing type 2 diabetes, and sometimes people can avoid type 2 diabetes with interventions. The researchers reviewed more than 30 years of data for people following their prediabetes diagnosis. The scientists learned that people who avoided developing type 2 diabetes for at least 4 years had reduced rates of developing cardiovascular disease and lower all-cause mortality rates. Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that increases healthcare costs by billions of dollars per year. Developing type 2 diabetes can also contribute to a host of complications, such as vision problems, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and nerve damage. Researchers study type 2 diabetes to learn more about how to reduce the problems it causes. A study led by Guangwei Li at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital took a look at the effects of postponing the development of type 2 diabetes in people who already had a diagnosis of prediabetes. The study found that putting off developing type 2 diabetes for at least 4 years can lead to many improvements in the long term, including reducing the risk of death and diabetes-related health complications, such as cardiovascular disease. The study findings appear in PLOS Medicine. How prediabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes According to the American Diabetes Association, around 36 million people in the United States have type 2 diabetes. Additionally, nearly 100 million people in the U.S. have prediabetes. Prediabetes, also known as insulin resistance, occurs when someones blood sugar level is higher than the healthy range. People with A1C levels of 5.7 to 6.4% qualify for prediabetes, and people with an A1C level higher than 6.4% qualify for type 2 diabetes. With interventions such as making healthy lifestyle changes or taking metformin, people can improve their A1C levels and reverse a prediabetes diagnosis. When people are unable to do this and end up developing type 2 diabetes, they are at risk for many health issues, including: With this in mind, researchers in the current study wanted to look at the long-term benefits of delaying a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Lower risk of death, cardiovascular disease The study analyzed data from the Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study (DQDPS) and examined the health outcomes of 540 participants with prediabetes who were followed for more than 30 years. During this period, the DQDPS tracked death, cardiovascular events, and microvascular complications. The scientists next checked the participant data at 2, 4, and 6 years post-diagnosis to see whether the participants had reversed their prediabetes diagnosis or developed type 2 diabetes. They next compared this to all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, and microvascular complications data from 30 years to determine how helpful delaying type 2 diabetes can be. The findings showed that postponing developing type 2 diabetes can be beneficial in the long run. At the 2-year point of the study, of the 539 participants who were still alive, 70 had diabetes, and 469 did not. At the 4-year mark, 176 of the 533 remaining participants developed diabetes, and 357 did not. At the 6-year point, 254 out of the remaining 520 participants developed diabetes, and 266 participants were diabetes-free. People who kept diabetes at bay for at least 4 years after receiving a prediabetes diagnosis had a lower risk of death, microvascular complications, and cardiovascular disease. Over the 30-year follow-up, the researchers learned that participants who progressed to diabetes before the 4-year point had consistently higher glucose (sugar) levels, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and were more likely to smoke than those who remained free of diabetes. Those who remained diabetes-free for at least 4 years had a 26% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 40% lower risk of vascular problems. Participants who remained free of diabetes for at least 6 years following their prediabetes diagnosis saw even more benefits they had a 44% reduction in cardiovascular death. These findings suggest if people with prediabetes can delay developing type 2 diabetes for at least a few years, they can reduce their chances of health issues in the long run. Why does diabetes prevention lower other health risks? Daniel Atkinson, MBBS, clinical lead at Treated.com, and a general practitioner based in the United Kingdom, weighed in on the study for Medical News Today. Atkinson was not involved in the original study. Its an impressive and thorough piece of research involving 540 people, and the extensive period of analysis (30 years) gives added weight to the findings, commented Atkinson. I would say it also paints a reassuring picture for people who may be at increased risk of diabetes, due to their ethnicity, family history, or other factors outside of their control; by suggesting that there are practical things you can do to lower your risk of diabetes complications if you develop the condition, he continued. Atkinson said the study does a good job of reinforcing current recommendations. I think its important to say that theres lots people can do to prevent diabetes and prediabetes and this study reinforces that, he said. However, he added: It doesnt mean that getting type 2 diabetes means giving up hope. Many recently diagnosed people can make changes which mean that theyre no longer diabetic if they can make these changes and maintain them for the long term. Absalon Gutierrez, MD, an associate professor and endocrinologist with UTHealth Houston, also spoke with MNT about the study findings. Dr. Gutierrez also did not participate in this research. It is a post-hoc analysis, which means it is subject to several statistical biases, hence dampening some enthusiasm for the pleasing results, Gutierrez explained. However, the findings are consistent with our current belief that delaying a diagnosis of diabetes yields multiple future health benefits. Gutierrez touched on the mechanisms that might provide the protective effect delaying diabetes for 4 years can have. Some of this is likely due to less destruction of pancreatic beta cells as well lower levels of insulin resistance in muscle and fat, he explained. Gutierrez also noted that despite the developments in weight loss and diabetes medications since the study began, obesity levels are still going up. It is important for people at risk with diabetes to take diabetes prevention seriously, he emphasized. View the original article on Medical News Today MILWAUKEE Is the election over? A disastrous debate for Joe Biden in Atlanta. A miraculous survival by Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. A stunning court decision in Fort Pierce, Florida. A cascade of developments in the run-up to the Republican National Convention has left Republicans increasingly confident of winning in November and Democrats increasingly disheartened even before either political party has formally nominated their candidates and launched the general election. To be sure, there are still more than 100 days until Election Day, time for more twists in a campaign already marked by turmoil. But the latest string of developments, none of them connected or expected, could prove to be especially consequential because they go to fundamentals that define the rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. The first debate reinforces Biden's biggest vulnerability Team Biden accepted last month's televised debate on CNN to reset the president's campaign. Instead, it undermined it by focusing a 90-minute spotlight on his age, his difficulties in finishing a sentence, his failure to effectively counter Trump's bombastic and often inaccurate statements. A TV screen shows U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump, during a watch party for the first U.S. presidential debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta. June 27, 2024. REUTERS/Nathan Howard The alarm that followed fueled a last-ditch effort by Democratic leaders worried about an election catastrophe to push Biden, in public and in private, to step aside from the nomination in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris or some other Democrat from the next generation. Biden, 81, has sharply resisted the idea, leaving Democrats in the worst possible situation: Some members of Congress and major donors are now on the record raising questions about his mental acuity and electability. But since it's all but impossible to replace him without his assent, he is poised to be the party's nominee anyway. The aftermath of the shooting in Pennsylvania may soften Trump's sharp edges The horrific, heroic image of Trump pumping his fist and shouting "Fight! Fight!" after being bloodied by a would-be assassin's bullet was instantly iconic. Since then, Trump said the need for national unity has persuaded him to throw away a "humdinger" of a convention acceptance speech in favor of more conciliatory language. A softer, gentler Trump, perhaps. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he is rushed into car after an incident at a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. If he does that, and can sustain the new tone, he could bolster his appeal to swing voters, including suburbanites and women, who have been put off by the rage that has marked much of his past rhetoric. The court ruling in Florida helps Trump deal with his biggest new problem Trump's criminal conviction in a New York court in a hush-money trial this spring was historic, and not in a good way for him. He became the first major-party presidential candidate who is a felon, a status that a significant number of voters said would give them second thoughts about voting for him. The decision in federal court Monday to throw out the pending case against him on charges of mishandling classified documents isn't related to the New York conviction. But the ruling fits the talking points he uses to dismiss his legal problems generally: He is the victim of politically motivated prosecutions that can't stand up to fair-minded scrutiny. Judge Aileen Cannon, who Trump appointed to the bench, said the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith violated the Constitution because he hadn't been appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate. That's a novel analysis, and sure to be appealed but not in time for Election Day. Which is approaching fast. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump has a series of wins. Is the election over before it has begun? Ground Picture // Shutterstock Is a struggling child just "going through a phase," or is there something more serious going on? Many families grapple with this question when trying to identify underlying mental health issues their child may be facing. Still, it is a complicated question. Throughout the stages of developmentfrom toddlerhood to the preteen years and beyonddifferent challenges emerge, and each stage is defined by very different behaviors. Not to mention that the 2020s have been a particularly stressful time to grow up. Counseling Schools consulted experts on children and youth mental health and reviewed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports to get to know the telltale signs of a struggling child. "Every generation of children faces challenges that shape their mental health and well-being," Dave Daigle, associate director for communications at the CDC's Global Health Center, told Stacker. "While some positive stress is necessary for building appropriate coping mechanisms and forging a healthy sense of self-efficacy, other challenges may be overwhelming and lead to mental distress. This generation faces several such challenges," added Daigle, who spoke to several CDC experts on family and childhood health and summarized their answers. According to Daigle, there are three unique and difficult circumstances that affect today's children and youth: the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of social media, and events of mass violence. "The COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant disruption to every aspect of life across generations but has had a particular impact on the social, emotional, and academic health and development of young people," Daigle said. For younger children, COVID-19 may have amplified developmental struggles. Isolation, fewer social interactions with peers, and more screen time have all been linked to developmental delays, which were exacerbated during the pandemic. Excessive screen time in youth has also been shown to be detrimental to their mental and physical health, creating "habits" that are hard to break. For tweens and teens, in particular, the predominance of social media, as well as the increased exposure to school gun violence, has led to poorer mental health outcomes. According to the National Institutes of Health, concerns about school shootings can cause higher instances of depression, anxiety, and generalized panic among adolescents. "Drills associated with being prepared for these events can also threaten a child's sense of safety, even when no actual threat is present," Daigle explained. Higher rates of social media usage among teenagers correlate with low self-esteem and poor body image, according to the American Psychiatric Association. The risks are so prevalent that, in a guest essay for The New York Times, Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy recommended adding warning labels on social media platforms. Murthy further suggested that the Surgeon General's Advisory's Social Media and Youth Mental Health report could serve as a resource for parents, policymakers, researchers, and technology companies to prevent potential risks. Social and economic challenges can also contribute to mental distress in children and youth, Daigle added. Housing instability, food insecurity, and other economic barriers can be limiting factors. "This isn't unique to this generation, per se, but it is still an important and ongoing contributor," Daigle said. Already vulnerable or frequently discriminated populations, including LGBTQ+ and Black youth, are at greater risk of experiencing feelings of distress, according to the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health. Canva Warning signs, based on psychoanalyst Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development Early childhood (ages 3-6 years) During early childhood, children exhibiting stress, confusion, or anger could be early indicators of mood disorders such as anxiety or depression, ADHD, or neurodivergence. "Symptoms often start in early childhood, although some disorders may develop during the teenage years," Daigle said, adding that serious changes in children's behavior can cause distress and problems getting through the day. Changes might include frequent or intense temper tantrums, fear or worry, being in constant motion, struggling to sit quietly, repeating certain actions out of fear that not doing so will cause a bad outcome (for instance, checking that a door is locked many times), or experiencing frequent physical pain or discomfort with no reasonable cause. It is also important to note that what are considered warning signs will likely vary from culture to culture or even region to region. For instance, in some communities, crying loudly and often may be more acceptable; in others, it could be considered alarming, and thus indicate greater cause for concern about a child. "Many children occasionally experience fears and worries or display disruptive behaviors," Daigle said. "Early self-regulationhow we process thoughts into feelings and actionshelps us understand how children are developing." Middle childhood (ages 7-11 years) During middle childhood, many of the same concerns from early childhood still apply, but with added considerations for the more complicated psychosocial developments among this age group. For instance, many gender-nonconforming children are around age 7 when they start to recognize that their gender identity is different than what they were assigned at birth. These children may experience anxiety at the realization that they are different from their peers. Among all children, the onset of early puberty can also exacerbate or introduce issues rooted in depression, confusion, or the capacity to regulate intense emotions. "Youth with poor mental health may struggle with school and grades, decision making, and their health," Daigle said. "Look for signs of disruption and changes in sleep, activity, friendships, and behavior." Additional signs could include discussing suicide or death, losing interest in socializing with friends, an inability to concentrate, feeling irritable, overly anxious, or excessively angry, and frequent nightmares. Adolescence (ages 12-18 years) It is no secret that adolescence is an emotionally and socially turbulent time. Many of the warning signs exhibited by a teenager struggling with their mental health can be less obvious and easier to conflate with the challenges that emerge during this time of transition and change. According to Daigle, the same indicators from middle childhood also apply to adolescents, who may start exhibiting more behaviors that indicate that they are struggling. "Mental health problems in youth often go hand-in-hand with other health and behavioral risks like increased risk of drug use, experiencing violence, and higher risk of sexual behaviors that can lead to HIV, STDs, and unintended pregnancy," Daigle said. "Fortunately, the same prevention strategies that promote mental healthlike helping students feel connected to school [or] familyhelp prevent a range of negative experiences, like drug use and violence." Daigle emphasized the importance of fostering relationships for adolescents, whether with family, friends, or members of the larger community. These bonds are critical in establishing a sense of connectedness, which can act as a crucial deterrent for negative mental health outcomes. "Youth need to know someone cares about them," Daigle said. These indicators are universally applicable; every child, family, community, and culture is different. Additionally, these flags should not be taken as direct medical advice but rather help caretakers and parents identify whether they should seek professional assessment. "Just like with physical illness, treating mental health problems early may help to prevent a more serious illness from developing in the future," Daigle said. "Talk to your child's health care professional if you have concerns about the way your child behaves at home, in school, or with friends. Continue to have open and honest discussions with your child, offering encouragement and support." Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Sofia Jarrin. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Counseling Schools and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. As the Israel-Hamas war continues, efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization are ongoing, and Israeli forces have launched an assault in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Latest Developments Jul 16, 2:54 PM IDF says it carried out 37,000 airstrikes on Gaza since October The Israel Defense Forces has carried out 37,000 airstrikes on Gaza and targetted more than 25,000 terrorist infrastructures and launch sites since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, the IDF said Tuesday. The IDF also acknowledged carrying out strikes on hospitals, schools and humanitarian shelters throughout the Gaza Strip, claiming to target "terrorists who are located and based in sensitive sites," the IDF said in a statement. Jul 16, 2:03 PM Dozens killed in Israeli strikes on UNRWA facility, safe zone At least 23 people were killed and 73 others were injured after Israel struck a UNRWA school in a designated safe zone where displaced people are sheltering. Five UNRWA schools have been hit in the last 10 days, according to the UNRWA. "UN facilities must be protected at all times. They must never be used for military or fighting purposes. No one is safe in Gaza, wherever they are. The people of #Gaza are children, women & men who have the right to live," the UNRWA said Tuesday. In another strike on a safe zone in Mawasi Khan Yunis, at least 17 people were killed and 26 others were injured. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that it struck the school, alleging it struck terrorists who were operating in a UNRWA school. -ABC News' Will Gretsky Jul 16, 11:52 AM Israel strikes Nuseirat refugee camp for second day in a row Israel has carried out a strike on Nuseirat refugee camp, where internally displaced Palestinians have been told to shelter, for the second day in a row, according to Gaza Civil Defense. PHOTO: Palestinians react following an Israeli strike on a UN school sheltering displaced people, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip July 16, 2024. (Ramadan Abed/Reuters) This is the sixth school -- a designated safe zone -- to be targeted by Israeli Defense Forces' airstrikes in one week. Jul 13, 4:36 PM 'No absolute certainty' Hamas commander was killed deadly attack, Netanyahu says Israel has not confirmed whether Saturday's strike that killed 90 Palestinians killed two Hamas officials, including military chief Mohammed Deif, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a press conference. "There is still no absolute certainty that the two have been eliminated, but I want to assure you that one way or another we will reach the entire top of Hamas," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu said he was briefed about the type of weapons that would be used and the expected "collateral damage," as well as confirming Israel did not believe any hostages were held in the area, before giving the go ahead for the strike. "Why should we risk something leaking out? Suppose something leaked, Deif and his deputy would go underground in a second. We update our American friends when necessary," Netanyahu said. Asked about not telling the U.S. about the strike beforehand, Netanyahu said it was to avoid an information leak. -ABC News' Anna Burd Jul 13, 4:14 PM UN Human Rights Office condemns IDF's strikes in Gaza humanitarian zones The United Nations Human Rights Office has condemned the Israel Defense Forces' use of weapons in populated areas of Gaza, including humanitarian zones, hours after an attack killed 90 Palestinians. "The latest attack and casualty followed right after another massive attack on the north, which lasted for a week, resulting in further destruction and casualties," the UN Human Rights Office said in a statement. The U.N. said the IDF's use of weapons in densely populated areas "despite the overwhelming evidence that these means and methods have led to disproportionate harm to civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure, suggests a pattern of willful violation of the disregard of [International Humanitarian Law] principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution." "The use of such weapons in an area to which IDF is ordering people to evacuate demonstrates a rampant disregard for the safety of civilians. Even if Palestinian armed group members were using the presence of civilians in these areas in an attempt to shield themselves from attack, which would violate IHL, this would not remove IDF's obligations to comply with these fundamental IHL principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution," the U.N. said. Jul 13, 3:14 PM Death toll from Israeli attack on Khan Younis rises to 90 The death toll from Israel's deadly attack on Al Mawasi, west of the southern city of Khan Younis, has now risen to 90 people killed and 300 injured, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Israel had admitted earlier that the strike was in the expanded humanitarian zone. Google is reportedly looking to further strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities and services as it poses to acquire tech startup Wiz for $23 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. People familiar with the matter claimed that Google's parent company Alphabet is currently discussing with Wiz to expand its cloud computing services. Wiz was among the Silicon Valley startups that rose to prominence following the AI boom in 2020 and 2021 as more companies sought better cyber defenses for their prized AI models and data centers. If the deal passes anti-trust regulators, the acquisition will be the biggest purchase Google has made since it acquired Mandiant, another cybersecurity firm, for $5.4 billion in 2022. Google Plays Catch-Up with Microsoft, Amazon in Cybersecurity Capabilities The planned acquisition of Wiz is currently being seen as part of Google's recent efforts to keep up with the competition as Silicon Valley continues to hype up generative AIs. Unlike Google's conservative acquisitions, Microsoft and Amazon have been securing multiple major deals over the past years as both tech giants ramp up AI-integrated services to customers and business operations. Microsoft, in particular, has acquired several cybersecurity start-ups like RiskIQ, Miburo, ReFirm Labs, and Adallom since 2021 for cyber threat analysis and research. Why are Tech Giants Acquiring Many Cybersecurity Firms? Tech giants and much of Silicon Valley have been acquiring or reserving services of cybersecurity startups not only to protect their AI models but also to defend against the surge of cyberattacks in the industry. Major tech companies like Microsoft, Meta, and Google have seen more data breach attempts in the past months as threat actors try to steal vital customer data. It is worth noting that aside from individuals and businesses, many tech giants also offer their services to government agencies globally, posing a national security threat if these services were ever breached. Lola Mendez has found Chiang Mai to be an affordable city for her lifestyle. Lola Mendez Lola Mendez has been traveling full-time for nine years and has visited 90 countries. Chiang Mai kept drawing her back, so after her dad died, she decided to move to Thailand. Now, she pays $355 per month for rent and $35 for therapy sessions. At 25, after bouncing between California and New York, I left the US with no regrets and no plans to return. I traveled around the world, living in cities across Spain, Italy, India, Vietnam, Uruguay, and Mexico and visited 90 countries. Eventually I realized that Chiang Mai, Thailand, was the only place I wanted to live. My first trip to Thailand, in December 2015, came a few months after leaving America. It was also my first time in Asia. I had started following the teachings of Buddha and was eager to visit a country where they were practiced. On my first visit, I spoke with monks, meditated in temples, and visited countless golden statues. I became obsessed with Thai massages and was happily introduced to what became my favorite dish, Khao Soi egg noodles in a coconut curry soup. When my monthlong vacation came to an end, I sobbed. I was determined to return. As a freelance journalist, my job continued to lead me around the world over the next few years, including another three-month stint in Chiang Mai. But when my family needed help at home, I returned to Latin America to be close to my parents. Missing Chiang Mai over the years Over the next five years spent between Uruguay and Mexico I felt an ache in my heart for Chiang Mai. I'd tell everyone who would listen about my experiences in northern Thailand. At the time, my father was sick, and living that far away was not an option. The day he died, a close friend told me to follow my heart and move to Thailand. A year and a half later, when I was invited on a press trip to Bangkok, it felt like the universe was permitting me to move back to Chiang Mai and I took the opportunity. As the plane descended into Thailand, and I spotted the first pagoda, I knew I had made the right choice. Lola Mendez was eager to visit Thailand after she started following the teachings of Buddha. Lola Mendez Chiang Mai is affordable for me as a foreigner Thai legislation also motivated my move back to Chiang Mai. I use cannabis medicinally, and marijuana was legalized in 2022. Thailand is also to become the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, Taiwan being the first in Asia. I'm only comfortable living in places where I don't face legal repercussions for being queer. In Chiang Mai I pay $355 per month for rent, $300 less than what I was paying in Puerto Vallarta and four times cheaper than my New York City rent. I make an effort to rent from locals to ensure my tourist dollars stay in local hands. Motorbike taxis cost less than $2 within a 15-minute radius. I've built a community by attending events that align with my interests including yoga classes, pottery workshops, coworking meetups, and dance lessons. I can buy over six pounds of mangoes, dragon fruit, and mangosteen for less than $5. Thai massages cost between $3 and $30 an hour, and I've found an English-speaking therapist who charges $35 for in-person sessions. Most importantly, I feel welcomed by the Thai people. I plan to keep traveling, but want Chiang Mai to be my base. Hopefully, I'll be one of the first to receive the new five-year digital nomad visa. Got a personal essay about living abroad that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: akarplus@businessinsider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider Donald Trumps selection Monday of Senator J.D. Vance to be his running mate elevates a figure with long-standing financial connections that are sure to play a role in the rest of the 2024 campaign. And if Trump wins in November, Vance will instantly become a key conduit to wide swathes of the business world from powerful corners of Silicon Valley to manufacturers he championed both as a venture capitalist and as a senator. "I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio," Trump posted on social media. "J.D. has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance," the former president added. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) speaks to reporters in the spin room following the CNN Presidential Debate on June 27. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Andrew Harnik via Getty Images) The 39-year-old Vance worked for years as a venture capitalist and has spent more of his career in the business arena than in the political one. It was in this early phase of his career that Vance forged connections that then shaped his political career. The contacts first helped him bring investor dollars to his home state of Ohio. They then helped fund his campaign for the Senate and have already helped Trump fill his own campaign coffers. What Vance has proven able to do again and again is move through a varied array of business worlds while also keeping a public identity rooted in his childhood growing up poor in Ohio as a self-described "hillbilly at heart." "Sometimes I view members of the elite with an almost primal scorn," he wrote in his bestselling memoir, adding what seemed to frustrate him most was these elites were "beating us at our own damned game." Time living in San Francisco After graduating from Yale Law School in 2013, Vance spent time living in San Francisco, where he worked at Mithril Capital. That firm was co-founded by Peter Thiel, the former PayPal CEO who has long been a major giver to Republicans, and Ajay Royan. Vance also spent time in his early career in the Washington, D.C., area, where he worked for former AOL CEO Steve Case's venture capital firm Revolution LLC on a project to expand capital opportunities to towns like Middletown, Ohio where Vance was born. "J.D. Vance has become a leading voice for people across the country who feel left behind, so he is the perfect person to help us expand Rise Of The Rest," said Case in 2017. It was also during this era that Vance, in 2016, published a memoir called "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis," which became a New York Times bestseller and rocketed him to national prominence. J.D. Vance signs his book Hillbilly Elegy for a supporter at a campaign office in 2022. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) (Jeff Swensen via Getty Images) Vance described himself in the book as nobody special who shops at a Washington, D.C., area Walmart and has "a nice job, a happy marriage, a comfortable home, and two lively dogs." The book also described Vances return to live in his home state of Ohio, where he continued to work in venture capital and settled in the Cincinnati area. He launched his own fund in 2020, reportedly with the backing of figures like Thiel, Marc Andreessen, Eric Schmidt, and Scott Dorsey. That Cincinnati-based firm Narya Capital was founded to help redirect big East Coast dollars into investment opportunities in states like Ohio. Vance then entered politics and ran for Senate in 2022, where his technology contacts continued to come in handy. Thiel contributed $5 million to support Vances Senate run in 2022 through a donation to a Vance-aligned group called Protect Ohio Values, according to Federal Election records. Vance won that race and entered the Senate in 2023, where he continues to serve today. Peter Thiel speaks at the Cambridge Union in May in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. (Nordin Catic/Getty Images for the Cambridge Union) (Nordin Catic via Getty Images) Thiel has stayed out of the 2024 election so far, but Vance is also close with billionaire investor David Sacks, who has become a key Trump backer. Vance and Sacks helped orchestrate a recent Silicon Valley fundraiser for Trump. The event was at Sackss home and marked Trumps first visit to San Francisco in years. The foray into the deep blue area raised a reported $12 million for Trump's campaign. "These are some of the leading innovators in AI who are in that room," Vance said during a follow-up appearance on Fox News after the fundraiser. Sacks is also set to speak at the Republican National Convention Monday night. An evolution from Trump critic to insider Vances time in San Francisco also coincided with his time as a fierce critic of Trump, comments that Democrats are sure to raise continuously in the coming months. In a 2016 Atlantic essay, he talked about the drug problems in his home state and argued that Trump wasnt the answer to the problems in Middletown, Ohio. He concluded by calling Trump "cultural heroin." Its just one of a lengthy list of past anti-Trump stances from Vance that have been well documented during his rise in national politics. Vance has long since distanced himself from his stinging commentary and has become one of Trumps most outspoken defenders in the years since. Senator J.D. Vance looks on as former President Donald Trump speaks to the media at his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments. (SPENCER PLATT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (SPENCER PLATT via Getty Images) In recent days, following the assassination attempt on the former president, Vance went further than most and attributed the shooting to President Joe Bidens rhetoric. "That rhetoric led directly to President Trumps attempted assassination," he posted on X. His connections with Silicon Valley have remained active and would surely make Vance a central voice on Big Tech policy and other business world issues in a potential second Trump administration. Vance has often like Trump focused on what he calls Big Tech censorship of conservative voices and made that a theme of his time in Washington. Vance has also been involved in economic issues directly linked to his home state of Ohio since he came (back) to Washington as a senator. In one example, Vance reached across the aisle and worked with Democrat Sherrod Brown on the Railway Safety Act of 2023. Its a bill aimed at preventing future train disasters following a Norfolk Southern (NSC) derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Its part of a focus on Ohio and factory building that have marked his time in the Senate. During another recent Fox News appearance, Vance was asked what "a J.D. Vance economy" would look like. "A lot more manufacturing jobs than we have right now," he responded. "If you look, the economies that really, really thrive, they've got a foundation of strong manufacturing. They're developing their own energy." Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been charged with two misdemeanors in New Mexico following an alleged assault on a drug-testing agent. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) (Chris Graythen via Getty Images) UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been charged with two misdemeanors following a police investigation of an alleged incident between Jones and a drug-testing agent in March. According to mmafighting.com, Jones has been charged with assault, a petty misdemeanor, and interference with communications, a misdemeanor. His virtual bond hearing is set for Wednesday morning in New Mexico. The case began April 5 when Crystal Martinez, a testing agent for Drug Free Sport, filed a report with Albuquerque Police about an interaction she had with Jones on March 30. She and a coworker went to his home around 4 p.m. local time to collect a sample for the UFC's drug-testing program. Martinez told police that Jones was cooperative at first, but that changed after she asked him for his urine sample. When he was unable to provide one, she offered to do a blood test instead to fulfill the testing requirement. Then he allegedly "became agitated" and threatened to sue the testing agency. According to Martinez, that's when Jones allegedly took her cellphone and began recording the interaction. A responding officer viewed the video, but it cut off before he could hear any verbalized threats. Martinez alleged that Jones had put her phone into his pocket and got in her face, yelling, Why you f***ing people come so early, do you know what happens to people who come to my house they end up dead. Martinez told police that she was "terrified" and afraid Jones might hit her. Jones eventually put her phone down and left the room to try to produce another sample, which is when she grabbed it back and texted her boss about the incident. Jones released a response on April 7, claiming that Martinez had fabricated the entire story, and that at no point did he raise his voice or threaten to kill anyone. Martinez has alleged that the coworker with her at Jones' house didn't want to file a police report because he was "afraid of the repercussions." She also alleged that her boss at the testing agency didn't want her to file a police report until she had spoken with UFC representatives, and then called her to talk about the incident but Martinez felt he was trying to talk her out of filing a report. Jones, who has not fought since March 2023, has not released a statement regarding the charges. Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, speaks to reporters after the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump on 27 June 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images The far-right Florida Republican Matt Gaetz has hailed Aileen Cannon the judge who dismissed the classified documents case against Donald Trump as a future supreme court justice. Related: Florida judge dismisses criminal classified documents case against Trump Future supreme court justice Cannon, Gaetz posted Monday to social media, with a picture of the Florida jurist. In four years as president, Trump nominated three hardline rightwingers to the supreme court. Tilted 6-3 to the right, the court has delighted conservatives and enraged liberals by handing down epochal rulings against abortion, restricting gun control, granting presidential immunity and more. Trump nominated Cannon to the federal bench in November 2020, at the end of his time in power. Since leaving the White House, he has faced unprecedented legal jeopardy. In civil cases, Trump was fined millions for business fraud and defamation arising from a rape allegation a judge called substantially true. In criminal cases, Trump was convicted in New York on 34 criminal charges related to hush-money payments. He still faces four federal charges and 10 Georgia state charges arising from his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Cannon was randomly assigned to Trumps federal documents case, in which the special counsel Jack Smith brought 40 charges related to improper retention of classified information. The judge was widely criticised for perceived partiality to Trump, as she repeatedly delayed proceedings. Ultimately, on Monday, she threw the case out, ruling Smith improperly appointed. The decision seemed destined for appeal. The case could also potentially be refiled and handed to a different judge. Nonetheless, Trump supporters celebrated. Gaetz tweeted: CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE DISMISSED!!!!!! His decision to call Cannon a future supreme court justice prompted angry responses. Ally Sammarco, an anti-Trump strategist and commentator, asked: Are you admitting to a quid pro quo? Such upset was familiar. A dedicated provocateur who describes himself as a Florida man, built for battle, the 42-year-old Gaetz has been stirring trouble in Congress since 2017. Last year, he made history by leading the first removal of a House speaker by members of his own party. That Republican speaker, Kevin McCarthy, has accused Gaetz of seeking revenge for ongoing investigations of alleged sexual and personal misconduct. On Monday, the Republican national convention began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Gaetz is due to address the event this week. But he is also widely held to be preparing a run for Florida governor and on Monday he was due to appear in his home state, staging a Never Surrender Rally at a Baptist church in Pensacola. According to promotional materials, the event would offer Floridians a chance to show your support and pray for president Donald J Trump, after he survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Donald Trump will reemerge after an attempted assassination as an even greater mythical hero of his MAGA movement with the Republican National Convention opening Monday after an extraordinary two weeks that have transformed the 2024 campaign. More than 24 hours on, the horror of Saturdays shooting is only beginning to distill into a shocking new national trauma. But both the former president and President Joe Biden are gaming out how to navigate the political aftershocks. And there was another stunning development on Monday morning, when a district judge in Florida threw out special counsel Jack Smiths case regarding Trumps handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort. The shock move swept away one of the four criminal cases hanging over the ex-president in a huge victory for his campaign as the convention opens. It cements the notion that, apart from his hush money conviction in New York, he will not face legal accountability before Novembers election. The latest twist in Trumps legal dramas came as the country was still processing the aftermath of Saturdays horrific events. An assassination attempt against a presidential candidate, with all the historical allusions it evokes, raises fears that bloodshed will beget more bloodshed as the toxic politics of the last decade threaten to take an even more ominous turn. A former president was shot, an American citizen killed while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing. We cannot must not go down this road in America, Biden said, calling for calm and for a polarized nation to unite in an address from the Oval Office on Sunday night. The president mourned Corey Comperatore, a firefighter and father, who died at the Trump rally shielding his family and joined the haunting roll of Americans lost to political violence. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, joined calls for restraint, telling CNN: Its a dark time in the history of the country. This is a dangerous time. And weve been suggesting that all elected officials, from the president on down, really try to draw the country together. We need a unified message. We need to turn the temperature down. In his first interview since the attempt on his life, the former president pledged that his RNC keynote address Thursday which had been expected to be an update on his American carnage inaugural address in 2017 would be a lot different. This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together, Trump told Salena Zito of the Washington Examiner. An earth-shaking two weeks since the CNN presidential debate has rescripted a race that had, for all its quirks, been a relatively stable grind between two unpopular candidates, neither of whom the public really wanted. Trump will show up to a convention in front of many followers who already saw him in almost a divine, superhuman light, having escaped a would-be assassins bullet, to claim his third straight GOP nomination. The weekends terrible events will only reinforce his control over his party. And pollsters will be watching to see whether sympathy over what happened swells his already broadening lead in swing states. Biden, meanwhile, spent the last two weeks fighting to save his own nomination, after his debate debacle in Atlanta exposed the 81-year-olds struggles with age and unleashed panic among Democrats that hell hand Trump the White House and the GOP a monopoly on Washington power. The uproar over the Trump assassination attempt may pause the intraparty rebellion against Biden for now, especially as he assumes his role as the leader of a nation in sudden crisis. Only the oldest Americans lived through the political assassinations of the 1960s, and those who remember the attempt to kill President Ronald Reagan in 1981 are now middle-aged. So, millions of people, who have already endured political paroxysms of recent years, are now experiencing the consequent and frightening sense of a nation off its axis for the first time. But despite the shock of the last few days, politics will always fill a vacuum especially after a political tragedy. Indeed, Trumps defiance he was pictured with blood streaking his face and clenching his fist while Secret Service rushed him offstage Saturday was a gesture that is likely to define his career and his life. A lot of people say its the most iconic photo theyve ever seen, Trump told The New York Post on Sunday. Theyre right, and I didnt die. Usually you have to die to have an iconic picture. It is too early to say how voters will respond to the deeply disturbing events at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, or the sitting presidents pledge that hes fit to serve until January 2029 despite his performance at the debate. But the decisions that each man makes in the coming days and the tone they seek to strike will be critical to how the campaign evolves. One thing about the election likely wont change. In a nation that was already deeply divided, the core vote for both Trump and Biden was probably locked in. Tens of thousands of voters in a handful of swing states probably still hold the fate of the White House and the nations future in their hands. Trumps tactical choices The convention, taking place in the home arena of the Milwaukee Bucks in the critical battleground state of Wisconsin, will formally nominate Trump in the fabled roll call of the states. And the GOP is on alert for him to name his vice presidential pick, after a reality show-style process in which hes teased out potential ticket mates, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. The ex-president told supporters on Truth Social on Sunday that hed been planning to delay his trip to Wisconsin by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a shooter, or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else. Trump has conducted his attempt to regain the White House as a campaign of personal and political vengeance amid his claims that his legal cases, including his conviction in a hush money trial in New York and two pending trials over his attempt to thwart the will of voters in 2020, are proof of political persecution. There can be no justification for an assassination attempt on a candidate an assault on democracy. But if the attack on Saturday sprung from a fetid political culture, Trump has been an enthusiastic participant with rhetoric that often seemed to incite violence and that coarsened the public square. This included his racist conspiracy theories about the birthplace of former President Barack Obama and apparent mockery of the injuries suffered by Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi who was attacked with a hammer inside his home. The ex-presidents summoning of protesters to Washington on January 6, 2021, and his call for them to fight like hell preceded the assault on the US Capitol and the beating of police officers by his supporters. Trump faces a choice. He could interpret the assassination attempt as a catalyst for less poisoned rhetoric. This could be a politically astute move at a time when many Americans are feeling frightened. His past conduct, however, would mean many voters would struggle to believe him. The alternative course would be to fit the assassination attempt into his claims of personal persecution by an amorphous left that is seeking to crush his political ambitions, end his freedom through the courts and even take his life. (The motivation of the lone gunman who took aim at Trump is so far unclear as the investigations continues.) If Trump reacts to the assault on his life by vowing vengeance, the current political crisis and moment of national upheaval could worsen considerably. Many Republican politicians issued calls for calm and an easing of political rhetoric after the shooting as did Democrats. But some GOP lawmakers also seemed to be using their comments to try to shut down criticism of a former president who sought to overturn the 2020 election and who has vowed to seek retribution in a second term. Vance, for instance, wrote on X that the central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. He added: that rhetoric led directly to President Trumps attempted assassination. The choice of Vance for Trumps running mate would therefore send an unmistakable message. And Johnson accompanied his calls for calm by implying that Democrats in advancing their arguments against Trump had somehow abetted the assassination attempt. Its objective truth that Donald Trump is probably the most persecuted and attacked political figure in history, certainly among presidents, maybe at least since Abraham Lincoln, Civil War era, the Louisiana Republican told CNNs Anderson Cooper. That takes a toll, When my colleagues go out and say, Democracy will end, the republic will be in an emergency stage if Donald Trump wins for president, its just not true. He added: When they say that kind of rhetoric and they heat it up like that, there are people out there that take these things to heart and act upon them. Bidens new political challenge and opening Biden now faces one of the most intricate tests of presidential dexterity for years. He is embracing his duty to protect political discourse even that of an opponent and has called for an investigation of apparent Secret Service failings in the attack. At the same time, hes trying to revive his own political fortunes by looking presidential, while still taking on Trump. Bidens flexing of the symbolic power of the office and the spotlight on the Republican National Convention this week may serve to blunt attention on Democratic anxieties about his prospects, although all it would take to revive public concerns would be more alarmingly shaky public performances. His Oval Office address, while moving, was marked by several of the verbal flubs that Trump has mercilessly mocked and that after the debate disaster have turned every public event into an excruciating examination of his capacity. Biden now faces the difficult decision about when to return to the offensive against Trump one that may be conditioned by the tone his rival adopts. But he subtly signaled during his Oval Office address that he will not water down his warnings that his predecessor and possible successor represents a threat to democratic freedoms that define the soul of America. He did so by citing several events in which Trump, his supporters or far-right groups were involved mentioning members of Congress of both parties being targeted and shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January 6, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi or intimidation on election officials, or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor (Michigan Democrat Gretchen Whitmer) or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump. There is no place in America for this kind of violence, for any violence ever, Biden said. His sentiments are shared by many. But bitter experience suggests he may not be the last president to say so. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Americas affinity with horses dates back to the days of the pioneers. Whether for transportation, industry, agriculture, battle, sport, therapy or just for the pleasure of ownership, horses have played a significant role in American culture. Thats why, each year on July 15th, were encouraged to pay homage to the horse on National I Love Horses Day. Though the origins of this special day are uncertain, the occasion is dedicated to honoring the bond between humans and horses. So, whether you're an experienced equestrian, a horse owner, or just a horse lover, youre invited to show your appreciation for these magnificent animals by visiting a ranch or stable, volunteering at a horse rescue center, posting horse-related content on social media, or simply spending time with your horse, if you have one. Horses hold a special place in Americas past, present, and future, and today is their day to be celebrated. Watch the video at the top to see a pony provide miracle therapy for an elderly woman Humankind is your go-to spot for good news! Click here to submit your uplifting, cute, or inspiring video moments for us to feature. Also, click here to subscribe to our newsletter, bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: National I Love Horses Day: A day to pay homage to horses It's the best way to get those electrolytes in at 30,000 feet. Food & Wine / Getty Images Going through airport security can be a stressful experience. Do you take your shoes off? Keep them on? Take that laptop out? What about your jewelry? Does a smartwatch count as an electronic device? And don't even get us started on the liquid requirements. While those questions can vary from airport to airport, there is one question we can at least definitively answer for you. Coconuts, it turns out, are a totally OK thing to bring through airport security. As Dr. Paul Saldino, a board-certificated physician nutrition specialist, recently explained in a video posted to X (formally Twitter), he loves to take a full coconut yes, totally intact with him through airport security. Related: How to Crack Open a Coconut Like a Pro "In case you guys didn't know about this amazing hack, you can bring coconuts on airplanes," he said. "I don't like to drink water in airports; you can't get water through security, but you can bring coconut water on the airplane in a coconut. Coconut water is a great source of magnesium, manganese, all kinds of good stuff." He finished the clip by revealing he had about 10 coconuts in his bag to keep him hydrated throughout his flight. But hang on, is this actually true? We reached out to the TSA to confirm, and yes, it's indeed a really fun true fact. "Coconuts and other solid food items are permitted in checked and carry-on bags," a spokesperson for the TSA shared. The only caveat here is that, as the TSA's website added, "Passengers flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland cannot take most fresh fruits and vegetables due to the risk of spreading invasive plant pests." So, if you are hoping to fly with a coconut, TSA suggested adding a little extra time for airport security just in case additional screening is required. Oh, and if you're wondering how he plans to drink these coconuts, Saladino offered this tip: "For those who are curious, on top of coconuts are 3 'eyes,' one is soft. I also bring a metal straw (TSA allowed), which can be used to drink the water from the coconut through the soft eye." However, for the record, the TSA also allows passengers to bring corkscrews without a blade on planes, which may just make enjoying your coconut a little easier. And maybe bring an extra coconut to share with your seatmate, just in case. For more Food & Wine news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Food & Wine. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose famous father and uncle were both felled by assassins, will receive Secret Service protection in the wake of Saturday's shooting of former President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Monday. "We are in a heightened and very dynamic threat," said Mayorkas at White House briefing Monday, two days after Trump was shot in an assassination attempt. "In light of this weekend's events, the President has directed me to work with the Secret Service to provide protection to Robert Kennedy Jr, both prior to and after the events of this past weekend," he said. "The Secret Service enhanced former President Trump's protection based on the evolving nature of threats to the former president and his imminent shift from presumptive nominee to nominee." Earlier on Monday, Trump called for Kennedy, running a distant third in national polls, to be protected by the Secret Service. Kennedy is a son of New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 while running for president, and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. He had asked for protection and received multiple denials. Mayorkas said both President Joe Biden and Trump have been subjected to death threats both before and after the shocking attempt on Trump's life on Saturday. He said he'd had been directed to work with the Secret Service to provide protection to Kennedy as well. On Saturday, a 20-year-old gunman opened fire on a campaign rally, injuring Trump's right ear and killing a spectator. Trump was rushed off stage with blood dripping on his face after gunshots rang out at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The sniper, identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was killed by Secret Service agents. Sec. Mayorkas calls questioning of DHS employee, Israel-Hamas war by senator 'despicable' President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris received an updated briefing in the White House Situation Room from homeland security and law enforcement officials earlier in the day. Among the officials were Attorney General Merrick Garland, Mayorkas and and FBI Director Christopher Wray. Corey Comperatore a Sarver, Pennsylvania, firefighter who had two daughters and was an avid Trump supporter, was killed in the shooting. Two other men were injured in the shooting a 57-year-old New Kensington, Pennsylvania, resident and a 74-year-old resident of Moon Township. They were in stable condition on Sunday, according to an update from Pennsylvania State Police. Secret Service agents help former President Donald Trump after he was injured amid gunfire at his reelection campaign rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. President Joe Biden on Sunday called on Americans to "lower the temperature in our politics" in an address from the Oval Office, a day after an assassination attempt against Trump at his Pennsylvania campaign rally. "Disagreement is inevitable in American democracy. It's part of human nature," Biden said, telling Americans that politics cannot be a "battlefield" or "God forbid, a killing field." "We resolve our difference at the ballot box," President Biden said during his Sunday address. "The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people not in the hands of a would-be assassin." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr. to receive Secret Service protection, Mayorkas says (Photo : Unsplash/History in HD) The once highly regarded Security Service is now facing backlash on how it handled a life-and-death situation after Donald Trump was assassinated on Saturday, calling for the resignation of Director Kimberly Cheatle. The shocking incident occurred two days before Trump was set to formally become the party's nominee before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The Biden-Appointed Security Service Chief Cheatle, 53, worked for the Secret Service for 28 years and was involved in the protective detail for then-Vice President Dick Cheney before leaving to become the head of global security at PepsiCo. Cheatle returned to the agency in 2022 when President Biden appointed her to the top position, expressing confidence that she was the best choice to lead the agency during a critical time for the Secret Service. The Shocking Assassination of Donal Trump The incident occurred about seven minutes into the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, with thousands of Trump supporters in attendance. The shooting, which had been broadcast live on news channels, showed the 78-year-old ducking down while surrounded by Secret Service agents, who quickly rushed the podium as the shots rang out. The Republican candidate was then escorted off the stage while he raised a fist to the crowd in defiance. Trump, who is now "doing well," described being shot with a bullet that ripped the upper part of his right ear. He knew something was wrong when he heard a whizzing sound and felt the bullet tearing through his skin, leading to significant bleeding. A bystander was killed in the shooting, and two others, all identified as males, were critically injured, according to a Secret Service spokesperson. READ ALSO: Trump-Biden Showdown 2024: Trump Leaning Into Falsehoods, Biden's 'Raspy' Condition Draws Most Attention Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, a registered Republican according to his voter records, was reportedly armed with an AR-style rifle as he fired from a building a few hundred meters away from the venue. According to agency spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, Crooks had been shot dead at the scene by a Secret Service sniper. Special Agent Kevin Rojek noted that investigators only used DNA to identify the suspect, who did not have an ID, and also said that the motive for the assassination attempt remains unclear. The Secret Service's Scrutiny Over DEI According to critics, Cheatle failed to implement adequate security measures at Saturday's Trump rally for being too focused on "woke'' Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, aiming to have 30% female recruits by 2030. According to CBS News, Cheatle even allowed YouTube influencer Michelle Khare to train with agents as part of this initiative. According to Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker, the women appeared disorganized during the incident, with one struggling to holster her weapon and another seemingly unsure of her actions. DEI is important, but competence and effectiveness are essential, which was lacking in the situation. The Secret Service's primary responsibility is to prevent such incidents and quickly move the president to safety. Still, Trump's agents took over two minutes to get him off the podium, which Swecker criticized, especially if there had been a secondary shooter. The agents even allowed Trump to retrieve his shoes and make a fist pump before escorting him off the stage. Compared to the Reagan shooting, agents quickly moved him to safety without such delays, with the protective line typically formed by taller agents. In Trump's case, the Secret Service agent in front of him was too short. The Secret Service has traditionally used taller agents who can better block the president and absorb potential threats. There was a total security breakdown from start to finish. From the security plan for the rally to the response when the shots were fired, Swecker told The New York Post. According to Representative James Comer's post on X, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability has formally called the Director of the Secret Service to testify before the US House of Representatives on July 22, along with the FBI, the Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security. BREAKING@RepJamesComer has invited U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify at a hearing on Monday, July 22. Americans demand answers about the assassination attempt of President Trump. pic.twitter.com/zKia2oIxCf Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) July 14, 2024 RELATED ARTICLE: "Trump or Biden?" Mark Cuban Letting ChatGPT Decide Based on a Debate Transcript Goes Viral 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Editor's note: This page reflects the news from the 2024 Republican National Convention on Monday, July 15. Follow the latest news on Donald Trump, JD Vance and the RNC in our live updates for Tuesday, July 16. MILWAUKEE Former President Donald Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, were formally selected on Monday as the GOP's 2024 presidential and vice presidential nominees. Trump announced that he was tapping Vance as his running mate in the afternoon, ending months of speculation with a pick that seeks to capitalize on the 39-year-old Ohio senator's youth and celebrity status among conservatives and who skyrocketed to fame as the author of Hillbilly Elegy. While Republicans celebrated as they formally nominated Trump and Vance, the moment came just days after an assassination attempt against the former president. One man was killed in the attack at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania over the weekend, and two were seriously injured. A slate of Republican speakers on the convention stage Monday night called on Americans across the country to unite in the wake of the shooting. GOP lawmakers and other officials also made their conservative pitch to voters and criticized President Joe Biden over the issues facing the nation, with a particular focus on his handling of the economy. Catch up with live updates from the USA TODAY Network. Teamsters President: 'We are not beholden to anyone or any party' Sean OBrien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, on Monday evening said it was an honor to be the first-ever president in the unions history to address a Republican National Convention. Today, the Teamsters are here to say we are not beholden to anyone or any party, OBrien said. I dont care about getting criticized, its an honor to be the first Teamster in our 121-year history to address the Republican National Convention. Teamsters, Americas largest, most diverse union, represents workers in both the public and private sector, including public defenders, vegetable workers, construction workers and health care workers. The Teamsters union has yet to throw their support for any presidential candidate in 2024. In the last election, they backed President Biden, and in 2016, they supported Hillary Clinton. Teamsters President: 'We are not beholden to anyone or any party' Rebecca Morin Trump leaves conventions first day without speaking After making his first public appearance since his assassination attempt, Trump left Fiserv Forum without speaking on the first day of the convention. Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley declared the convention in recess until tomorrow afternoon. Additional streets were closed downtown between Fiserv Forum and the Pfister as Donald Trumps motorcade was expected. Tristan Hernandez, Mary Spicuzza Donald Trump called Doug Burgum Mr. Secretary, governor told CNN North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who was on the shortlist to be a Donald Trump's running mate, told CNNs Kaitlan Collins Monday that Trump addressed him in a phone call as Mr. Secretary, suggesting he could have a future role in a second Trump administration. Theres going to be no Cabinet positions that Trump can get out unless he wins. And this is going to be a tight race for sure this fall, he said. Sudiksha Kochi Sean Hannity asks JD Vance about calling Donald Trump Americas Hitler The GOPs freshly-nominated vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance once referred to Trump as America's Hitler in a 2016 message to a friend. Monday, hours after officially becoming Trumps running mate, he told Fox News' Sean Hannity his opinion changed during the former president's tenure in the White House. I don't hide from that, Vance said. I was certainly skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016, but President Trump was a great president, and he changed my mind. I think he changed the minds of a lot of Americans. Savannah Kuchar Former President Donald Trump appears during the first day of the Republican National Convention. The RNC kicked off the first day of the convention with the roll call vote of the states. Amber Rose talks about embracing Donald Trump Amber Rose, the former reality star, rapper and model, said she used to be critical of Donald Trump, but she changed her mind after talking about the former president's tenure with her father. Rose also spoke about being a mother, and she said she believes American families were better served by the former president. She joked that a vote for Trump this fall was a "vote to make America great again." Marina Pitofsky Trump makes first public appearance since assassination attempt The former president made his first public appearance since Saturday's shooting cameras in the convention hall filmed him walking down a hall toward a seating area to watch the proceedings. He had a large bandage on his ear after he was injured in the assassination attempt. Trump waved as the crowd roared and the cover band played a version of "So Caught Up in You." David Jackson Former President Donald Trump is seen backstage during the first day of the Republican National Convention. The RNC kicked off the first day of the convention with the roll call vote of the states. Charlie Kirk courts young voters Charlie Kirk, founder of conservative organization Turning Point USA, called on young Republican voters as he criticized the Biden administration for high housing prices. You see, young people are idealists. They respond to vision. For the past four years, they've seen the vision of the Biden Harris regime. That vision is you'll own nothing and be happy, he saidin his remarks. Donald Trump refuses to accept this fake pathetic, mutilated version of the American dream, he later added. When he was president, young people were richer than ever before and he will do it again. Numerous polls have shown that Biden has lost some steam with young voters over issues such as the economy and his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. To all the Gen Zers watching this convention on TikTok right now, I have a message just for you. You don't have to stay poor, Kirk said. You don't have to accept being worse off than your parents did. You don't have to feel aimless and unhappy. You don't have to support leaders who lied to you and took advantage of you for your votes. Sudiksha Kochi Biden jabs Vance during interview Joe Biden took a jab at Donald Trump running mate J.D. Vance for his past criticisms of the former president during a Monday interview with NBC News' Lester Holt. Biden did not seemed phased by Vance's selection. Vance has adopted the "same policies" as the Republican nominee, he said. Restrictions on abortion, extensive tax cuts, skepticism of man-man climate change, "He's signed on to the Trump agenda," Biden added. "Which he should if he's running with Trump." Francesca Chambers Trump appears at the convention - by video The former president made his first convention appearance by video, urging delegates to make sure they get people out to vote by mail if necessary. Trump has criticized mail-in ballots in the past, but they are now a key part of the GOP's get-out-the-vote plan. Trump also urged Republicans to "protect the vote" by watching out for alleged voter fraud in 2024. "Keep your eyes open," Trump said on the video. The president has long falsely alleged that voter fraud impacted the 2020 race for the White House. David Jackson Byron Donalds addresses education, backs Donald Trump's education plans Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., opened his convention speech by thanking his mother, who he said saw his educational potential and fought for him to go to private school. My mother took me out of public school because she could see that public education was failing me, he said. I needed to be challenged, and I needed the opportunity that only a private school could provide (Democrats_ wanted to trap me in a failing school, but my mom fought for me. Mom, I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you. Donalds argued that if Trump is elected in November, parent would get further choice over what their children are taught in schools. If there was ever a time in our nation to come together, that time is now with Trump, he said. Sudiksha Kochi Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. gestures on stage during the first day of the Republican National Convention. The RNC kicked off the first day of the convention with the roll call vote of the states. Kristi Noem says Republicans 'have to get to work' South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem told Republicans during her convention speech that Republicans "have to get to work" if they're going to notch victories this fall. "Now is the time to unite," Noem said. "And we have to get to work. We have to win the hearts and minds of every single American, wake them up with truth and with wisdom. We need to listen to them. You can't win people over by arguing with them." The governor urged Republicans to talk with their loved ones and people in their community ahead of this fall's election. Marina Pitofsky Glenn Youngkin: Joe must go Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin opened his speech by telling his fellow Republicans that Joe must go. He touted Trumps handling of the economy, the energy industry and military. I'm proud to be a homegrown Virginian from a family, like a lot of families, with ups and downs and highs and lows, he said. My mom was a nurse and she was my hero. She bought our family together after my dad lost his job. At 15 washing dishes and flipping eggs. I learned that there is dignity in work. Virginia has been a state in play for this years elections, especially as Youngkin, a businessman, defeated his Democratic opponent Terry McAuliffe in the 2021 gubernatorial race marking the first time a Republican has won the states governors office since 2009. I believe this year, Virginia will elect another Republican (outsider) businessman as President of the United States, he said. Hillary Clinton had won Virginia in 2016 and President Joe Biden won the state in 2020. Sudiksha Kochi 'If you didnt believe in miracles before Saturday, you better be believing right now' Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina told convention-goers Monday, If you didnt believe in miracles before Saturday, you better be believing right now, in a convention address heavy on references to the Republicans Christian faith. Our God still saves. He still delivers, Scott said, referencing the devastating shooting at Donald Trump's Saturday rally. Because on Saturday, the devil came to Pennsylvania holding a rifle. But an American lion got back up on his feet, and he roared. Scott ran his own campaign for president before dropping out in November and was then rumored to be on the list of Trumps potential vice presidential picks. Joe Biden is asleep at the wheel, and were headed over a cliff, the senator said Monday. ...America we deserve better. Savannah Kuchar Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. speaks during the first day of the Republican National Convention. The RNC kicked off the first day of the convention with the roll call vote of the states. Katie Britt reaches out to parents in convention remarks Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., in her address at the convention appealed to parents and families as she slammed the economy under the Biden administration. To my fellow moms and dads across America, I think we all know that raising a family is hard - add in smartphones and social media, and we already have plenty to worry about, she said. But then Joe Biden and Kamala Harris came around. Now our lives are that much more difficult. It was the first high-profile moment for Britt since her rebuttal to Biden's State of the Union address earlier this year. Britt faced scrutiny and jokes after in March after the address, but Trump praised her after the speech, saying she was a "GREAT contrast to an Angry, and obviously very Disturbed President. In her convention speech, she told Americans across the country We will defeat decline, dust off our dreams and forge our future because families across our nation deserve better once again. Sudiksha Kochi Rep. Wesley Hunt slams Biden administration over economy Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, criticized Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their handling of the economy and inflation rates as he addressed a crowd of convention attendees, alleging that they have no empathy or remorse as the American people suffer from their failed leadership. Ladies and gentlemen, that is why we must win in November," the GOP lawmaker said. He added that we owe it to future generations to embrace this pivotal moment. I risked my life in combat to preserve this nation, he said, a reference to his military service. Now, there's another man who was putting it all on the line to save our nation. His name is President Donald Trump. Sudiksha Kochi North Carolina Republican Mark Robinson touts Trump economy Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (NC) speaks during the first day of the Republican National Convention. The RNC kicked off the first day of the convention with the roll call vote of the states. Mark Robinson, North Carolinas lieutenant governor and the states Republican gubernatorial nominee, criticized Joe Biden's handling of the economy, pointing to inflation hitting Americans' wallets. But there is hope, the controversial Tar Heel State candidate said, addressing his own financial and employment struggles in his address. And Im proof. My wife and I never gave up. We kept our faith. Robinson has appeared with Trump on the campaign trail previously, each Republican nominee having endorsed the other. The brave heart of our time President Trump had our economy roaring. Robinson said Monday, before exiting under a Make America wealthy once again backdrop. Under President Trump the American dream was alive and well, he continued. Under President Trump there was hope. And we need that now more than ever. Savannah Kuchar Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. speaks during the first day of the Republican National Convention. The RNC kicked off the first day of the convention with the roll call vote of the states. Marjorie Taylor Greene at RNC: 'The American spirit is alive and well' Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene led the first evening of speakers at this years GOP convention. The firebrand conservative called the day a celebration, hours after Trump became the official Republican presidential nominee. The American spirit is alive and well, Greene said. Unfortunately, she continued, this is also a somber moment for our nation. Two days ago, evil came for the man we admire and love so much. I thank God that His hand was on President Trump. Greene also acknowledged Corey Comperatore, who died while attending Trumps rally in Pennsylvania Saturday. We will honor Coreys memory by building the country he wanted, Greene said, adding, For far too long the establishment in Washington has sold us out. They promised unity and delivered division. Savannah Kuchar Chairman of RNC calls for unity in convention remarks Michael Whatley, chair of the Republican National Committee, called for unity in both the GOP and as a nation in his remarks to convention attendees following the attempted assassination against Trump over the weekend. We must unite as a party and we must unite as a nation. We must show the same strength and resilience as President Trump and lead this nation to a greater future, he said. He added that the election is not just about the next four years, but its about future generations of Americans to come. Sudiksha Kochi Harris reached out to Vance Vice President Kamala Harris reached out to J.D. Vance and left him a message to congratulate him after Trump officially selected the Ohio senator as his running mate, according to the Biden-Harris campaign. The campaign added that Harris hoped she'll see Vance during a vice presidential debate, though some details are still in the works for the traditional event. David Jackson and Marina Pitofsky Delegates return to convention floor Delegates at the Republican convention and other GOP officials have returned to the convention floor for the evening's proceedings and speeches. Marina Pitofsky Who is the band playing at the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee? The band playing at the RNC is in the spotlight on Monday during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. And when the teleprompter experienced a malfunction, the band got to show off more of its set. But that was OK for many since people were loving the country music band, Sixwire. Here's what to know about the band at the RNC. Read more here: Who is the band playing at the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee? Christopher Kuhagen J.D. Vance once compared Trump to Hitler. Now they are running mates Eight years ago, in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, J.D. Vance was a bitter critic of Donald Trump. Publicly, he called the Republican presidential candidate an "idiot" and said he was "reprehensible." Privately, he compared him to Adolf Hitler. But by the time the former president tapped Vance to be his running mate on Monday, the Ohio native had become one of Trump's most ardent defenders, standing by his side even when other high-profile Republicans declined to do so. Reuters RNC schedule tonight The lineup of speakers Monday night includes politicians, businesspeople and celebrities. In keeping with Mondays theme focused on the economy, speakers also include Americans who are struggling to buy homes or pay for groceries. Among the speakers tonight are: Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, with the invocation RNC Chair Michael Whatley Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who was seen as under consideration to be Trump's vice president Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem Venture capitalist David Sacks Charlie Kirk, CEO and co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who chairs the RNCs platform committee Amber Rose, a former reality TV star and Trump supporter who had a past relationship with rapper Kanye West Sean OBrien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Sarah Volpenhein How many days is the RNC convention? The Republican convention will continue through Thursday, when Donald Trump is expected to formally accept the Republican nomination. Marina Pitofsky Biden calls Vance a clone of Trump on the issues President Joe Biden called Donald Trumps newly picked vice presidential running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, a Trump clone in his first remarks on the former presidents selection. A clone of Trump on the issues, Biden, when asked about Vance, told reporters Monday afternoon before boarding Air Force One en route to Las Vegas. So I dont see any difference in them. Joey Garrison Who is Usha Vance? Usha Vance, the wife of J. D. Vance is a litigator for a law firm based in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Usha Vance grew up in San Diego and met Vance when they both attended Yale Law School. She was a registered Democrat as of 2014, according to the New York Times. Usha Vance has previously clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Times reported. The couple have three young children: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel. Sudiksha Kochi and Haley BeMiller Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, and his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, left, attend the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024. 'We have to be thinking for the future' Nino Kapitula, 35, a delegate from Washington State said she trusts former President Donald Trump made the right choice in choosing JD Vance. "I'm sure that he has his reasons to pick him and I trust him completely," she said. She said Vance is a sign Trump wants his vision to persist in the party once he is gone. "I like the fact that [Vance] is younger, because we have to be thinking for the future and ahead," she said. Sarah Wire Delegates formally nominate JD Vance for vice president Vance arrived to Fiserv Forum Monday afternoon to Merle Haggards America First, which played as he gave hugs, shook hands and signed autographs with delegates. Ohio is the heart of it all, and that is certainly the case once again here today, Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said as he gave the speech formally nominating Vance for vice president. The vice presidency is an office of sacred trust. The man who accepts this nomination accepts with it the awesome responsibility to give wise counsel to the president, the represent America abroad, to preside over the senate, and to be ready to lead our nation at a moments notice. Ohio U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno made the motion to nominate Vance by acclimation, calling Vance a selfless and brilliant fighter for America first ideals. The motion was adopted to cheers and chants of JD! JD! that rang out through the convention hall. Brianne Pfannenstiel JD Vance enters convention floor J.D. Vance entered the Republican convention floor on Monday alongside his wife, Usha Vance, and received a warm welcome complete with applause, handshakes and hugs. Merle Haggard's "America First" played as Vance greeted delegates and others on the convention floor. Marina Pitofsky Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Trump in Milwaukee, campaign confirms Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Trump in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this morning, his campaign confirmed to USA TODAY. Mr. Kennedy met with President Trump today to discuss national unity, and he hopes to meet with leaders of the Democratic Party as well. And no he is not dropping out of the race. He is the only pro-environment, pro-choice, anti-war candidate who beats Donald Trump in head-to-head polls, said Kennedy Campaign Press Secretary Stefanie Spear in a statement. Sudiksha Kochi JD Vance would be second Catholic VP in history if elected If elected, Vance would be the second Catholic vice president in U.S. history, following President Joe Bidens tenure in the position during Barack Obamas presidency, the National Catholic Register reported. Vance was at one point a Trump critic. In a 2016 column he penned for USA TODAY, he differentiated the religiosity of Trumps voters and those of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, saying the former candidates voters had largely abandoned the faith of their forefathers and myriad social benefits that come with it. BrieAnna Frank Doug Burgum says JD Vances 'small town roots' make him strong voice as running mate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said on X, formerly Twitter, that Vances small town roots and service to country make him a powerful voice for the America First Agenda. Burgum, who ran against the former president in the Republican primaries and later dropped out of the race, was one of the candidates on Trumps vice presidential shortlist. Sudiksha Kochi Vance's stance on abortion Where does J.D. Vance stand on abortion rights and enacting a nation abortion ban vs. allowing states to set their own restrictions? Shortly after Ohio voters enshrined the right to abortion in its constitution in 2023, Vance told reporters, "We cant give in to the idea that the federal Congress has no role in this matter because if it doesnt, then the pro-life movement is basically not going to exist, I think, for the next couple of years." But earlier in July, he called Trump a "pragmatic leader" for his stance that abortion rights should be a topic left up to the states. During his 2022 Senate campaign, Vance has said a national abortion minimum was "totally fine" with him. Karissa Waddick Glenn Youngkin applauds J.D. Vance for new role Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on X, formerly Twitter, congratulated Vance for being chosen as running mate for Trump. His passion for America's prosperity, service as a U.S. Marine, and commitment to our commonsense conservative values are what we need for a stronger America, he wrote. Sudiksha Kochi Biden campaign slams JD Vance as an enabler of Trumps extreme MAGA agenda President Joe Bidens reelection campaign immediately slammed Donald Trumps selection of Sen. J.D. Vance as his vice presidential running-mate, calling the Ohio senator an enabler of Trumps extreme MAGA agenda. Donald Trump picked J.D. Vance as his running mate because Vance will do what Mike Pence wouldnt on January 6: bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it means breaking the law and no matter the harm to the American people, Biden campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon said a statement. She said Vance will make it his mission to enact policies outlined in Project 2025, the legislative roadmap of the Trump-aligned Heritage Foundation. OMalley Dillon also pointed to Vances opposition to abortion access and the Affordable Care Act and his past comments that he wouldnt have certified the 2020 election results. Over the next three and a half months, we will spend every single day making the case between the two starkly contrasting visions Americans will choose between at the ballot box this November, OMalley Dillon said. Joey Garrison 'He's going to learn from Trump' Al Couillard, 65, of Florida said Vance will bring youth to the ticket. "He's gonna make a great 48th president. He's going to learn from Trump for four years and be president," he said. Couillard said Vance has a lot to learn and there's no better place than by Trump's side. "He's in a perfect position to learn it all under Trump and his administration" he said. "That's better than MIT or Harvard or Yale." Sarah Wire Mitch McConnell gets booed during convention Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was booed by convention attendees as he cast Kentuckys votes for Trump. After he finished casting his votes, he smiled and held up a thumbs up as the boos continued. Though McConnell endorsed Trump, their relationship remains icy as McConnell had condemned the Jan. 6 attack and the two have butted heads frequently. Trump and McConnell met for the first time face to face in June after not speaking to each other since December 2020. --Sudiksha Kochi Trump officially clinches GOP nomination It's official: Donald Trump is the Republican nominee .... In the least surprisingly development of the week, the Republican convention has formally nominated Trump for another term as president. Up soon: A vote to nominate J.D. Vance for vice president. Eric Trump delivered the delegates that formally put Trump over the top. On behalf of our entire family and on behalf of the 125 delegates in the unbelievable state of Florida, we hereby nominate every single one of them for the greatest president thats ever lived, and thats Donald J. Trump, hereby declaring him the Republican nominee for president of the united states of America, he said. David Jackson and Brianne Pfannenstiel Influential think tank president backs Vance Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts was speaking with reporters at a nearby venue when the news about Sen. JD Vance came out. A grin broke across his face; he is close with the senator.He understands the moment were in in this country, which is that we have a limited amount of time to implement great policy on behalf of forgotten Americans, someone JD Vance personifies, Roberts said. At Heritage, we could not be happier. The Heritage Foundation is the right-wing think tank that created the controversial "Project 2025" blueprint for a potential Trump second term. -Riley Beggin Trump Jr. calls Vance an incredible pick Donald Trump Jr., told CNN on the floor of the convention he believes Vance will be an incredible running mate for his father. I see him on TV. I see him prosecute the case against the Democrats. I think no ones more articulate than that, Trump Jr., said. And I think his story, his background really helps us in a lot of the places that youre going to need from the electoral college standpoint. Vance is a graduate of Yale law school. His memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," a narrative of his blue-collar roots in Ohio, powered his rise to fame. The former presidents eldest son, who was reportedly advocating for the Ohio senator, said he learned of the official decision as it was made public Monday afternoon. -- Savannah Kuchar Residency issue doomed Rubios VP bid The fact that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and former President Donald Trump live in the same state ultimately doomed his chance of being the GOP vice presidential pick this year. The U.S. Constitution doesnt prevent both members of a partys ticket from living in the same state, but the delegates from that state can only vote for one of them. Rubios team had multiple conversation with Trumps campaign over the last 10 days about the residency issue, wanting to make sure that there wouldnt be any legal complications if the Florida senator was selected as the GOP vice presidential nominee, according to a source familiar with the discussions. Ultimately, they werent 100% certain there wouldnt be a problem. Its not clear if Rubio would have been the pick if he lived elsewhere, but his residency ultimately was a deal breaker. It creates a big complication that the Trump campaign wasnt able to get past, one that Trump commented on publicly. Trump told Fox News Radio last week that he and Rubio living in the state does make it more complicated. You do that and it makes it more complicated, there are people that dont have that complication, Trump said. -Zac Anderson Trump chooses Vance Trumps decision ends months of speculation over who would join the presumptive Republican presidential nominees ticket as he seeks his political comeback in a November rematch with President Joe Biden. "After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio," Trump shared in a post on Truth Social on Monday. Vance was once a fierce critic of Trump, at times comparing him to an opioid and saying he could be Americas Hitler. But Vance changed his tune ahead of the 2022 Senate race, deleted controversial tweets and secured Trumps support in Ohios nasty GOP primary. -Haley BeMiller The VP pick is in The first time we will see the VP nominee in-person will be 4:37pm ET/3:37pm CT, at the beginning of the VP nomination process. A source confirmed that two finalists - Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum - have been told they were not selected. Tune in! David Jackson Rubio says he's not going to be VP Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has been told he will not be Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's running mate, sources told Reuters on Monday. Read the full story here. Michael Whatley, RNC Chair, gavels in the convention during the first day of the Republican National Convention. The RNC kicked off the first day of the convention with the roll call vote of the states. How to watch the RNC The RNC is not open to the public, but you can stream its events on YouTube, X, Facebook Live, Rumble, Amazon Prime, Twitch and Direct TV. USA TODAY will also broadcast the convention beginning at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT. Viewers can watch the live stream here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/WUV7qDi82uk?si=cPJqDliOCEGDftif Elizabeth Beyer When does the RNC start? The RNC is slated to officially begin at 12:35 p.m. Central. The first convention session that will run until 4:45 p.m. A second official session will follow at 5:45 p.m. and will last until 10 p.m. -Elizabeth Beyer Trump seeks dismissal of all his cases, may not get it Flush with a big legal victory - dismissal of his criminal case for retaining classified documents after leaving office - Donald Trump is also seeking dismissal of two other pending cases, in part because of the assassination attempt. "As we move forward in Uniting our Nation after the horrific events on Saturday, this dismissal of the Lawless Indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts," Trump said in a Truth Social post. The government is likely to appeal a federal judge's dismissal of the case in which Trump was accused of mishandling classified documents. There are no plans to dismiss pending cases in Washington, D.C., and in Georgia that charge Trump with a conspiracy to steal the 2020 election. Trump has already been convicted in the New York hush money case, and is awaiting sentencing. In his Truth Social post, Trump claimed that all of the cases against him are politically motivated. He said: "Let us come together to END all Weaponization of our Justice System, and Make America Great Again!" -David Jackson Trump likely to announce running mate today We will likely get a Trump running mate today. Sources said the schedule calls for a vice presidential nomination shortly after 3:30 p.m., local time; Trump may make an announcement before then. Fox News anchor Bret Baier said Trump told him he would announce his selection today. Stay tuned. -David Jackson What will security at the RNC look like? The U.S. Secret Service has reviewed and strengthened security measures for the RNC in light of Saturdays assassination attempt, its director Kimberly Cheatle said on Monday. Cheatle said the agency continuously adapt its operations during the RNC to ensure the highest level of safety and security for convention attendees, volunteers and the City of Milwaukee. Since the incident on Saturday, she said the Secret Service has also implemented changes to Trumps detail to ensure his protection through the end of the campaign. Rebecca Morin and Karissa Waddick Trump classified documents case is dismissed - for now Republicans open their convention Monday after some extraordinary legal news: A dismissal of the classified documents case against Trump, a decision that will likely be appealed. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutional. The government will almost certainly appeal the decision - though Trump could have the entire case dismissed if he regains the presidency. -David Jackson Trump expected to announce VP pick on Monday Donald Trump has yet to announce his vice presidential running mate, and he could do so as soon as Monday. The former president teased his plans to name his VP last week in an interview saying that hed love to do it during the convention or just slightly before the convention, like Monday. Trumps VP short list includes GOP Sens. J.D. Vance from Ohio, Marco Rubio from Florida and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. -Karissa Waddick When does Donald Trump speak at the Republican National Convention? The presidential nominee traditionally speaks on the last night of the convention, and the vice presidential nominee speaks on the second-to-last night. Trump may make an appearance and even speak on opening night, on Monday.- Holly Rosenkrantz Trump says he will tone down acceptance speech after shooting Having survived an assassination attempt, Trump and his aides are telling people he will go for a softer tone in his nomination acceptance speech on Thursday night. "Had this not happened, we had a speech that was pretty well set that was extremely tough," Trump told the Washington Examiner. Now, we have a speech that is more unifying. Before Saturday's shooting, Trump said, I basically had a speech that was an unbelievable rip-roarer. It was brutal really good, really tough." But he threw out that version, Trump told the Examiner: "I think it would be very bad if I got up and started going wild about how horrible everybody is and how corrupt and crooked, even if its true." David Jackson Who is speaking at the Republican National convention? A list of speakers were released on Saturday afternoon that in illustrated the way Donald Trump has completely remade the GOP as the Trump Make America Great Again MAGA party. On the list of speakers: Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump Jr., Amber Rose, the University Of North Carolina's frat brothers who held up an American flag during a Gaza protest, UFC's Dana White were all on the list.Old guard GOP politicos like Mitt Romney, George W. Bush. John Thune, were not.Of course, new speakers may be added as the convention is reshaped in light of the weekend assassination attempt. For example, Nikki Haley, on the outs with team Trump after the brutal GOP primary, is now speaking. -- David Jackson and Holly Rosenkrantz When is the 2024 RNC? How to watch The RNC is scheduled to run from July 15-18. Trump is expected to be officially nominated by the party for president at the convention and announce his vice president. He is currently scheduled to address delegates on Thursday evening, the last day of the convention. The four-day Republican convention begins just days after shots were fired in Trump's direction at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing a rally attendee and wounding two others. The gunman, identified as Thomas Crooks, 20, was killed by Secret Service agents moments later. -- Gabe Hauri This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RNC replay: Donald Trump makes first appearance since shooting MILWAUKEE, July 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has been told he will not be Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's running mate, four sources told Reuters on Monday. Advisers to Trump, whose party is expected to formally announce his vice presidential pick later in the day, had viewed Rubio's residency in Florida as a drawback. The U.S. Constitution bans the electors who formally select the president and vice president from voting for both from their home state - and both Trump and Rubio call Florida home. While Rubio could likely have overcome that hurdle by moving out of state, some advisers were wary media coverage of such a move would be a distraction for the campaign. Among the top remaining contenders for the vice presidential nomination are Ohio U.S. Senator J.D. Vance and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, several sources have told Reuters in recent days. Still, some close to Trump had not ruled a dark horse contender as of midday Monday. RNC 2024 live updates: Rubio, Burgum have been told they won't be Trump's VP pick Rubio's boosters said that as a Latino he could potentially expand Trump's base. The former president is most popular among White Americans, though he has made significant progress among Hispanic Americans in recent years. The Trump campaign and a representative for Rubio did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Nathan Layne, Alexandra Ulmer and Steve Holland; writing Susan Heavey; editing by Rami Ayyub and Ross Colvin) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sen. Marco Rubio told he will not be Donald Trump's running mate Donald Trump raises his fist as he is led away by the Secret Service after being hit on the ear by one of the shots fired by Thomas Crooks - Jeff Swensen/Getty Images The US Secret Service is facing fresh criticism after footage emerged showing onlookers warning police that Donald Trumps would-be assassin was preparing an attack in plain sight two minutes before he fired. Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security secretary, has admitted there were failings in security at Saturdays open air rally for Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. A direct line of sight like that to the former president should not occur, she told ABC News. Trumps ear was grazed in the shooting, two bystanders were wounded and a father was killed after 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire with an AR-15 rifle while the former president addressed his supporters from the stage. Secret Service snipers killed Crooks, but the agency, which is responsible for protecting current and former US leaders, is facing intense scrutiny after the attempted assassination. Congress is investigating the response by the Secret Service, FBI and Department of Homeland Security with both Republican and Democrat lawmakers raising concerns. Kimberly Cheatle, the US Secret Service director, said on Monday the agency would participate fully in an independent review ordered by Joe Biden and that it would work with Congress on any oversight action. She is set to testify before a committee of the US House of Representatives on July 22. Pressure on her continued to build on Monday after smartphone footage appeared to show police had time to stop Crooks before he began shooting. FBI investigators examine the roof from which Thomas Crooks fired his shots - Jeff Swensen/Getty Images Several people pointed at Crooks on the roof of a building about 130ft from where Trump was speaking before he began firing. Crooks is clearly visible in the video and can be seen dropping to his front and lying down before rolling on the roof and crawling forward on his hands and knees. As Crooks rolls, a male voice shouts officer. Two women start shouting hes on the roof and pointing. Based on the footage, it is estimated that law enforcement had two minutes to stop Crooks from the moment he was spotted. It has now emerged that the roof of the building where the shooter was located was identified as a vulnerability by the Secret Service days before the event. The building, located outside the security perimeter, is owned by a glass research company and is next to the Butler Farm Show venue, where the rally was held. Police snipers taking up position on a roof near the rally venue on Saturday - Gene J Puskar/AP Photo The Secret Service confirmed it relied on local police to secure the outer perimeter, which it maintained was standard practice for such events. It blamed local police for the failure to secure the roof or post someone on the building. A spokesman told CNN its agents did not sweep the building, but relied on local law enforcement to secure the location. A source said one of two local counter-sniper teams were supposed to cover the building, which was marked out in the security plan for the event. The use of local officers, who may not have the same elite training as the Secret Service, was questioned by lawmakers amid concerns over a lack of resources for the agency. Secret Service agents push Trump to the ground after the shots were fired - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images A local policeman did spot the shooter before the attack but failed to stop him after Crooks aimed his rifle at the officer, forcing him to back down a ladder. Michael T Slupe, the Butler County sheriff, said the officer was gripping the edge of the roof and could not reach his gun when Crooks aimed at him. He lets go because he doesnt want to get killed, he told reporters. Some local officers have hit back at the Secret Service. George Bivens, a Pennsylvania State Police lieutenant colonel, said: Secret Service always has the lead on securing something like this. Richard Goldinger, the district attorney for Butler County, said Secret Service agents were in overall charge of security outside the venue. The Secret Service ran the show. They were the ones who designated who did what, he said. To me, the whole thing is under the jurisdiction of the Secret Service. Ms Cheatle served as an agent in the force for 27 years. She served in Mr Bidens personal security detail when he was vice-president before she joined Pepsi as its head of security. She returned to the Secret Service to be appointed the agencys second-ever female chief by Mr Biden in 2022. A Republican Congressman blamed her support for a diversity drive for security failures, which have led to calls for her resignation. Tim Burchett singled out the Secret Services adoption of DEI an acronym for diversity, equity and inclusion for blame after the shooting. Somebody really dropped the ball. Youve got a DEI person, a DEI initiative person who heads up our secret service, the representative for Tennessee told Fox News. This is what happens when you dont put the best players in. The Secret Service has a goal of increasing the number of women in the male-dominated agency to 30 per cent by 2030, but critics claim female agents are not as effective as their male counterparts. Right-wing commentators have zeroed in on footage of a female agents apparent struggles to holster her weapon after the shooting. Others claimed that the female agents in the presidential candidates security detail were too short to properly shield Trump, who is 6ft 3in tall, after the attack. Ms Cheatle has moved to beef up security for the Republican National Convention, which began on Monday and where Trump is expected to speak. Security officials previously announced that people just outside the Secret Service perimeter would be allowed to carry guns openly or concealed as permitted by state law in Wisconsin. Ms Cheatle has defended the Secret Service and said was proud of those involved in a memo to staff, the New York Times reported. In the coming days, the Secret Service will face praise and criticism, she wrote. Do not get distracted by those who were not there and yet still pass judgment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The value of former President Donald Trumps social media company spiked Monday after he was injured in an attempted assassination over the weekend. Trump Media & Technology Groups share price surged more than 30% Monday morning, putting it on track for what would be the biggest single-day gain since the company debuted in late March. During premarket trading, Trump Media shares skyrocketed by 70% at one point before the gains eased during regular trading. The spike is sharply lifting the value of Trumps dominant stake in the owner of Truth Social. At current prices, Trumps 114.75 million shares in Trump Media are worth nearly $5 billion. Thats up from $3.5 billion on Friday, the day before Trump was shot at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trading under the ticker symbol DJT, Trump Media has achieved a massive valuation despite making little revenue and Truth Social remaining a tiny player in social media. Experts have said Trump Media is a meme stock: trading on momentum and hype, not fundamentals. For months, Trump Media has been a way for investors to bet on Trump returning to the White House, making Truth Social the primary platform for presidential communications. Matthew Tuttle, CEO of Tuttle Capital Management, told CNN on Monday that traders are already speculating that Trumps chances of winning in November have gone up significantly in the past few days. You are seeing the Trump trade on steroids here. DJT is the go-to, Tuttle said. The rally comes as Trump prepares to formally accept the Republican nomination for president at the convention in Milwaukee this week. Trump Media recently announced it has been added to the Russell 1000 Index of large-cap stocks and the Russell 3000 Index. As a result, countless retail investors now own a piece of Trump Media through mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com After surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump will be at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week to accept his third consecutive GOP presidential nomination. A gathering already marked by one kind of uncertainty, with Trumps vice presidential pick still a mystery, will now take place under the shadow of one of the most shocking acts of political violence in modern American history. Its unclear what effect the bloodshed will have on what had been expected to be a week of pomp and prime-time speeches designed to make the GOPs best case for Trump and a Republican majority on Capitol Hill. Trump, though, has already promised the show will go on at the Fiserv Forum and Wisconsin Center District, Milwaukees convention center campus and that he is look(ing) forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin. Here are six things to watch: What will change because of Saturdays shooting? Many of the questions that predated Saturday evenings assassination attempt have largely faded into the background as Trump, President Joe Biden and their respective allies rush to adapt their campaigns to the new landscape. Its not yet clear how this contest has been altered, but what begins on Monday with the delegate roll call and concludes Thursday night with the former presidents nomination acceptance speech, clearly marks the start of something new and fraught. Honestly, its going to be a whole different speech now, Trump told the Washington Examiner of his convention speech following the assassination attempt. This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together. The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it wouldve been two days ago, he said. Trumps return to the stage, which could come earlier in the week, and his rhetoric at the podium will set the tone both for the final months of the presidential campaign and the near-term future of American politics. The former president has, so far, been restrained in his response to the attempt on his life. Other members of his party have not, with some immediately suggesting without evidence that the alleged gunman was driven to act by heated campaign rhetoric. Trumps campaign leadership has also said, in a Sunday memo, that it will not tolerate violent rhetoric. How the presumptive GOP nominee decides to translate his feelings could spark an already crackling tinderbox or, if he seeks to turn down the temperature, further add to the conundrum for his rivals, who are unsure of how and when to resume their campaign against Trump. For now, though, the ball is very much in the former presidents court. What the hosts are saying Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming told reporters on Sunday that, as of now, there are no major changes on tap for the convention or its schedule. If they were to make any changes, there would be a reason for it, but we dont see any reason for it right now, Schimming said. Trumps vice presidential pick is still slated to speak on Wednesday, followed by Trump on Thursday. The slate of speakers is unchanged. Schimming said he spoke to RNC Chairman Michael Whatley earlier in the day and everything for the convention is going on as planned. We have dozens and dozens of speakers that will be speaking not only to the folks here, but to people across the nation and across the world about what Donald Trumps gonna bring to this country, Schimming continued. We want to make America great again, and the way to do it is to have a unified convention here in Milwaukee. VP: Whos it gonna be? The decision has been made, Trump recently said, in my mind. But for just about everyone else, it remains a mystery. CNN previously reported that the Trump campaign viewed Monday, July 15, as its deadline for naming a running mate. That is, of course, the first day of the convention. The potential for a made-for-TV unveiling is there and its likely down to three people: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. The timeline, though, could be thrown off by the shocking attempt on Trumps life this weekend in Pennsylvania. The former president, before the Butler County rally, was using the announcement as a tool for drawing out small-dollar donors and media attention. Both are now keenly attuned, no matter whom Trump picks for the ticket, possibly changing his calculus. The Trump campaign previously said its top criteria in selecting a vice president is a strong leader who will make a great president for eight years after his next four-year term concludes. Does that rule out Burgum, the only senior citizen in the trio of favorites? Rubio and Vance are younger, but the job description might be different today than it was yesterday. One piece of evidence the pick was, at the very least, nearing? According to copies of the invitations, the Trump team has scheduled two large donor events during RNC week in Milwaukee featuring his as-yet-unknown running mate. Will MAGA make a case to the moderates? The better question here might be: Do Trump and his MAGA crew want to win over fence-sitting Republicans who, as an example, voted for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the GOP primaries? They want the votes, of course, but whats less clear is whether the former president and current GOP leadership are willing tone down their message in an effort to bring in moderate, suburban voters. To that end, Haley has indeed been invited to speak. How the party, more broadly, addresses hot-button issues like abortion is more of a question mark. Former Vice President Mike Pence, a social conservative, has already expressed concern over too soft a stance. Democrats will, for all the other issues at play, be hoping for some fire and brimstone from conservatives like North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson. A handful of 2024 rivals-turned-supporters are scheduled to speak. Among them: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose campaign fizzled after a second-place showing in Iowa. Other 2024 contenders, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Burgum, who have aligned themselves closely with Trump and are on the list of potential vice presidential picks, are also likely to be on hand. Presidential conventions are generally geared toward reaching via television the broadest possible spectrum of potential voters. Trump, though, is more inclined to tweak his political rivals than offer them an olive branch. For almost 10 years now, since he entered the presidential arena in 2015, political strategists and pundits have been asking if Trump first as a candidate, then as president, and now, again, as a candidate might saw off the roughest edges of his persona in a bid to attract swing voters. Hes done so, on occasion, for brief periods of time. Thats been his tone since the assassination attempt. Which path hell choose for this convention and whether he and his allies can maintain it for a full week is harder to predict. Family reunion The family is very much back in focus. Back in 2016, Trumps children all spoke to the convention and were, in large part, viewed as bright-eyed validators for his candidacy. Four years later, they mostly took a more aggressive tone. This time around is more difficult to peg. Their words will take on greater meaning, too, as Republicans look to Trumps innermost circle for guidance about how to react to the shooting in Pennsylvania. The public view of Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Boulos (nee Trump) has changed over the past eight years. Trumps eldest sons have emerged as vocal supporters of his right-wing politics. His daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is now the co-chair of the Republican National Committee. Though Ivanka, who worked in Trumps White House, and Tiffany have been quieter, both are expected to be in Milwaukee. As will former first lady Melania Trump, though it is unclear whether she will speak. She released a lengthy statement following the Pennsylvania rally asking Americans to ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence. The former first lady has maintained a low profile throughout her husbands latest campaign, having attended just two public appearances since Trump launched his third presidential bid the kickoff of his campaign in November 2022 at their Mar-a-Lago home and a brief appearance in March when she accompanied Trump to vote in the Florida presidential primary. More recently, she announced that their son, 18-year-old Barron Trump, will not be a delegate to the convention despite his being voted into the role in Florida. The Project 2025 tap dance Trump has publicly distanced himself from Project 2025, a far-reaching, 900-page conservative blueprint for the next Republican president to purge and remake the federal government and implement new restrictions. However, that blueprint has become the focal point of Democratic attacks on what a second Trump term could look like and for good reason: CNNs Steve Contorno found that at least 140 people who worked in the Trump administration had a hand in Project 2025, including more than half of the people listed as authors, editors and contributors to Mandate for Leadership, the projects extensive manifesto for overhauling the executive branch. Whether Trump and his allies address Project 2025 or its most politically incendiary proposals, which are certain to feature in Democratic advertisements this fall, could offer a preview of much of the rest of the campaign. Trump has attracted a devoted following from his partys most conservative members and handed them a victory theyd sought for decades when the Supreme Courts conservative majority, with three Trump-appointed justices, overturned Roe v. Wades national abortion protections. But he has sought to distance himself from those figures and put their policy beliefs at arms length as he approaches a general election in which hell need to win over moderate suburban voters with little appetite for conservative culture wars. Another example: The panel charged with crafting and producing a platform for the Republican National Committee adopted a scaled-back document that softened language on abortion and same-sex marriage. That document will be taken up at this weeks convention. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Bankir and his men have been trying to fight off Russian attacks along the Ukrainian front lines for more than two years. But its only now that they are finally able to strike where it hurts: Inside Russias own territory. The newly granted permission by the United States and other allies to use Western weapons to strike inside Russia has had a huge impact, Bankir said. We have destroyed targets inside Russia, which allowed for several successful counteroffensives. The Russian military can no longer feel impunity and security, the senior officer in Ukraines Security Service (SBU) told CNN. For security reasons, he asked to be identified by his call sign only. After many months on the back foot because of ammunition and manpower shortages, Kyiv is finally able to take full advantage of Western military aid that started to flow into the country last month, after months of delays. Soldiers on the front lines say the deliveries are beginning to make a difference especially since they can now use the arsenal to strike across the border at certain military targets supporting Russias offensive in Ukraine. We can see the impact of the aid every day. Artillery, longer-range multiple launch rocket systems with various types of ammunition and submunitions its affecting the overall battlefield picture, Ivan, an officer with the 148th artillery brigade, told CNN. He also asked for his full name not to be published for security reasons. We are deploying the most effective weapons systems in the areas where the Russians are trying to break through the defensive lines and there has been a significant slowdown in the Russian advance, he added. While Kyiv hasnt managed to reclaim large swathes of territory, it has successfully averted what could have been a disaster: The occupation of Kharkiv, Ukraines second city. Ukrainian servicemen of the 148th Separate Artillery Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, prepare to fire a M777 howitzer near a front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 1, 2024. - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters Tragic moment Part of the northern Kharkiv region, including the cities of Izium, Kupiansk, and Balakliia, fell into Russian hands soon after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The occupation was brutal. When the area was liberated in the fall of 2022, Ukrainian troops found evidence of what they say were war crimes committed by Russian forces, including multiple mass graves and torture chambers. In May this year, Russia launched another cross-border attack on the region, trying to exploit Ukraines ammunition shortages before the expected arrival of the first Western weapons. The consequences were deadly. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that at least 174 civilians were killed and 690 were injured in Ukraine in May, the highest number of civilian casualties in a year. More than half of the civilian casualties were in Kharkiv even though the region encompasses a relatively small area compared to the whole country. International security expert Oleksiy Melnyk, a former Ukrainian defense official and the co-director of foreign relations and international security programs at the Razumkov Center in Kyiv, told CNN that the re-occupation of previously liberated areas north of Kharkiv was a tragic moment for Ukraine. But it also marked a major turning point. It triggered a change in the position of our Western partners, it encouraged them to, at least partially, remove the restrictions on the use of the Western weapons, he said. Fearing an escalation, the US and other Western allies had long prohibited Kyiv from using their weapons to strike inside Russia, restricting their use to Ukrainian areas under Russian occupation. That has allowed Russia to use the border areas as safe staging grounds for offensives and missile attacks. (Russia) knew that Ukraine did not have the capacity to strike these targets on the Russian territory, Melnyk said. If the decision (to provide aid) wasnt made, if we lost American support and military assistance, that would have been a game changer. But the possibility of Russian re-occupation of parts of Kharkiv region convinced some of Ukraines key allies, including the US, to lift the restrictions. This allowed Kyiv to hit and destroy or severely damage key targets inside Russia. According to Ukrainian defense authorities, these included a regiment command post in Belgorod region, an ammunition depot in Voronezh, a drone facility and an airfield in Krasnodar, communication centers in Bryansk and several naval sites in occupied Crimea. The arrival of long-range ATACMS missile systems was a particular game-changer, Melnyk said. While Ukraine was previously able to strike targets inside Russia using Ukraine-made drones, ATACMS make these strikes far more efficient. Speed matters, Melnyk explained. With drone strikes, Russians have hours to react, because they can detect Ukrainian drones early. Russian pilots can have a coffee and a cigarette before jumping into the cockpit and taking off to take it down. With the ATACMS, its a matter of minutes, he said. Konrad Muzyka, an independent defense analyst and the director of Rochan Consulting who has recently returned from eastern Ukraine, said Russia is also no longer able to target Kharkiv region with S-300 and S-400 missile systems. Ukraine started conducting HIMARS strikes on targets in the Belgorod region and forced the Russians to push their S-300 system with which they were striking Kharkiv much further away, so now Kharkiv is beyond their range of Russian S-300 systems, he said. While Russia switched to aerial glide bombs guided munitions with pop-up wings dropped by fighter jets from a distance of some 60-70 kilometers out of range of Ukraines air defenses, the elimination of the S-300 threat has provided at least some relief to Kharkiv. People gather following the collapse of a section of a multi-story apartment block in the city of Belgorod, Russia, on May 12, 2024. - Reuters Weapons without men, men without strategy? But while the new weapons are making some difference, Ukraine is long way off being able to push Russian forces off its territory. Another officer with the 148th separate artillery brigade who goes by call sign Senator told CNN that there is still a lot more that Ukraine needs. It isnt enough to turn the tide at the front. Enough to hold the enemy back, yes, but not enough to change the situation dramatically, he said. The enemy is now exhausted but not destroyed, he said, pointing to the fact that Russia still has complete air superiority over Ukraine. Kyiv is now pinning its hopes on the deliveries of F-16 fighter jets which should start soon the first Ukrainian pilots were set to complete their training in the US this summer. But Muzyka said it is far from certain the jets will bring a massive change to Ukraines fortunes. The F-16s are combat aircraft from 1980s and 1990s and their capabilities are worse than the most modern Russian combat aircraft, he said, adding that the newest Russian jets would likely prevail in an air battle with the F-16. However, Ukraine can still use the F-16 to deny Russia control over the skies and push away Russian aircraft delivering bombs. Yet the new weapons are just part of the puzzle. If it had not been for the supplemental package, Ukrainians would be in a much worse situation right now, but at the same time, the current situation is not only the result of a lack of actions by the US Congress, its also the result of the decisions that were made and were not made in Kyiv, especially when it comes to mobilization, Muzyka said. The decision to introduce a wider mobilization was probably as important, if not more important, and it came too late, he said. The new mobilization law, which requires all men between 18 and 60 to register with Ukraines military, came into effect in May. He said that while Ukraine has managed to recruit a significant number of men over the past month and half, it will take time for these new soldiers to be trained up and ready for the front lines. Ukrainians are going to be in a very difficult position until August, September, when the first mobilized guys start to enter the front line. If they can get to that point, then there is a big likelihood that they will manage to stabilize the situation from August onwards, but until this happens, more Russian gains are highly likely. Muzyka said that with the new weapons arriving and battalions and brigades getting a boost soon from the new recruits, Ukraine will need to decide on its next steps. It is unclear what the plans are. What is the strategy for counteroffensives? The problem is that Ukraine is waiting to see what equipment the West can supply them with, and the West is waiting to see what plans Ukraine have for the future, he said. Time is of the essence here. Experts estimate that the $60 billion US aid package approved earlier this year will last for at best a year or 18 months. Ukraines allies made fresh pledges on arms this week while at a NATO summit in Washington, DC, President Volodymyr Zelensky called for all restrictions on their usage to be lifted. Given the possibility of former US President Donald Trump winning a second term in November he has little time to spare. Maria Kostenko and Daria Tarasova-Markina contributed reporting. This story has been updated. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com This beloved summer fruit isnt a fan of cold storage. Heres how to store it so it stays fresh and sweet. nevarpp / Getty Images Whether youre dealing with a classic grocery store globe eggplant or a farmers market jewel like fairy tale eggplant, these fruits (yes, fruits!) are a little fickle when it comes to storage. Eggplants do not like cold storage, says Vera Fabian, farmer and co-owner of Ten Mothers Farm in Cedar Grove, North Carolina. Thats because low temperatures damage their cellular structure, which can cause them to become bitter and lose their freshness. Heres how to keep those eggplants fresh for as long as possible so you can enjoy them in Eggplant Parmesan, Ratatouille, Baba Ganoush, or just simply roasted for the perfect summer side. Related: 20 Eggplant Recipes to Put in Rotation, From Parm to Dip How to buy eggplant Eggplants come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. But no matter what, you want the skin to be really shiny and lustrous, and you want the fruit to be firm to the touch, says Fabian. If it has lost its luster or if it starts to feel a little bit soft, that means that it is not fresh anymore and its going to not taste as good. Also avoid pockmarks, which Fabian says are a sign of cold damage. This is especially important to keep in mind if youre buying your eggplant at the grocery store, since it was likely shipped refrigerated. "You want the skin to be really shiny and lustrous, and you want the fruit to be firm to the touch. Vera Fabian, farmer and co-owner of Ten Mothers Farm in Cedar Grove, North Carolina" How and where to store eggplant Eggplants prefer cool, not cold temperatures. On the farm, that means a tomato cooler set between 55 and 60 degrees, says Fabian. They keep perfectly in there for 10 days, she adds. A wine cooler will also work since it usually is set at a similar temperature. If you arent blessed with a wine cooler, you can store eggplant on an unsunny spot of your countertop, uncovered, for up to a few days, or even in your pantry or cellar anywhere in your house that is cool, not cold. If youre storing eggplant for longer than a few days, Fabian suggests wrapping the eggplant in a paper bag or paper towel to absorb moisture and provide insulation so it stays warmer. Then place it in an open (dont close it!) plastic bag or produce bag in a warmer part of your fridge, like the upper shelves. Related: How to Keep Tomatoes Fresh for Up to a Week, According to a Farmer If the eggplant does develop pockmarks or lose its luster, Fabian stresses that its still good to use you just might want to take extra steps when preparing it, such as peeling and salting it to draw out any bitter flavors. Most importantly, you want to cook your eggplant as soon as possible. If youre not using eggplant for a specific recipe, you can roast the eggplant in halves or chunks at 425 degrees F with a little oil and salt for 20 to 25 minutes. Itll keep in the fridge for up to a week. Use the roasted eggplant for a Roasted Eggplant Caponata or a Roasted Eggplant Moussaka with Lamb. How to freeze eggplant Fabian suggests first roasting the eggplant (see method above), then letting it cool to preserve it at its best. Spread it onto a sheet pan, freeze, then toss into a ziplock bag. Once thawed, frozen eggplant works well in room temperature salads or pulsed into dips. Frequently Asked Questions Is eggplant a fruit? Yes! In fact, eggplants are classified as berries since they grow on a single flower. Eggplants are also part of the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes and potatoes. When is eggplant in season? You can find eggplants at farmers markets in the U.S. from July through October, but peak season is generally August. For more Food & Wine news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Food & Wine. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Spade-toothed whales are the worlds rarest, with no live sightings ever recorded. No one knows how many there are, what they eat, or even where they live in the vast expanse of the southern Pacific Ocean. However, scientists in New Zealand may have finally caught a break. The country's conservation agency said Monday a creature that washed up on a South Island beach this month is believed to be a spade-toothed whale. The five-meter-long creature, a type of beaked whale, was identified after it washed ashore on an Otago beach from its color patterns and the shape of its skull, beak and teeth. We know very little, practically nothing about the creatures, Hannah Hendriks, marine technical adviser for the Department of Conservation, said. This is going to lead to some amazing science and world-first information. If the cetacean is confirmed to be the elusive spade-toothed whale, it would be the first specimen found in a state that would permit scientists to dissect it, allowing them to map the relationship of the whale to the few others of the species found, learn what it eats and perhaps lead to clues about where they live. Only six other spade-toothed whales have ever been pinpointed, and those found intact on New Zealands North Island beaches were buried before DNA testing could verify their identification, Hendriks said, thwarting any chance to study them. This time, the beached whale was quickly transported to cold storage and researchers will work with local Maori iwi (tribes) to plan how it will be examined, the conservation agency said. New Zealands Indigenous people consider whales a taonga a sacred treasure of cultural significance. In April, Pacific Indigenous leaders signed a treaty recognizing whales as legal persons, although such a declaration is not reflected in the laws of participating nations. Nothing is currently known about the whales habitat. The creatures deep-dive for food and likely surface so rarely that it has been impossible to narrow their location further than the southern Pacific Ocean, home to some of the worlds deepest ocean trenches, Hendriks said. Its very hard to do research on marine mammals if you dont see them at sea, she said. Its a bit of a needle in a haystack. You dont know where to look. The conservation agency said the genetic testing to confirm the whale's identification could take months. It took many years and a mammoth amount of effort by researchers and local people to identify the incredibly cryptic mammals, Kirsten Young, a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter who has studied spade-toothed whales, said in emailed remarks. The fresh discovery makes me wonder how many are out in the deep ocean and how do they live? Young said. The first spade-toothed whale bones were found in 1872 on New Zealands Pitt Island. Another discovery was made at an offshore island in the 1950s, and the bones of a third were found on Chiles Robinson Crusoe Island in 1986. DNA sequencing in 2002 proved that all three specimens were of the same species and that it was one distinct from other beaked whales. Researchers studying the mammal couldnt confirm if the species went extinct. Then in 2010, two whole spade-toothed whales, both dead, washed up on a New Zealand beach. Firstly mistaken for one of New Zealands 13 other more common types of beaked whale, tissue samples taken before they were buried later revealed them as the enigmatic species. New Zealand is a whale-stranding hotspot, with more than 5,000 episodes recorded since 1840, according to the Department of Conservation. (Photo : Unsplash/Caleb Fisher ) US Customs and Border Protection partners with four-legged, sniffing counterparts as it solidifies its fight against illegal trafficking of fentanyl and firearms at the Mexico Border. Border Protection Works with Four-Legged Partners Goose, a Golden Retriever, is one of America's most reliable defenders against fentanyl trafficking at the Mexico border, who uses his nose to detect illicit drugs at San Diego's busy legal border crossing, where nearly 100,000 people enter the US each day. The Golden Retriever is one of 536 US Customs and Border Protection canines trained to detect drugs, firearms, ammunition, money, and hidden passengers at land border crossings, airports, and seaports. Customs officers at CBP's canine academy in Front Royal, Virginia, are paired with dogs that they train to detect marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and fentanyl by filling chew toys with substitute narcotics that smell like an actual drug. According to Donna Sifford, the academy's director, the program typically features German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Dutch Shepherds, and German Shorthaired Pointers, with three other Golden Retrievers in the program aside from Goose. The advanced sense of smell of the dogs will help save lives, says Michael Gould, a founding member of the New York City Police Department's canine unit, acting like biosensors, Reuters reported. READ ALSO: NY Home Depot Deploys Guards, Dogs to Watch for Thieves, Deter Aggressive Migrants Targeting Shoppers Fentanyl Rise in The US Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that US authorities previously approved as an anesthetic in 1968. However, law enforcement and health providers have to make it a priority as approximately 75,000 people died from overdoses in 2023, with the majority of seizures happening at Arizona and California legal border crossings, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Recent data from the US Sentencing Commission also indicates that most convicted fentanyl traffickers have been American citizens. President Joe Biden has long urged Republicans in Congress to increase funding for border security, including efforts to combat fentanyl at legal border crossings. CBP officials indicate that the funding could help expand the use of canines, including a pilot program that has trained six dogs to detect "precursor" chemicals used in the production of fentanyl. These canines work alongside scanners and data analytics to detect fentanyl and other contraband, and having more canines and personnel partnered with them would enable further enhancements in their efforts, Sidney Aki, the CBP field office director who has worked as a canine handler since 1990, told Reuters at the San Ysidro port of entry in late May. President Joe Biden outlined his administration's efforts to combat global criminal networks that have contributed to overdose deaths in the United States, where DHS made more than 2,000 arrests related to fentanyl seizures in the first five months of Fiscal Year 2024. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) also seized over 13,000 pounds of illicit fentanyl with more than 1,500 pill presses during that period, a fact sheet reads. RELATED ARTICLE: New Zealand Observing "Unsustainable" Migration Levels, Implements Additional Criteria for Visa Rules Restriction 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider setting up a Constitution bench to hear pleas challenging the validity of passing laws like the Aadhaar Act as money bills, allegedly to bypass the Rajya Sabha. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh welcomed the move, stating on X, "In the last 10 years many Bills have been bulldozed through Parliament by having them declared 'Money Bills' under Article 110 of the Constitution. A good example of this is the Aadhaar Act of 2016." The passage of bills such as the Aadhaar Act and amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as money bills, purportedly to circumvent the Rajya Sabha where the NDA lacked a majority, has been a focal point of political and legal contention. Currently, the BJP holds 86 seats and the ruling NDA 101 seats in the 245-member Rajya Sabha, where the majority mark is 123. Ramesh is one of the petitioners challenging the passage of the Aadhaar Act of 2016 as a money bill under Article 110 of the Constitution. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal informed a bench comprising Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that the pleadings are complete and the petitions are ready for hearing. Sibal emphasised the need for prioritising the creation of a Constitution bench, to which the CJI responded, "I will take the call when I form the Constitution benches." The Congress welcomed the Supreme Court's decision, expressing hope for a final verdict before Justice Chandrachud retires in November this year. Earlier, the top court had indicated it would constitute a seven-judge bench to consider the validity of passing laws like the Aadhaar Act as money bills. A money bill is legislation that can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha, and the Rajya Sabha cannot amend or reject it. The Upper House can only make recommendations, which the Lower House may or may not accept. In November 2019, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court referred the issue of examining the validity of the passage of the Finance Act, 2017, as a money bill to a larger bench. "The issue and question of Money Bill, as defined under Article 110(1) of the Constitution, and certification accorded by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in respect of Part-XIV of the Finance Act, 2017, is referred to a larger Bench," the five-judge bench stated. This bench had also struck down the rules governing the appointment and service conditions of tribunal members included in the Finance Act. Previously, another bench of the top court, while upholding the constitutional validity of PMLA, had left open for adjudication by a larger bench the issue of the passage of its amendments as a money bill. In the Aadhaar verdict, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the law's passage as a money bill. However, Justice Chandrachud, the current CJI, penned a dissenting judgment, calling the designation of the Aadhaar legislation as a money bill a "fraud on the Constitution." New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated K.P. Sharma Oli on his appointment as Nepal's Prime Minister and expressed hope for strengthened ties and expanded cooperation between the two countries. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi wrote, "Congratulations @kpsharmaoli on your appointment as the Prime Minister of Nepal. Look forward to working closely to further strengthen the deep bonds of friendship between our two countries and to further expand our mutually beneficial cooperation for the progress and prosperity of our peoples. @PM_nepal." Responding to Prime Minister Modi's congratulatory message on his appointment as Nepal's prime minister for the fourth time, Oli thanked the Indian leader for his warm wishes. Thank you, Prime Minister @narendramodi for your warm congratulations. I am committed to working closely with you to strengthen Nepal-India relations for our mutual benefit. Together, we can elevate our historic ties to new heights, the newly appointed prime minister said on X. Oli, the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), has been appointed Prime Minister amidst a coalition with the Nepali Congress, which has traditionally maintained strong ties with New Delhi. Despite Oli's pro-China image, this coalition introduces a dynamic where New Delhi will closely monitor Kathmandu's policies while Beijing seeks to bolster its influence in the region. During Oli's previous tenure as Prime Minister in 2020, India-Nepal relations were strained when Nepal unveiled a new map claiming parts of India's Uttarakhand state - Limpiyadhura, Kalapani, and Lipu Lekh - as its own. New Delhi objected to this move, causing diplomatic tensions. However, following Oli's loss of power, the two nations have since reached a "general understanding" to address the border dispute through dialogue and to avoid politicising such issues. Despite these past tensions, India has continued to focus on development assistance and deepening power sector cooperation with Nepal. Significant infrastructure projects are underway, including the Arun III hydropower project, the Gorakhpur-Butwal 400 kV cross-border line, and various Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) and railway projects such as the Jayanagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas and Jogbani-Biratnagar rail links. These projects build on previous successes like the ICPs in Biratnagar and Birgunj, as well as the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline, South Asia's first cross-border petroleum product pipeline. Further strengthening financial connectivity, the launch of the RuPay card in Nepal two years ago marked another step towards closer economic ties between the two countries. Mumbai: A day after he criticised Sharad Pawar over the Maratha reservation issue, Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday met the NCP founder. Mr. Bhujbal held deliberations for over 90 minutes at Pawars Silver Oak bungalow in Mumbai. He denied that he is trying to leave the Ajit Pawar faction and said that he approached the NCP founder only to discuss a solution for the situation that has arisen in Maharashtra due Maratha activist Manoj Jaranges demand for reservation under the OBC category. I did not meet Mr. Pawar as a minister or for politics. I approached him to seek his support to calm down the situation that has arisen in Maharashtra due to the Maratha versus Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation issue. The situation is so tense that both the communities are boycotting each others establishments. They are neither buying goods from each other, nor attending weddings, Mr. Bhujbal said after the meeting. The meeting came a day after the Ajit Pawar factions rally in Baramati, where Bhujbal, where Mr. Bhujbal accused Sharad Pawar of trying to add fuel the the fire over the reservation issue. Without naming Sharad Pawr, Mr. Bhujbal had said that the Opposition leaders did not attend the all-party meeting called by chief minister Eknath Shinde because of a phone call from Baramati. When Pawar was the chief minister, he implemented the Mandal commission recommendations and had resolved the issues of OBCs in the state. As a senior leader in the state, we expect him to participate in resolving the current situation. He was not feeling well, so I had to wait for him. After we spoke to him, he said he will look into the matter after his health improves. He has agreed to take the initiative and discuss the issue with CM Eknath Shinde and other important leaders in the state, the minister said. There was no prior announcement about Mr. Bhujbals meeting with the NCP founder. Therefore, when he reached Silver Oak, there were speculations that the minister was again trying to switch sides and join the Sharad Pawar faction. However, later it emerged that he had sought Sharad Pawars appointment after the discussions with Ajit Pawar, Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare. The four leaders met after the Silver Oak meeting. Meanwhile, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said that his party would conduct a survey for all 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra even though it is going to contest the election in alliance with the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. In fact, he said, all three parties will conduct their separate surveys for all seats and the deliberations over seat sharing will be held after considering all three surveys. Ajit Pawar further said that the Mahayuti government will soon appoint 12 legislative council members from the government quota. The seats have remained vacant for over four years. On November 6, 2020, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government approved a list of 12 candidates and later shared it with the governor for approval. However, then-governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari did not approve the list. Now, the Mahayuti government will submit a new list to governor Ramesh Bais. Once the Maharashtra cabinet clears the proposal of 12 names to be appointed as MLC from the governors quota, it will get accepted soon, Ajit Pawar said. The government will also fill the post of chairman of the legislative council, which has been vacant for two years, since Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar retired on July 7, 2022. It is learnt that all three ruling parties have staked a claim for the post. The chairman will be appointed after the appointment of 12 MLCs and before the Assembly elections, which are expected to be held in October this year. Assuming command of the second largest and unquestionably the finest Army in the world would be the rarest of rare honour for any professional soldier. In a world at war with itself, and India too facing diverse security challenges to its progress and peace, this hallowed command brings with itself traditional and many unknown emerging problems, which may arise, to encounter and overcome. Thus Indias 30th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, who took charge on June 30, will have, in all likelihood, an eventful and exacting tenure ahead. That he carries with it the best wishes of his countrymen and the support of the government and the other services is a foregone conclusion. His first week in command has already witnessed recurring terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani-origin terrorists. Though each COAS formalises his professional agenda according to his strategic perception and priorities, similar challenges persisting for years and decades are common problems for successive commanders. Among the many enduring confrontations, dealing with a continually assertive and overly ambitious China will remain Indias most critical challenge. The COAS, having been the Northern Army commander earlier, would thus have full and intimate knowledge of Chinas provocative proclivities towards us. His directions to all formation commanders confronting the Chinese in the western, central and eastern sectors along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and Indian troops displaying their usual grit wherever the Chinese indulge in mischief, will go a long way in effectively sending the nations and Gen. Dwivedis message across to the Chinese. The COAS may consider the planning and execution, if necessary, of mirroring actions by us to counter the Chinese mischief. The Army Chief, by virtue of having been the vice-chief in his last appointment, would be more than conversant with the nuances of the Integrated Theatre Commands, whose establishment has been dodging the armed forces despite the government having given the green signal. In concert with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the other two chiefs, Gen. Dwivedi must push the creation of these commands even if it is done with deliberation and without haste. Its time our top hierarchy in the armed forces employ their collective wisdom to get on with this much-needed transformation. Another area of collective study and analyses are the lessons emerging from the Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas conflict. The COAS, and especially his Army Training Command along with the two other services, must delve deep into the nuances of such wars albeit in the sub-continental context. These two ongoing conflicts have given a new and an unexpected orientation to the pursuit of conflicts in todays age, which appears radically different than the wars fought before these conflicts began. Similarly, the unorthodox but intensive employment of the once-humble drones, now emerging as major force multipliers, must be studied in the India-China and India-Pakistan scenarios. The already promulgated Agnipath concept, giving birth to Agniveers has already, once again, become the subject of heated discussions, albeit more on political grounds. Along with the other services, the COAS must revisit the Agniveer concept and advise the government to tweak this scheme vastly or scrap it. But the services must not let the bureaucracy overrule the services requirement of ensuring combat effectiveness being the first principle for Agniveers or any other form of military recruitment. If the government is looking for pruning the burgeoning pension bill of the three services, there are other more effective ways of doing so. In the defence ministry, for example, there are some offices which can be removed as their contribution to the overall security effectiveness of the nation is long over. The COAS will have to look into the rightful issue of finding more money (capital expenditure) within the Army to muster enough resources for modernisation. Meanwhile, as the Armys operational commitments along the India-China and India-Pakistan borders continues to grow, it must be emphasized to the Centre that instead of raising additional units in the paramilitary forces, the same can be done in the Army for when the balloon goes up, the first responders to battle the enemy and the last bastion of the nation is the Indian Army. Though it was felt that in the last two years terrorism had been largely reduced in J&K, since Narendra Modi government 3.0 was sworn in, Pakistan has upped the ante by resorting to terrorism acts in the region south of the Pir Panjal and in the last week in the hitherto untouched Kathua region. The Army Chief will have to now revisit our entire counter-terrorism strategy, reinforce our counter-terrorism grid and at the local levels, unit and formation commanders will have to become far more intelligence-savvy and tactically more alert and aggressive. It is certain that at this juncture, the COAS and the top security hierarchy of the nation will be contemplating even some strategic counter-measures to effectively thwart Pakistan from further mischief. Pakistan has to be firmly told that India has not yet exploited the many fault lines existing within Pakistan and they had better curb their terrorist tendencies before they are made to face Indias wrath. Modernisation of equipment and platforms, acquisition of tomorrows technology, adaptation to newer forms of warfare and enhancing the Armys combat capabilities will also be of major concern for the new COAS. Importantly, ensuring synergy and better inter-operability among the three services will equally be his KRA. His leadership of the most disciplined and professional fighting force in the world will be critical for the peace and stability of the region and the government must provide it the necessary wherewithal for it to excel in all domains of warfare. Do Indians have freedom of religion? Meaning, do they have the right to invite others into their faith and the right to easily leave their faith? The Constitution says yes, but the laws say no. India is an unusual nation where propagation is both a fundamental right and a criminal offence. A fundamental right is defined as one that enjoys a high level of protection from encroachment by the State. But Article 25 (right to freely profess and propagate religion) doesnt enjoy such protection. In effect, the Constitution tells us we are free to propagate but when we do so the police shows up and takes us away. On July 11 this year it was reported that the Allahabad High Court rejected the bail of a man named Shriniwas Rav Nayak with the observation that the Constitution confers on each individual the fundamental right to profess, practice and propagate his religion. However, the individual right to freedom of conscience and religion cannot be extended to construe a collective right to proselytise. On the subcontinent, Nepal doesnt allow conversions, while Pakistan has the same phrasing as India does, with the same restrictions. There is no real freedom of religion in Pakistan, just as the honest observer will conclude there isnt in India. But this is not what was intended by those who wrote the Constitution. The Constituent Assembly debate on religious freedom happened on December 6, 1948. It came after meetings of the Minorities Committee and the Committee on Fundamental Rights, which discussed the issue in detail and produced a text, which is today Article 25. It reads: Right to freedom of religion: Subject to public order, morality and health and the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion. The key word here is propagate, which the dictionary defines as to spread and promote, and to breed. The context in which the word was debated by Indias Constituent Assembly was of conversions, specifically by Christians. Gujarats K.M. Munshi, the Hindu conservative, was part of a group that arrived at the text and he said of the word propagate that: I know it was on this word that the Christian community laid the greatest emphasis, not because they wanted to convert people aggressively, but because the word propagate was a fundamental part of their tenet. And so long as religion is religion, conversion by free exercise of conscience had to be recognised. People must not fear the idea of a right to propagate, Munshi said, because whatever conversions take place are only the result of persuasion and not because of material advantages. Note that conversion was always accepted as the reason for propagation. In the Interim Report on Fundamental Rights dated May 1, 1947, Frank Anthony had spoken to the committee and said: My community (he was an Anglo-Indian) does not propagate. We do not convert, nor are we converted. But I do appreciate how deeply, how passionately millions of Christians feel on this right to propagate their religion. Anthony, the founder of a school network around India, congratulated the majority for retaining in spite of its contentious character the words to propagate, a right which is regarded as perhaps the most fundamental of Christian rights. T.T. Krishnamachari said Dalits became Christian because of the status it gave them, that Hindu reform would deter such conversions, and that the right to propagate also applied to Hindus and Arya Samaj members who were free to carry out their conversion activities, which they called Shuddhi. The point here is that the meaning of the word propagate was understood by all as the right to, in Munshis words, persuade people to join their faith. That is, to convert. But what would happen instead in India, as we see around us, is that the State would step in to not only the right to propagate but also the individuals right to change his/her religion. The only opposition in the Constituent Assembly came from a 26-year-old man from Odisha, who wanted the word propagate removed. This was Loknath Misra, brother of Ranganath Misra, who would later become Chief Justice of India, and uncle of Dipak Misra, also to become Chief Justice. Loknath Misra said he didn't have any problem with propagation. If people should propagate their religion, let them do so, he said, but only I crave, let not the Constitution put it as a fundamental right and encourage it. His opposition also came from an understanding of the right to propagate as meaning the right to convert. V.P. Bharatiya, writing in the Journal of Indian Law Institute in 1977, says the specificity in the debates gave the impression that the inclusion of the word propagate creates a specific fundamental right to convert. Dr B.R. Ambedkar was present in the debate but did not speak. He said he had nothing to add to what the others had said in defence of the right to propagate. It must be noted that Ambedkars original draft submitted to the Constituent Assemblys committees bore the words: right to profess, to preach and to convert, within limits compatible with public order and morality. He was satisfied that propagate meant the same thing. He would himself leave Hinduism and convert to Buddhism along with more than three lakh other Dalits in Nagpur on October 14, 1956. Beginning in the 1970s, Indias judiciary and police began instituting a series of practices that have resulted in where we are today: a nation whose Constitution gives citizens freedom of religion but whose establishment disallows it through indiscriminate use of criminal law. The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist and the Nepali Congress have struck a deal to create a coalition between the two largest parties in parliament. Prachanda, head of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre, quit as prime minister after less than 20 months. According to experts, the repeated rotation of governments is preventing Nepal from giving direction to its development. Kathmandu (AsiaNews/Agencies) Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli was sworn in as prime minister of Nepal this morning for the fourth time, after the Nepali Parliament withdrew on Friday its confidence from his predecessor, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, ending a government established just 18 months ago. Oli, 72, leads the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML), which has 78 seats in parliament. At the end of June, he struck a deal with the Nepali Congress (NC), a centrist party and a traditional rival, which won the largest number of seats, 89, in the last election in 2022. Before withdrawing his support from Dahal last week, Oli struck a deal with NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba to create a coalition government and alternate the post of prime minister with Deuba before the next election in 2027. In 2015, during his first term as prime minister, Oli, who is pro-Chinese, signed a trade deal with Nepals northern neighbour, ending what until then had been an Indian monopoly. When he came back to power in 2018, the CPN-UML leader began to act in a more authoritarian manner, limiting freedom of expression and bringing the National Intelligence Department, the Department of Revenue Investigation, and the Department of Money Laundering under the Prime Minister's Office. After attempting to dissolve parliament twice, he was ousted by the Supreme Court. Dahal, during his last term changed coalition partners three times and asked for a vote of confidence four more times. Known by the nom de guerre of Prachanda, Dahal, 69, heads the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-MC). After fighting in the civil war against the monarchy, he served as prime minister three times. Although CPN-MC only has 32 seats in parliament, it managed to form a government with its leader as prime minister after the last election. Since the monarchy was abolished in 2008, Nepal has had 14 governments. For some commentators, the countrys political instability is mainly due to internal factors, even though China and India have tried to exert their influence. Despite their ideological proximity, the two communist parties, one Marxist-Leninist, the other Maoist, are only tied by bonds of convenience. Past attempts to form an alliance between the two have always failed (the last in 2019), because Oli and Prachanda are unwilling to share power. What is more, agreements to rotate the post of prime minister to form a government have not been respected. When it is time to hand over power to the other party leader, alliances are reshuffled and a different government is formed but headed by the same prime minister. Prachanda has done so three times in the last year and a half. This tends to undermine political institutions and weaken democracy, as well as prevent governments from putting into practice solutions to develop the country, experts say. One example is tourism. Despite having several UNESCO sites, the tourist industry has not yet recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic because Nepals only international airport does not have modern facilities and cannot cope with increased air traffic. Emigration is another major issue. In 2023 alone, some 1.6 million Nepalis (out of a population of about 30 million) left the country in search of work, with some Nepalis joining the armies of foreign countries, like Russia. In the past two years, Nepal has had three different foreign ministers, who have failed to outline a coherent policy. As a result, some Nepalis stranded abroad recently asked India for help to be repatriated. Several analysts are sceptical about Olis return to power since he was unable to create stability even when he was at the head of a majority government. Until a few weeks ago, he was still defending the legitimacy of past measures, pointed out Uddhab Pyakurel, a professor of political sociology at Kathmandu University. What is more, the NC and the CPN-UML have always been ideologically rivals. Yet, other observers believe that both the government and the opposition could put pressure so that the new government completes the mandate and Oli rotates the post of prime minister with Deuba when the time comes. It this were to happen it would be a first in Nepal's recent history. by Nirmala Carvalho Lucknow (AsiaNews) - It is mainly through the anti-conversion laws implemented in some Indian states that the persecution of the Christian community in the world's largest democracy is taking shape. The latest hostility concerns the arrest of four Christians, including a pastor from Uttarakhand, arrested in a village in the district of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. The alleged charge is that of converting people to Christianity by luring them under the pretext of granting them benefits. "The number of attacks on Christians and their gatherings for worship services is increasing," Bishop Gerald Mathias of Lucknow told AsiaNews. "The Christian community cannot profess, practise and propagate its faith in freedom, as enshrined in the Constitution, because of these interferences, intimidations and atrocities". An investigation into the incident, which allegedly took place last Friday evening, was initiated by the police following reports by activists of two Hindu organisations, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. The legal basis is the reference sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a penal code passed in 2023, and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act of 2021. Thakurdwara police officer Rajesh Kumar said the incident allegedly took place in Rammanawala village, under the jurisdiction of his station, when a meeting of a Christian religious congregation was held. Kumar said that the activists of the two Hindu organisations intervened by informing the police and claiming that they were forced into religious conversion through grooming. The general secretary of the district unit of the VHP organisation in Moradabad, Pankaj Singh Pal, then filed a complaint against four persons, including one Kuldeep, who claims to be a pastor from Uddham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, and three locals, including two brothers, Jaipal and Amarjeet, and one Mukesh. In the statement he said that they give people money, refrigerators, televisions, bicycles, motorbikes and sewing machines to convert to Christianity. He said that Christians who help convert other people receive Rs 25,000, while the pastor who converts them receives Rs 35,000 for each conversion. Earlier in the day yesterday, the commander said that an information report under Sections 351(2) for insult and 351(3) for criminal intimidation as well as Sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act was registered at the Thakurdwara police station on Saturday. "The anti-conversion law is crudely used and people, especially pastors, are often arrested on false charges. Fundamentalists go around as vigilantes to disturb congregations or religious conferences,' added Msgr Gerald Mathias, speaking to AsiaNews. He claimed that the police arrest Christians simply because someone has complained, without having any proof. According to the law, however, only the injured person or his close relatives can file a complaint. "In most cases, it is the Sangh Parivar organisations, such as the VHP and Bajrangdal, that complain and file the acts. As a result, innocent people languish in jails. This is simply unacceptable,' he said. (Photo : Unsplash/Nubelson Fernandes) Ever wonder why time seems like slipping so fast that you cannot seem to get things done? You are not alone. Different Distractions at Work According to Clockify, up to 79% of workers report feeling distracted during the workday, and 68% believe they do not have enough uninterrupted time to focus. Distractions result in productivity loss. According to the study, employees in distracting environments were significantly less productive and focused than those with fewer distractions. The latter demonstrated higher concentration levels and reported feeling more productive, engaged, and satisfied in their jobs. The biggest workplace distraction is the phone, and research supports this. Workplace expert Joshua Evans told KTRH that people have become addicted to the constant dopamine hits from short-form content and viral videos that affect work performance. While distractions at work are not new, they are becoming increasingly problematic due to their easy availability, as they are "in our hands at all times." READ ALSO: 'Bed Rotting' During Rest Days Is Not a True Rest. Here's What You Can Do Instead According to a survey by CareerBuilder, 55% of people consider their cell phone to be their primary source of distraction, along with the following: The Internet: 41% Gossip: 39% Social media: 37% Co-workers dropping by: 27% Smoke breaks or snack breaks: 27% Emails: 26% Meetings: 24% Noisy co-workers: 20% Sitting in a cubicle: 9% Why Do People Get Distracted Easily? Potential distractions are everywhere in a world filled with constant emails, texts, and social media notifications, making it difficult to establish healthy boundaries that allow the brain to decompress, rest, and recover, which is essential for reducing distractibility, licensed clinical mental health counselor, Amelia Kelley, PhD said. Being easily distracted can also vary from person to person. Some individuals face frequent internal distractions, anxious or preoccupied with specific thoughts or their to-do lists. Others are more susceptible to external distractions, struggling to focus on one task because it reminds them of another unrelated task, according to Kara Naylon, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist at LifeStance Health in Boston, speaking to Everyday Health. Also termed "popcorn brain," this kind of distraction was introduced by quality-of-life researcher David Levy in 2011, which describes the phenomenon of attention shifting rapidly from one task or topic to another, similar to popcorn kernels popping in the microwave. When an individual becomes so reliant on electronic multitasking, an offline, slower-paced life becomes unappealing. Constant exposure to digital stimulation alters the way our brains process information. Preventing Distractions at Work Understanding the impact of distracted employees allows for implementing policies and procedures to address the issue. Some employers include the following in their employee handbooks: Blocking certain websites Banning personal calls and cell phone use during work hours Setting designated lunch and break times Monitoring email and internet usage Limiting the number of meetings Adopting an open-space layout instead of cubicles Allowing employees to telecommute on specific days of the week Employers do not need to implement drastic measures, as encouraging employees to take short breaks can be effective. Promoting regular breaks can foster a productive office culture, allowing the mind to recharge and enhancing overall productivity, Rosemary Haefner, former chief human resources officer of CareerBuilder, told Business News Daily. RELATED ARTICLE: The No. 1 Tip to Combat the 'Analysis-Paralysis' Mindset and Make Great Decisions 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 15 July 2024 13:05 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The transformation of the Azerbaijani economy over the past three decades, driven largely by the strategic initiatives of visionary leaders, has been remarkable. Central to this transformation has been the visionary leadership of Heydar Aliyev, the architect and founder of the independent Azerbaijani state. His foresight and strategic decisions, particularly exemplified by the signing of the "Contract of the Century" in September 1994 in Baku, marked a pivotal moment in the nation's oil strategy. Under President Ilham Aliyev's successful policies, these traditions are evolving further. The signing of the "Contract of the Century" positioned Azerbaijan as the first state in the CIS region to achieve significant consensus with major Western oil companies. This agreement laid the foundation for international cooperation in the Caspian Sea, particularly in the development and utilization of the "Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli" fields within Azerbaijan's sector of the Caspian. Subsequently, under the direct initiative of Heydar Aliyev, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project was launched. This ambitious project not only aimed to transport 50 million tons of Azerbaijani oil annually but also solidified political decisions to designate it as the main export pipeline. The definitive allocation of the pipeline's main export role was formally established during the Trabzon Summit of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye on April 26, 1998. The successful implementation of these projects is evidenced by the increasing volume of investments in the oil and gas sector. In the first half of this year, investments in the oil and gas sector amounted to 2996.2 million manat. According to the State Statistics Committee, investments in the country's oil and gas sector increased by 4.5% in January. It should be noted that during the corresponding period of 2023, this indicator was at the level of 2 billion 809 million manat. In January-June of the current year, Azerbaijan transported 19,238.6 thousand tons of oil through oil pipelines, which is 2.1% less compared to the previous year. According to the State Statistics Committee, 75.2% of the transportation was carried out through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil export pipeline (BTC), and during the reporting period, 14,468.7 thousand tons of oil were transported through this pipeline, which is 3.7% less compared to the previous year. During the reporting period, 81.4% of the oil transported through the BTC pipeline, or 11,773.9 thousand tons (a decrease of 6.3%), was Azerbaijani-produced oil, while 18.6% or 2,694.8 thousand tons (an increase of 9.8%) came from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. It is worth noting that last year, 39,753.2 thousand tons of oil were transported through main oil pipelines, which is 5.2% higher compared to the previous year. 75.9% of the transportation was carried out through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil export pipeline (BTC), and during the past year, 30,191.6 thousand tons of oil were transported through this pipeline, which is 1.49% higher compared to the previous year. During the reporting period, 82.6% of the oil transported through the BTC pipeline, or 24,950.9 thousand tons, was Azerbaijani-produced oil, while 17.4% or 5,240.7 thousand tons (an increase of 2.7%) came from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. It should be noted that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline currently transports mainly oil produced from Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli and condensate from Shah Deniz in Azerbaijan. Starting from the Sangachal terminal near Baku, it passes through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and ends at the Ceyhan marine terminal on the Turkish coast of the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, BTC also transports other regional crude oil and condensate volumes from the Caspian (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and SOCAR's volumes outside ACG). It is also important to note that out of the total length of 1768 km of the laid pipeline, 443 km pass through Azerbaijan, 249 km through Georgia, and 1076 km through Turkiye. During the same period of this year, an increase was also observed in the transportation of natural gas through Azerbaijan's main gas pipelines. Specifically, 20,540.7 million cubic meters of gas were transported through Azerbaijan's main gas pipelines. The increase observed in gas transportation through main gas pipelines during the reporting period was 1.3% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. It is reported that 55.6% of the gas transportation was carried out through the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP). Through this pipeline, 11,418.9 million cubic meters of gas were transported. It is worth noting that last year, Azerbaijan transported 39,806.9 million cubic meters of gas through main gas pipelines, with an increase of 4.6% compared to the previous year's indicator. 54.8% of the gas transportation was carried out through the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP). During the reporting period, 21,800.1 million cubic meters of gas were transported through this pipeline (a 4.8% increase compared to the 2022 indicator). It should be noted that the South Caucasus Pipeline transports gas produced from the Shah Deniz gas-condensate field in Azerbaijan to Georgia and Turkiye. The South Caucasus Pipeline was commissioned at the end of 2006 and gas from the Shah Deniz field began to be transported as part of Phase I. Starting from the summer of 2018, gas from the expanded South Caucasus Pipeline associated with Phase II of the Shah Deniz field has been delivered to Turkiye via the expanded Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP). As a major partner of the European Union in the Southern Caucasus region, Azerbaijan plays a decisive role in delivering the gas resources of the Caspian Sea to the European Union market through the Southern Gas Corridor. In this regard, the Southern Gas Corridor is the largest infrastructure project that can meet the EU's demand for gas and play a significant role in its energy security. The expanded Southern Gas Corridor pipeline that passes through Azerbaijan and Georgia to the Turkish border stimulates employment opportunities and economic growth in transit countries. In addition, the revenue from gas exports will contribute to the socio-economic development of Azerbaijan, financing infrastructure projects and improving public services. In this sense, plans to increase gas exports to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor are of great importance for the region's energy security. Today, Azerbaijan plans to export not only oil, natural gas, and electricity to Europe but also hydrogen, including green hydrogen. Natural gas is considered a cleaner alternative to coal and oil, emitting fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants. By applying advanced gas production technologies and strict environmental regulations, Azerbaijan takes on the responsibility to minimize the environmental impact of gas production and transportation. If the EU's demand for natural gas continues to increase in the coming years, this will be of special importance. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 July 2024 10:19 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more In the summer season, including during the tourism and grain harvesting seasons, the likelihood of fires increases on particularly hot and dry days, Azernews reports, citing a joint appeal to the public by the Ministries of Emergency Situations, Ecology and Natural Resources, and Agriculture of Azerbaijan. "Despite the extensive awareness-raising efforts carried out by the relevant authorities, unfortunately, the analysis of fires in forest and agricultural areas shows that their main cause is people's non-compliance with fire safety rules. This includes some farmers burning fields after harvesting and people behaving carelessly with fire while relaxing in nature. It should be noted that even the smallest carelessness can result in severe consequences for food supply, the country's land fund, forest areas, flora, and fauna. Therefore, we appeal to the public, including farmers, entrepreneurs engaged in agricultural activities, and citizens relaxing in nature, to strictly adhere to fire safety rules during this hot season when people's activities in nature increase. To prevent harm to our country, as well as to people's lives and health, do not use open flames in grain fields and forests, do not make bonfires in these areas, do not throw cigarette butts or matches that are not completely extinguished, materials soaked in flammable liquids, or glass bottles and fragments. Be especially careful in windy weather. If you see a small fire, try to extinguish it with water, soil, or sand. If you detect a fire or its signs, immediately report it to the Ministry of Emergency Situations' "112" hotline," the appeal stated. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 July 2024 14:39 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more As a result of negotiations between Azerbaijan and Iran, starting from today, Azerbaijan's embassy in this country has resumed its activities at a new address, Azernews reports, citing Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has provided this information. It was stated that the ambassador and the current embassy staff have returned to Iran. It was noted that the Iranian side, as the accrediting country, has taken appropriate measures to ensure diplomatic protection in front of the new embassy building in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. "Currently, necessary work is being carried out to organize consular services at the new building of the embassy in Iran, and additional information on the resumption of consular services will be provided soon. The embassy is located at 8 Saqi Alley, Firuzkuh Street, Yarmehammadi Street, Shahriyar Boulevard, Darrous District, Tehran. The resumption of the embassy's activities will contribute to the future development of Azerbaijan-Iran relations based on mutual respect and good neighborliness, as well as to the implementation of agreements reached and issues that need to be resolved between the two countries," the statement said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 July 2024 11:37 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter to President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azernews reports. The letter reads: "Dear Mr. President, My dear Brother. On the eighth anniversary of the events of July 15, I honor the cherished memory of all our martyrs who sacrificed their lives to thwart the attempted coup with profound respect and reverence, and extend my deepest condolences to their families and to all the people of Turkiye. The heinous coup attempt that took place on this night, forever etched in the blood memory of our brotherly Turkiye, was an attack on your country's national interests, democratic foundations, and the rule of law. The wise and brave people of Turkiye once again wrote a heroic epic by resolutely fighting for their homeland, statehood, and democracy, making their chests a shield. The events of that night established July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day, a symbol of your resilient people's solidarity, struggle, and national unity, which will always live on and be remembered with even greater pride through the ages. Your decisive and immediate actions and leadership played a special role in repelling this coup attempt against Turkish statehood, thereby saving your country from great tragedies. By rallying tightly around you, your people once again demonstrated their national pride, strength, and unyielding will to the world by standing up for their state, freedom, and democracy. From the very first moments, the Azerbaijani people and state strongly condemned this betrayal and, as always, stood by the brotherly Turkish state and people. This was our duty of brotherhood and loyalty to share our joys and sorrows with Turkiye. Dear Mr. President, I recall with the greatest pleasure our recent meeting in Astana and our detailed exchange of views. I am confident that we will successfully continue our joint efforts to further expand Azerbaijan-Turkiye relations, multi-faceted cooperation, and strategic alliance, which are based on friendship, mutual trust and support, thus, raising our unparalleled inter-state relations to even greater heights. I wish you robust health, success in your endeavors, and everlasting peace and prosperity to the brotherly people of Turkiye. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 12 July 2024" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 July 2024 14:58 (UTC+04:00) The aircraft of the Azerbaijan Air Force performed live-fire training flights in the Birlestik-2024 international operational-tactical command-staff exercise held in Aktau, Kazakhstan, Azernews reports. Safety rules were delivered to the personnel and the health state of the military pilots was checked. In accordance with the plan of the exercise, Su-25ML aircraft performed day and night flights along the specified routes, as well as difficult pilotage and combat maneuvers at different altitudes. Azerbaijan Air Forces military pilots have successfully accomplished the tasks on conducting air reconnaissance, determining the coordinates of ground targets of imaginary enemy and destruction by striking. The military pilots accomplished the tasks at a high level and demonstrated professionalism in Birlestik-2024 operational-tactical command-staff exercise. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 July 2024 23:33 (UTC+04:00) The information about the death of Abbasov Yunis Vasif oglu, a military serviceman of the Azerbaijan Army, as a result of an accident, has been confirmed. Azernews reports, citing Azertag referring to the Ministry of Defense. The fact is being investigated. "The leadership of the Ministry of Defense offers deep condolences to the family and relatives of the fallen military serviceman and asks for patience. May Allah have mercy on him!", the ministry said. Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 July 2024 09:26 (UTC+04:00) NATO troops will not directly participate in the Ukrainian conflict, including the shooting down of Russian planes and missiles in the country's airspace. According to Azernews, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this on the Ukrainian TV channel "TSN". "NATO's policy remains unchanged - we will not participate in this conflict. We will support Ukraine in the destruction of Russian planes, but NATO will not be directly involved in this," Stoltenberg said. The Secretary General of NATO also emphasized that the alliance will continue to provide military assistance to Kyiv, including strengthening the country's air defense. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 July 2024 23:30 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva China intends to conduct military exercises in the South China Sea from July 15 to 16, Azernews reports. The brief notification indicates that a temporary ban on navigation is being imposed in some areas of the South China Sea. The exercises will begin on July 15 at 09:00 local time (05:00 Baku time) and end on July 16 at 19:00 (15:00 Baku time). The ministry did not specify what forces and means will be involved in the maneuvers. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 15 July 2024 20:18 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva During the occupation of France in 1940, the artifacts that German soldier Kurt Arpe took to Germany were returned, Azernews reports. During the occupation of France, a Reich soldier began service in one of the settlements of the Somme department. While digging up old historical monuments at the site of the deployment, Arpe discovered jars from the time of the Merovingian dynasty VI-VIII centuries. Arpe sends the 11 artifacts he discovered to his family. In 1942, he died in battle on the territory of the USSR. His family kept the jars and passed them on from generation to generation, and in 2000 they fell into the hands of a relative named Wolfgang, who is the head of the museum. After retirement, he decides to return the things he kept at home. After correspondence with French government agencies, 11 jars were returned to the Archaeological museum of the Somme department. After the research, historical objects will be exhibited in the museum. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Zack James Waters Jr. Dr. Zack James Waters, Jr. passed away peacefully at home on July 11, 2024 surrounded by his loving and devoted wife of 46 years, Debbie Waters, and his family. Born August 2,1934 in Salisbury, MD, to the late Zack James Waters and the late Minnie Helms Waters, Zack grew up in Salisbury and up and down the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. An avid hunter and fisherman his entire life, at age 15 he earned the World Record for Channel Bass, catching one weighing 83 pounds on August 5, 1949. His education took him to the Woodbury Forest School for high school, and then on to Chapel Hill where Zack was a 1956 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, he wrestled on the varsity wrestling team and studied pre-med. Following UNC, he attended the University of Maryland where he earned his M.D. After his residency in Augusta, GA, he served three years in the US Navy, where he was stationed in Quantico, Va, reaching the rank of Lieutenant. In 1979, Zack moved to Washington, NC, opened his surgery practice, and cared for and treated patients in Washington, all over Beaufort County, and surrounding areas for decades until his final retirement in 2017. His bedside manner, and attention given to his patients will long be remembered. In addition to his parents, Zack was preceded in death by his oldest son, Mark Craig Waters, and half-brother, Sam Wilkinson. Zack is survived by his wife Debbie, and sons Michael Helms Waters (Prue); Gregory "Greg" Stiegler Waters (Anna); James Matthew "Matt" Waters (Sarah Hill); daughter-in-law: Leigh Waters; nine grandchildren: Michael's children, Ross, Kate, and Annie; Greg's children, Mary Stuart (Stephen), Caleb (Hannah), McLean (Megan), and Grace; Matt's children, Lola and Lawrence; and one great grandson, Amos. Hark the sound of Tar Heel voices, Zack was a Tar Heel, born and bred; loved the outdoors; and loved his patients, friends, and family. A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 15, 2024, at 2:00 PM at the First Methodist Church in Washington, with Pastor Ken Hall officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Beaufort County Humane Society, or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Online condolences may be directed to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com. Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Waters Family. 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. Dallas-based Steward Health Care, which filed for bankruptcy May 6, is under criminal investigation by federal prosecutors. Here are 10 things for ASCs to know: 1. Federal prosecutors at the U.S. attorney's office in Boston are investigating allegations of fraud, as well as violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, CBS News reported July 11. 2. The act made it unlawful for certain entities to make payments to foreign government officials to assist in obtaining or retaining business. 3. "Steward Health Care can confirm it is aware of and cooperating with an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice," a Steward spokesperson said in a July 12 statement shared with Becker's. "As a matter of policy, Steward will have no further comment on this investigation as it remains ongoing." 4. According to the CBS News report, Steward formerly had a deal with Malta, a European country, to operate three state-owned hospitals. The deal has fallen through and is now connected to a criminal corruption probe. 5. Steward and its executives have not been charged, according to CBS News. 6. Steward is currently looking to offload its physician group and 31 hospitals at auction. 7. In June, Optum, parent company of ASC chain SCA Health, called off its plan to acquire Steward's 1,700-physician group. 8. Auction dates for some of Steward's hospitals have been pushed back. 9. In a July 10 statement of financial affairs bankruptcy court documents obtained by Becker's, it was revealed that Steward made six payments totaling just under $1.6 million this year to London-based commercial intelligence and investigation company Audere International before filing for bankruptcy. 10. The payments occurred from early February to early April and ran from $152,698 to $465,204, but the documents did not disclose the services provided. The Justice Department declined to provide Becker's with comment. Becker's has also reached out to Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey's office and will update this story if more information becomes available. Healthcare management company Excel Health has acquired Journey Surgery Center in Aliso Viejo, Calif. This is Excel's first acquisition in Southern California, according to a July 13 news release from the company. The ASC provides patients with minimally invasive spine, pain management and orthopedic care. Excel plans to increase the ASC's operational efficiency and improve patient outcomes and technology integration, according to the release. Washington, D.C.-based Howard University is moving plans forward for a new $650 million hospital that would be in front of its existing Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. "We continue to navigate forward to not only treat a largely underserved population but also to train those healthcare workers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and dentists to meet the needs of that population," Hugh Mighty, MD, senior vice president of health affairs for Howard University and CEO of University Hospital Corp, told Becker's. "Having a new hospital to not only bring it up to speed and modern technology, but having a place to train our future healthcare delivery folks is exciting." Howard University Hospital opened in 1975. With the development of a new hospital, Dr. Mighty said that the plan is to direct parts of the existing facility into a more supportive venture. The final size of the new hospital has not been determined; however, it is expected to have around 200 beds and to open sometime in 2028. "Right now, we're in the design development phase," Dr. Mighty said. "We have architects and other contractual sub-parts put together so that we're designing what that facility would look like at the end and how it would best serve what we do." Howard University remains in discussions with Gaithersburg, Md.-based Adventist HealthCare to purchase both Howard University Hospital and the new facility. Adventist has managed Howard University Hospital since 2020. "Adventist HealthCare and Howard University continue to carefully assess the possibility of a long-term partnership," a spokesperson for Adventist HealthCare said in a July 15 statement shared with Becker's. "Both organizations are committed to exploring the best path forward for a strong future for Howard University Hospital." Ascension Saint Joseph-Joliet (Ill.) dedicated the new Jay & Lori Bergman Heart Hospital on July 9. The heart hospital, located within the Ascension hospital, was renamed to honor the couple's years of philanthropic support, according to a health system news release shared with Becker's. The Bergmans' latest donation will help fund the purchase of new cardiac catheterization lab equipment. Lori Bergman, who died in 2023, previously supported the medical center as president of the Ascension Saint Joseph Foundation board and as a member of the hospital's leadership board. Jay Bergman is a member of both the Ascension Saint Joseph leadership board and the Ascension Illinois Joint Hospitals board, the release said. Philadelphia-based Temple University Health System is using a new accounting software that enables an unprecedented level of specificity when it comes to how the organization tracks the costs of delivering care. Since last year, the health system has been using a program called PowerCosting that allows it to combine financial and clinical information to drill down on costs and allocate funds most appropriately, executives told The Philadelphia Inquirer. For example, the health system can track medications and supplies used in patients' care via the EHR. It also allows leaders to see how much time a patient spends at different stages of care, which enables the system to allocate labor costs more accurately. "It allows us to budget from reality," Mike Young, CEO of Temple University Health System, told the news outlet. Leaders described a specific use case in which time stamps showed CT scans for neurological cases take about two hours, while the same scan takes 20 minutes for a broken hip. In response, they allocated more labor costs for CT scans than for orthopedics. The cost accounting system is also used to compare patient outcomes and costs by physician, and to quantify how much the system spends on services for which it does not get reimbursed This is a critical metric because hospitals are not paid for extra days when patients who are ready to be transferred to another care setting remain in the hospital due to downstream capacity and insurance-related bottlenecks. The software uncovered just how much Temple spends for patients on ventilators and getting dialysis in these scenarios. "We can start to build that argument, 'Hey, this is not generically costing hospitals money. Here's the exact dollar figure that this costs day by day, for every excess day in the hospital,'" Daniel del Portal, MD, senior vice president of medical operations and chief clinical officer at the system, told the news outlet. The cyberattack on Change Healthcare in February significantly disrupted administrative healthcare processes around the country, including some hospitals' ability to track the effects of a new Medicare Advantage policy from CMS that rolled out earlier this year. In 2024, Medicare Advantage plans must provide coverage for an inpatient admission when the admitting physician expects the patient to require hospital care for at least two midnights, otherwise known as the two-midnight rule. "Whether the admission actually crossed two midnights is not a factor in the inpatient admission criteria," CMS wrote in February guidance. "An MA organization may evaluate whether the admitting physicians expectation that the patient would require hospital care that crosses two-midnights was reasonable based on complex medical factors documented in the medical record." CMS' expansion of the two-midnight rule, which could affect more than 20% of Medicare Advantage patients this year, has led to increased inpatient volumes and revenue growth for hospitals in the first quarter, according to a May report by Strata Decision Technology. Health systems have been cautiously optimistic about the effects of the new rule so far, but also say it's still too early to see a full picture because it takes time for claims to complete the adjudication process. "What has further complicated things is the Change Healthcare cyberattack because it put everything at a standstill," Ethel Hoffman, vice president of payer contracts and relationships at West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health, told Becker's during a virtual event in June. "We don't have the history of the last few month's fully nailed down yet and we're waiting until that all settles down." St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, which is jointly owned by Tower Health and Drexel University, said in June it is limiting hiring and suspending discretionary spending as a result of the Change breach, which has led to delays in insurance collections at the hospital. Change processes about 15 billion healthcare transactions annually, handling 1 in 3 patient records. In April, UnitedHealth said the data stolen by hackers likely covers a "substantial proportion of people in America." "No matter how well your train was running, and regardless of whether you were directly impacted by the breach, there were residual effects of it with all payers being affected by it," Robert Boos, vice president of revenue cycle at Lynchburg, Va.-based Centra Health, told Becker's. He noted that Centra does not use Change as a claims clearinghouse. "Anything we were doing with looking at MA and lessening our issues there was certainly impacted and still is impacted by the Change breach," Mr. Boos said. Change plans to begin contacting patients whose data was breached during the ransomware attack in late July. Dallas-based Steward Health Care filed a July 13 notice to yet again push back the dates of its "first round hospitals" in Arizona just days before their bid deadline of July 15. The bankruptcy court filings, obtained by Becker's, have set a new bid deadline for the Arizona facilities of July 29 and an auction deadline of August 2. This is the second time Steward, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy May 6, has extended the deadline for its Arizona hospitals. In June 18 bankruptcy court filings, the health system extended the sale process for its first round hospitals, which include Steward's physician group Stewardship Health, its hospitals in Arizona and Massachusetts, and St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston. The bid deadline was moved to July 15, with a July 18 auction date and a proposed July 31 sale hearing. "The deadlines set forth in this notice may be further extended in accordance with the bidding procedures order and global bidding procedures," the July 13 notice said. Steward also shared that it has no plans to alter the auction dates and deadlines for the rest of its first round hospitals, second round hospitals or other assets at this time. The health system did not have an immediate comment for Becker's. Counterfeit Ozempic presentations, known as "faux-zempic," are on the rise in legal and illegal supply chains, The New York Times reported July 12. After GLP-1s such as Ozempic and Wegovy surged in popularity in late 2022, global organizations and pharmaceutical companies have tried to stamp out phony formulations. As of May, Novo Nordisk has filed 21 lawsuits against medical spas, weight loss clinics and compounding pharmacies over alleged sales of unapproved versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy. Experts who study the counterfeit drug market told the Times they are concerned about the climbing demand for these drugs and the fake pharmaceutical supply chain. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy said it has found thousands of websites selling counterfeit GLP-1 medications and the FDA has seized thousands of fake Ozempic units. In January, the American Association of Poison Control Centers suggested a link between three cases of hypoglycemia in 2023 and counterfeit Ozempic presentations. Unregulated and unlicensed online vendors that are selling these injectables could be offering impure semaglutide, other ingredients or dangerously high doses, the Times reported. "Such high demand and short supply and such a desperate population that's a recipe for disaster," George Karavetsos, a former director of the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations, told the Times. Stacey Malakoff will retire as executive vice president and chief financial and administrative officer of Hospital for Special Surgery at the end of 2025 following a phased 18-month transition. Spencer Stuart, an executive search and leadership consulting firm, will conduct a nationwide search for the successor to Ms. Malakoff, who will support onboarding and a seamless transition. Ms. Malakoff joined New York City-based HSS in 1990, was promoted to CFO in 1998 and appointed chief financial and administrative officer in 2020. She will leave the organization earning revenue of more than $2.2 billion, $1.1 billion in unrestricted cash, and a profit margin of more than 3%, according to a July 8 news release. "fStacey was already a pillar of HSS when I arrived as a resident 28 years ago, and since then she has been a leader, mentor, partner and friend to many at HSS," HSS President, CEO and Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus Bryan Kelly, MD, said. "The legacy of her exceptional ability and commitment to the institution is evident in its decades of growth, financial stability, and strong balance sheet." Health systems like Oregon Health and Sciences University, Johns Hopkins Health System and Tampa General Hospital are implementing command centers in a bid to centralize decision-making, Deloitte reported July 15. Modeled after air traffic control systems and NASA's mission control, hospital command centers are customized facilities equipped with large screens and real-time data dashboards. Typically staffed by 20 to 30 personnel, they function as the operational core of a hospital, monitoring capacity, inventory and patient flow. Initially focused on patient safety and quality of care, many command centers have evolved to address more complex issues like return on investment and health disparities, according to the article. For example, prior to implementing a virtual command center, Portland-based OHSU relied on an inadequate whiteboard system to manage hospital needs, leading to 568 transfer patients being turned away in 2016. In 2017, OHSU introduced an electronic "mission control" command center, doubling patient referrals to partner facilities and accepting 600 more transfer patients annually within two years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, OHSU's system managed patient overflow for the entire state. Command centers are also demonstrating their effectiveness in private hospital systems, according to Deloitte. In 2018, Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital launched a command center in a bid to address high operating capacity and improve patient flow and safety. The command center saved $40 million in the first 13 months, reduced emergency-room diversions by 25% and effectively added 30 beds by decreasing the average length of stays. Similarly, Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Health System's command center, created in 2014, has increased occupancy rates from 85% to 92%, cut operating room transfer delays by 83% and generated $16 million in annual revenue. The No. 1 challenge for providing hospital-at-home care is logistical rather than medical in nature, a health system leader told Becker's. For instance, UChicago Medicine has had trouble recruiting nurses willing to go into patients' homes in the urban neighborhoods it serves over safety concerns, according to chief medical information officer Cheng-Kai Kao, MD. And unlike some other states, Illinois doesn't allow paramedics to provide acute hospital care at home. Some hospital-at-home vendors also aren't integrated with Epic, which UChicago Medicine uses for its EHR, Dr. Kao said. "The biggest challenge with 'hospital at home' is not usually a medical part because we know how to treat infections, we know how to treat hospital patients," Dr. Kao said. "It's often logistics that really is dragging us down. Because you need to figure out how to coordinate equipment, how to coordinate staff. And currently there's not a good tool to run points on all these. That is still a big deficiency in the field." UChicago Medicine's hospital-at-home program remains small but could scale rapidly with an influx of nurses, Dr. Kao said. What if a denied prior authorization request could be appealed using ChatGPT? It's an idea being discussed at Grady Health in Atlanta. "It is possible to take a payer denial letter, load that and payer manuals into a large language model, and use that to draft a cogent and compelling appeal letter using the payer's own policies," Murry Ford, vice president of revenue cycle at Grady, told Becker's. Mr. Ford was discussing the health system's prior authorization strategy during a virtual RCM event in June. He said Grady has been putting more resources into the prior authorization process, leading to a decrease in denial rates. The system is not piloting any ChatGPT-based process that involves personal health information or claims data, but it is "playing around with taking publicly available payer manuals" to build searchable libraries of payer policies. "Our hope is that we can load in denial letters, then bounce the claim off the payer guidance and the letter to see if everything makes sense before you draft an appeal," Mr. Ford said. "I think the future is being able to take payer policies and using a large language model like ChatGPT to manage appeals." Other health systems have recently deployed large language models for various administrative and clinical workflows. In July, The New York Times reported that physicians are increasingly turning to generative AI to appeal denied prior authorizations. Some experts told the outlet the process could become an "arms race," where insurers will use AI technology to deny requests. "Their AI will deny our AI, and we'll go back and forth," Robert Wachter, MD, chair of the department of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, told the Times. Crescent Regional Hospital in Lancaster, Texas, is using 3D hologram technology in a bid to improve access to care for patients. The technology is called Holobox and is made by Holoconnects, a holographic solutions provider. It was originally utilized in the hospitality industry, Raji Kumar, managing partner and CEO at Crescent Regional Hospital, told Becker's. It enables physicians to "teleport" as a life-size 3D hologram and connect with patients in real time. What prompted the Texas hospital to adopt the technology for healthcare was the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Ms. Kumar. "With the pandemic came the accelerated adoption of telehealth, with patients becoming accustomed to virtual consultations," she said. This shift prompted Crescent Regional Hospital to explore new technologies that could further improve patient care, especially in remote and rural settings. During their search for advanced solutions, Crescent Regional Hospital discovered Holobox technology. After visiting the company's production facility in Amsterdam, Crescent Medical Center began the process of adapting the technology for medical use. According to Ms. Kumar, the first application focused on enabling surgeons to conduct post-operative visits without physically traveling to the hospital. "Dallas has so many hospitals, and our surgeons often have to drive long distances," she said. "With the Holobox, they can now see their patients clearly, examine incisions, monitor drains and even observe muscle movements all virtually." The success of this initial application led to further developments. Crescent Regional Hospital is now working with the Fallen Officers Foundation to equip a mobile van with Holobox technology. This mobile unit will provide specialist consultations in rural areas, enhancing access to advanced medical care. Additionally, Crescent Regional Hospital is deploying the technology in critical access hospitals to offer immediate specialist consultations. "When a patient in a rural hospital needs a specialist, they can now have a 3D consultation with our interventional cardiologist or surgeon, providing immense relief and clarity to both patients and their families," Ms. Kumar said. The simplicity of the Holobox technology has facilitated its adoption. Healthcare professionals find it easy to use as it requires minimal training, according to Ms. Kumar. "Our physicians were initially skeptical, but once they saw the patient feedback, they fully embraced the technology," she said. "Patients appreciate not having to wait long hours for post-op consultations and feel more connected with their doctors." Looking ahead, Crescent Regional Hospital is exploring even more advanced applications of the technology. The hospital aims to integrate it with its current nurse call system and project holograms directly into patient rooms. Ms. Kumar emphasized the importance of continuing to innovate and transform healthcare delivery. "We have to start somewhere. We don't have all the answers yet, but it's a step in the right direction. Healthcare delivery has not changed significantly in many years, and we need to embrace new technologies to improve patient care," she said. Paradise Valley Hospital in National City, Calif., was recently fined $75,000 for inadequate obstetric care that led to an infant's death in 2016, The San Diego Union Tribune reported July 15. The hospital shuttered its maternity ward in 2021, but still, the fine came in eight years after the infant's death, despite being reported to the California Department of Public Health the same day the baby died, according to the Union Tribune. Becker's contacted the California Department of Public Health to request comment on whether this was typical of its investigative timelines and if not, why it took so long to fine the hospital in this particular care. A CDPH spokesperson responded with the following statement: "We understand the gravity of this situation and acknowledge the length of time it took to complete the investigation. This timeline is atypical. The investigation began promptly after the complaint was received; however, we encountered significant delays due to operational challenges. Once the investigation resumed, the investigating team conducted a thorough review and found the hospital to be noncompliant and issued an Administrative Penalty against the hospital. There are timeframes for initiating investigations, but no timelines for completing the investigation or issuing any associated penalties. The department is committed to timely resolution to all investigations and has implemented process changes to prevent further delays as experienced in this case." The CDPH penalty document from its inspection, which didn't occur until July 2023, found that the hospital failed to continuously monitor the infant's fetal heart rate and was subsequently born March 3, 2016, without a heartbeat and could not be resuscitated successfully. The inspection noted that "the facilitys noncompliance with these requirements, jointly, separately or in any combination, has causedserious injury or death to the patient, and therefore, constitutes an immediate jeopardy within the meaning of Health and Safety Code Section 1280.3 (h)." In a statement to the Union Tribune, a spokesperson for Paradise Valley Hospital said its "Maternity Services were discontinued in 2021, five years after the events mentioned in the CDPH survey had transpired and had nothing to do with what occurred in 2016. We closed our Maternity Services department because it was no longer financially feasible for us to maintain it. At the time of the department closure, Paradise Valley Hospital had seen a downward trend in births during the previous 10 years and was averaging less than two births per day." A Maine law that increases charges for assaults on medical and nonmedical staff while providing emergency medical care appears to have done very little, Portland Press Herald reported July 14. The new law, LD 1119, was passed in July 2023 and it increases charges for an assault on emergency department personnel to a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. There were 12 charges of "assault on an emergency medical provider" in 2024, on track to match 2023's 27 charges and 2022's 25 charges. Prior to the new law, healthcare workers filed 167 intentional injury lost-time claims in the first 7 months of 2023, compared with114 filed in the first 4 months after the law took effect. "I don't think anybody is going into the hospital going, 'Well, I better not act out today because L.D. 1119 is in effect," Joe Bragg, RN, a nursing supervisor at Down East Community Hospital in Machias, Maine, told the Press. "It doesn't change anything. If violence is going to happen, it's going to happen." The law was intended to help law enforcement and prosecutors hold people accountable for their behavior. However, there has not been an increase in the number of charges since the law was passed, despite local systems reporting hundreds of cases of violence at their hospitals every month. Some patient advocates are concerned that it hasn't helped deter violence and adversely affects those with mental health issues. People brought to the emergency department in crisis are at higher risk of lashing out. Several other states have considered enacting similar laws to increase legal penalties with violence in hospitals. Ohio nurses are advocating for a law that would increase penalties for using bodily fluids as a weapon against healthcare workers. California is also considering a law that would increase punishments for assaulting a healthcare worker. The former CFO of Loretto Hospital in Chicago is among three individuals charged in an indictment alleging involvement in a $15 million embezzlement scheme. Anosh Ahmed, MD, 40, of Houston, who served as the hospital's CFO and COO before resigning in 2021, is charged in the indictment returned July 11 with eight counts of wire fraud, four counts of embezzlement, 11 counts of aiding and abetting embezzlement, and three counts of money laundering, according to the Justice Department. Heather Bergdahl, MD, 37, of Houston, who served at Loretto with Dr. Ahmed, as the hospital's chief transformation officer, is charged with 14 counts of wire fraud, 21 counts of embezzlement and one count of money laundering. These charges add to previous charges filed against Dr. Bergdahl in May alleging embezzlement from a federally funded program. Sameer Suhail, MD, 47, of Chicago, the owner of a medical supply company accused of involvement in the alleged embezzlement scheme, is charged with 14 counts, including wire fraud, aiding and abetting embezzlement, and money laundering. As of July 12, arraignments in federal court in Chicago had not been scheduled, according to the Justice Department. Two sources familiar with the case told the Chicago Tribune that Dr. Ahmed fled to Dubai earlier in 2024. Attorneys for Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Suhail were not listed in court records as of July 12, and attorneys for Dr. Bergdahl could not immediately be reached for comment by the Tribune as of July 12. Loretto shared the following statement with Becker's: "Unfortunately, the hospital was targeted, preyed upon, and fell victim to a crime. Our dedication to the Austin Community, its residents and our employees is unwavering. We are committed to restoring the communitys confidence and trust in Loretto Hospital. For legal reasons, we are currently unable to discuss details but continue to offer our full cooperation and support to the authorities." The charges stem from an FBI investigation launched in 2021 regarding COVID-19 vaccines administered by Loretto at a church connected to Loretto's then-president and CEO, George Miller Jr. In March 2021, Mr. Miller, who, according to the Tribune has not been criminally charged, was suspended for two weeks without pay amid reports of improper COVID-19 vaccinations from the safety-net hospital. Mr. Miller, who departed the hospital in April 2022 amid a federal investigation, acknowledged that he authorized the hospital on March 10, 2021, to vaccinate restaurant, housekeeping and other hotel personnel at Trump Tower, where Dr. Ahmed owned a condo. Block Club Chicago and WBEZ also previously reported that judges in Cook County were offered doses by the hospital before they were eligible. The indictment released July 12, which was accessed by Becker's, alleges that from 2018 to 2022, Dr. Ahmed schemed with the other two defendants to cause the hospital to issue payments to vendor companies for purported goods and services that the hospital had not received. Prosecutors allege that Drs. Suhail and Ahmed created many of the purported vendor companies under various names to hide their association with the fraudulent payments, and that Dr. Bergdahl opened bank accounts in the names of two legitimate hospital vendors and caused Loretto to deposit fraudulent payments into those accounts. The indictment also alleges that to conceal the scheme, the defendants created fictitious documents, including fictitious invoices, payment requests, delivery receipts and other false documents, which contained false information about goods and services purportedly provided to Loretto. Overall, the defendants caused Loretto to pay more than $15 million into bank accounts that they controlled, prosecutors allege. Read more about the case here. Five viruses and infections are on the rise in 2024, according to the CDC. Some infections like COVID-19 are seeing a resurgence, while others such as pertussis are mirroring prepandemic levels. Here are the five infections to watch: 1. For the week ending July 6, about 1.3% of emergency department visits in the U.S. involved a COVID-19 diagnosis at discharge a nearly 24% increase from the previous week. Hawaii and Florida saw the highest percentage of ED visits diagnosed as COVID, at 4% and 3.1%, respectively. Many areas of the U.S. have seen a consistent increase in activity in recent weeks, with the CDC estimating that infections are growing or likely growing in 45 states and territories. 2. Four more poultry workers in Colorado have been diagnosed with bird flu, bringing the total to nine since the first human case was reported in 2022. Eight of the nine cases were reported this year. Health officials still say the threat to the general public is still low. 3. The CDC is warning clinicians and public health authorities of rising dengue infections in the U.S. In a June 25 advisory, the agency recommended healthcare providers maintain a high suspicion of the mosquito-borne viral infection among patients with a fever and who have recently traveled to areas where the infection is known to spread frequently. Dengue, also known as break-bone fever, spreads from infected mosquitoes to people and can cause severe disease in rare cases. So far this year, there have been more than 9.7 million cases globally, twice as many in all of 2023. In the U.S., there have been 2,241 cases since January, just under half of which were reported in Puerto Rico, where a public health emergency has been declared over the high number of cases. 4. The CDC is reporting a steep increase in pertussis cases this year. As of May 25, the CDC has confirmed 4,864 whooping cough cases this year among U.S. residents. This tally is up nearly threefold from the 1,746 cases reported in 2023. This trend reflects a global increase in pertussis cases and mirrors figures seen prior to the pandemic. 5. The CDC is warning of a possible mpox resurgence after a deadlier version of the infection "ravaged" the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mpox is showing signs of resurgence in the U.S. with the number of cases this year nearly double the tally from the same period in 2023. The CDC encourages high-risk Americans to become vaccinated before the resurgence hits in force and urges clinicians to be alert for possible cases in travelers from Congo. Former President Donald Trump was transported 11 miles from a July 13 rally in Pennsylvania to Butler (Pa.) Memorial Hospital, part of Independence Health, for treatment after being shot in the right ear during a political rally in Butler, Pa., CBS reported. Butler Memorial Hospital is a 294-bed hospital with a large critical care unit and extensive emergency care services. Its parent health system, Independence Health, was established in 2023 and has hospitals in Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland, Pa. One person at the rally died, and two others were injured. The two other patients were taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, according to The New York Times. The deceased victim was Corey Comperatore, 50. The other two living victims are said to be in stable condition, according to a state news release, and are David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74. The FBI identified the suspected shooter, who was killed by the Secret Service, as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. It remains an ongoing federal investigation. The latest mass shooting comes just 18 days after the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis. National Nurses United published a statement on the events of the weekend, saying "[We] condemn the shooting at Donald Trump's rally today. Nurses know that violence is never the solution to our countrys problems and polarized political climate. We wish everyone injured a full and complete recovery." Becker's reached out to Butler Memorial Hospital and Independence Health as well as to the Butler Township Police Department for comment. This week will be warm with sunshine getting through. After an unusually cold start to the summer we are beginning to see sunny and dry weather has finally arrived in Northern Ireland. According to the Met Office this week will be mainly dry with sunny spells. Monday will be a mainly dry day, with some sunshine in the morning with clouds gathering in the afternoon, leading to a few showers throughout the country. However, Monday will feel warm with winds remaining light. The Met Office has predicted a maximum temperature 20 C with a minimum temperature of 11 C. Heading into Monday evening, any showers will die out to leave a dry night with clear periods. There will some patches of mist and fog later into the night. Coming into Tuesday, will we again, see a mainly dry day with sunny spells. It will become cloudier in the afternoon with a few light showers alongside some light winds. With the maximum temperature hitting 20 C. Wednesday will begin similarly, with sunny spells and a few light showers however the weather will take a turn into Wednesday evening, when we will see more persistent showers. Showers will clear coming into Thursday however, the Met Office has warned rain and strengthening winds at set to edge in during Friday. News Catch Up: Monday 15 July 2024 A Westminster alignment of unionist representatives from Northern Ireland with Reform UK MPs would deliver a really big positive for the union, Ben Habib has said. The former deputy leader of Reform UK suggested such a parliamentary arrangement could create a powerful voice for unionism in the House of Commons. Mr Habibs comments come as TUV leader and newly elected North Antrim MP Jim Allister considers whether to take the Reform UK whip in the Commons a move that would effectively boost the strength of Nigel Farages party to six MPs. Reform UKs Ben Habib and TUV leader Jim Allister (David Young/PA) Former MEP Mr Habib suggested a wider parliamentary link-up should be contemplated one that would incorporate the DUPs five MPs, the sole Ulster Unionist Robin Swann and independent unionist MP for North Down Alex Easton. Mr Habib said Mr Allister taking the Reform UK whip would see his party having six representatives who were all genuinely pro-unionists fighting for Great Britain and Northern Irelands union. And I think that would give it the dominant voice in Parliament, particularly given how erudite and articulate Jim and Nigel are, he told BBC Radio Ulsters Talkback programme. And that I think would then, whether they like it or not, get the DUP to swing in behind Reform UK and, all of a sudden, youve then got 11 MPs singing for the Union. And it becomes quite difficult for the UUP MP and Alex Easton also not to swing in behind, so you get 13 MPs and I see that as the upside of this election. Everyone feared that the unionist vote would get split by Jim Allister and TUV standing in the 14 constituencies (in Northern Ireland) in which they stood but if this complexion of arrangements can emerge in the Commons, actually unionisms representation in Parliament will be much greater than it was in the previous parliament. And youll have two of the most articulate speakers making the case for the Union. So, I hope that this will turn out to be a really big positive thing for the union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. TUV and Reform UK had an electoral alliance in the recent General Election. However, that arrangement was thrown into confusion when Mr Farage, shortly after taking over the leadership, declared his personal backing for two DUP candidates in the election, including Ian Paisley who was running against Mr Allister in North Antrim. Despite that episode, Mr Allister defeated Mr Paisley in the shock result of the election in Northern Ireland. Mr Habib was last week stood down as deputy leader of Reform UK as Mr Farage moved former leader Richard Tice into that role. Following his sacking, Mr Habib has called for more democratisation around decision-making within Reform UK. He said he would not be quitting the party in the short term, but indicated his future in Reform UK depended on changes coming about. I will not leave the battlefield, he said. I hope, as many millions of people in this country do, that Reform will go on from strength to strength, and I hope that I would be part of that ride. But a critical component now I think for that ride is that Reform democratises. And I just want to see what shape and form that democratisation process produces. A man is detained as protesters stand off with gardai in Coolock, north Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) A number of arrests have been made after Gardai clashed with anti-immigration protesters at a site in north Dublin that is due to be developed to house asylum seekers. Gardai and fire service personnel came under attack with missiles at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock, where a makeshift camp had been set up. Incapacitant spray has been used by the garda public order unit in an attempt to disperse a crowd which has gathered. Workers who were due to begin renovating the premises were removed from the site. It followed the setting of a number of fires at the location. Videos and pictures posted on social media on Monday showed a digger in flames. The protesters object to the disused building being redeveloped to house asylum seekers. The Garda Public Order Unit as wheelie bins are set alight by protesters (Niall Carson/PA) Irelands Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said she was appalled by the scenes. The protest camp was set up several months ago to prevent workers from renovating the premises, with people in attendance around the clock. Videos on social media also showed a stand-off between gardai and protesters, while some demonstrators were seen shouting abuse at officers. 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 Masked men and youths were also seen at the site, while a man with a megaphone told the crowd the Government is going to change the constitution. He claimed ministers will change the 39th amendment to take our private property. They are going to ask you if you have a private room and force you to put them in, he said. Dozens of gardai attended the site and formed a line to bar access to protesters. Officers from the Public Order Unit were also in the area. Violence flared as bricks and fireworks were thrown at Garda officers and the fire service and a bin was set alight. Protesters stand off with gardai after a number of fires have been started at the former site of the Crown Paints factory in Coolock (Niall Carson/PA) Pictures from the scene show a number of people being detained by Gardai. In a social media post, Ms McEntee said: I am appalled at the criminal behaviour that took place in Coolock today. I have spoken to the Garda Commissioner (Drew Harris) and he has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice. She added: Gardai were on the scene immediately and the public order unit is onsite. People engaged in such acts will face the full rigours of the law. A garda spokesman said: Gardai are currently at the scene of a public order incident at a premises on the Malahide Road, Dublin 17, this morning. The Malahide Road is currently closed and diversions are in place. As this is an ongoing incident, An Garda Siochana has no further details at this time. Dublin Fire Brigade said: The Malahide Road is closed in both directions near the industrial park as we deal with pallets and construction machinery alight. Three fire engines from Kilbarrack, North Strand and Finglas fire stations along with a turntable ladder are on scene. Sinn Fein Dublin City Councillor Micheal Mac Donncha described the scenes as deplorable. He said: The burning of vehicles and attempted burning of the building are violent criminal acts and must be strongly condemned. Those responsible should desist immediately. This is an effort to spread fear and hate in our communities and the vast majority of decent people want nothing to do with it. Criminal barristers take part in a demonstration outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin as they withdraw services amid an ongoing fees dispute (Niall Carson/PA) Criminal barristers have withdrawn services across the country, in the second of three days of action this month. Protests are taking place where criminal cases were due to be heard on Monday, at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, and courthouses in Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Castlebar. Criminal barristers withdrew their services as part of a campaign to have their pay cuts reversed. In an unprecedented move, barristers first withdrew their services last October, which led to a restoration of 10% of fees in the budget. Criminal barristers take part in a demonstration outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin as they withdraw services amid an ongoing fee dispute (Niall Carson/PA) However, barristers say the rise did not fully restore their pay following cuts made in the financial crash, and that the breaking of the link to public sector pay agreements has yet to be restored. The Council of The Bar of Ireland said its members are increasingly frustrated at the lack of engagement from Government on the matter. Chairwoman of the council of The Bar of Ireland Sara Phelan SC said there has been no progress in their bid to restore their pay. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform put out a statement saying it was the gift of the Minister for Justice (Helen McEntee) to actually deal with fees, Ms Phelan said. The Minister for Justice is saying nothing can be done ahead of the budget process, so therefore we are in no better position now than we were last week. We have to wait to see what the Government wants to do for us. The ball is very firmly in their court. We are ready, willing and able to engage with them, to talk to them. We have made that very clear, that we remain open to conversation and to engagement in order to avert the third day of protest, which is next week. 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 What we would like is a binding commitment now, that binding commitment could take effect as and of the budget but we would like to see a binding commitment now. We dont believe that that cant be done because public sector pay agreements are completed outside of the budget process from time to time, and there has been one earlier on this year that will take effect with the budget. We dont see why that cant be done in our case as well. She added: My criminal colleagues around the country who practice crime on the circuit, they are increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress. They were very frustrated last October, we had our day of protest, and that resulted in a 10% restoration. That 10% had actually been taken from us in 2011. That 10% hadnt applied to any other sector at that stage. We were uniquely the subject of that cut. However, the government also in the budget committed to engaging with us to review fees and to review the criminal legal aid system. But our review of fees was to be built into that. We wrote to the Minister for Justice in November setting out draft terms of reference for review. Criminal barristers walking out to take part in a demonstration outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) There was no real engagement from the Department of Justice. There was one meeting on the 25th of June before our day of protests took place. But that obviously was far too little far too late. Our members now are becoming very, very frustrated. The sense of frustration is far more palpable now than it was last October. There is a sense of annoyance, theres a sense of being let down by government, theres a sense of being taken advantage of, and members are not happy by any stretch of the imagination. There has been a huge support for these days of protest. The Bar Council can only make a recommendation to its members, but our members in unity have decided to come out and protest last week, this week and next week. Junior barrister Aoife McNickle has been practising at the Bar for 15 years. She said: I can really see over the 15 years how practice has changed and the fact that our fees havent changed in that period of time is really making things untenable now. Its making things much more difficult. The lists are much heavier than they were, for example, even pre-Covid, so its with reluctance that weve had to come out again here today. The rate of attrition we can see that people are leaving after year six, and thats the average time when people are leaving the criminal bar. People who want to practice in law and do this important work are now leaving at the end of year six or thereabouts because they cant make a living wage. These are people who have no aspirations to be fat-cat lawyers or anything like that. They want to do a good job, but they cant make a living wage and they cant stay and were losing those good people. We can see how thats going to affect the Bar and the criminal justice system in the years to come. In fact, its we can see those effects now. It affects everyone within the criminal justice system. Its not just accused clients, its also complainants who are waiting for their trials to be heard. Junior counsel Aoife OLeary has been practising for 20 years. The work has become increasingly complex. Theres been an explosion in the amount of data that has to be reviewed by barristers in preparation for criminal trials arising from the use of mobile phones or further increases in technology, Ms OLeary said. Barristers have stepped up and done that work, and in 2018 barristers participated in a departmental review, which concluded that we had provided the efficiencies that would warrant the restoration of pay cuts, and that arose from the manner in which the Bar has continued to engage in the work and the commitment that barristers have to their work. Its a sign of extreme frustration within the Bar that barristers have been prepared to take these days of action, effectively arising from a situation where they were being ignored by Government. A fire has broken out at a site in north Dublin that is due to be developed to house asylum seekers (Niall Carson/PA) A fire has broken out at a site in north Dublin that is due to be developed to house asylum seekers. A number of fires have been started at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock, where a makeshift camp has been set up by anti-immigration protesters. The protesters object to the disused building being redeveloped to house asylum seekers. Videos and pictures posted on social media on Monday showed a digger in flames at the site. The protest camp was set up several months ago to prevent workers from renovating the premises, with people in attendance around the clock. Videos on social media also showed a stand-off between gardai and protesters, while some demonstrators were seen shouting abuse at officers. 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 Masked men and youths were also seen at the site, while a man with a megaphone told the crowd the Government is going to change the constitution. He claimed ministers will change the 39th amendment to take our private property. They are going to ask you if you have a private room and force you to put them in, he said. Dozens of gardai attended the site and formed a line to bar access to protesters. Officers from the Public Order Unit were also in the area, but remained on stand-by. A garda spokesman said: Gardai are currently at the scene of a public order incident at a premises on the Malahide Road, Dublin 17, this morning. The Malahide Road is currently closed and diversions are in place. As this is an ongoing incident, An Garda Siochana has no further details at this time. Dublin Fire Brigade said: The Malahide Road is closed in both directions near the industrial park as we deal with pallets and construction machinery alight. Three fire engines from Kilbarrack, North Strand and Finglas fire stations along with a turntable ladder are on scene. Missiles thrown as public order unit deployed to site in CoolockGardai use pepper spray on protesters, as garda helicopter monitors situationHelen McEntee says shes appalled at criminal behaviour and vows to bring those responsible to justiceGardai cleared protest encampment at site set to house asylum seekers early this morningConstruction equipment set on fire Protesters have thrown missiles and gardai have arrested several people at a makeshift anti-immigration protest camp in Coolock that had been cleared by gardai early this morning. A large number of protesters were still gathered at the camp at the site in north Dublin earmarked for asylum accommodation later this morning, when fires were set and construction equipment and other materials were destroyed. The Malahide Road, a main artery into the city, is currently closed. In the last hour violence flared as anti-immigration protesters who had been manning the protest encampment that had been at the site for several months faced off with more members of the Garda Public Order Unit who had arrived at the scene. As members of the public order unit wearing helmets and carrying shields moved in a line along the road, some protesters threw missiles including bricks, at the gardai. Gardai used pepper spray and restrained some protesters before making arrests. Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she is "appalled" by the scenes and has spoken with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris who has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice. "I am appalled at the criminal behaviour that took place in Coolock today," Minister McEntee said on X. The minister said those who engaged in criminal activity "will face the full rigours of the law". 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 Some protesters had faced off with gardai throughout the morning and into afternoon, with local people and anti-immigration activists at the scene. Fire broke out at the makeshift camp at the former Crown Paints factory that has been manned by anti-immigration protesters for several weeks at the site on the Malahide Road. A mechanical digger, as well as pallets and other materials at the site, were destroyed, with flames encroaching on trees at the site. The site is currently being considered for accommodation for up to 500 asylum seekers. The incident followed a garda operation to clear the encampment that had been manned by anti-immigration protesters at the site which is set to house asylum seekers. Work is due to start at the site this week. A number of gardai, including members of the Public Order Unit, were involved in the operation overnight at around 4am and removed the tents and a small number of people present. This morning an excavator was set on fire at the site along with a number of wooden pallets, while a large crowd have since gathered at the location. Extra garda resources have been directed to the area and currently remain at the scene. The public order unit has been requested to the scene. Dublin Fire Brigade are also at the scene. Footage posted on social media sites TikTok and X shows a fire lit beside an excavator and trees, and masked individuals shouting. 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 One individual is filming the fire beside the trees, shouting: The trees will go up, theyre about to go on fire. A spokesperson for the Department of Integration said work was set to begin today on the site of the former Crown Paints Factory which was to house international protection applicants. That work was expected to take weeks to be completed. "This morning, a provider attempted to begin work on the former Crown Paints Factory in Coolock to allow it be used as accommodation for people seeking international protection. "No international protection applicants were due to be accommodated today as the work is anticipated to take several weeks," a department spokesperson said. The site on the Malahide Road has been the location of an ongoing protest at the entrance and the spokesperson said the activity has "delayed work beginning on this site for several months". "The department condemns all acts of criminality and intimidation of providers and their employees," the spokesperson said. The department said it has engaged with local representatives in relation to the use of the Coolock site. "The department is working with communities to find suitable places for people to stay while their applications for international protection are processed. "The departments community engagement team has engaged with local public representatives in relation to the site at Coolock," the spokesperson said. Earlier, the department said the proposal is for modular units placed inside the warehouse, providing mixed use accommodation for families, couples, single adult males and single adult females. A digger destroyed by fire at the site in Coolock A garda spokesman said: As this is an ongoing incident, An Garda Siochana has no further details at this time. It is the latest in a series of blazes at sites earmarked for asylum accommodation that have been the subject of protests by far-right and anti-immigration activists. Local Social Democrats councillor Jesslyn Henry told the Irish Independent she was shocked by the incident. "I heard this morning that the site had been cleared of the protesters overnight, and we saw on social media this morning a call out for people to come down and to take back the site, she said. "And then ever since, it's news of the fires and I'm shocked by it, to be honest. "Communities started to dwindle around the protests and things were quietening down around the area, and then the news of all of this going on today, it's just very, very shocking, she added. Fine Gael councillor Declan Flanagan hopes those responsible for the incident will be brought to justice in due course. "I fully condemn any act of violence or any destruction that's caused to public property. "I would hope that nobody has been injured, and I don't agree with that whatsoever, he said. News Catch Up: Monday 15 July 2024 The Queen admires some Jersey cattle as she attends the Jersey Expo Event at Weighbridge Place in St Helier, Jersey (Andrew Matthews.The Sun/PA) The Queen was left amused after two cows including one she was patting became very friendly with each other during a royal visit to Jersey. Camilla could not help but laugh as the animal she was stroking was mounted by another. But she was quick to compose herself, while the King appeared to be unaware of the incident. The royals were on a tour of the Jersey Expo Event at Weighbridge Place in St Helier, an exhibition created to celebrate local agriculture, aquaculture and environmental initiatives. The King and Queen travelled to Jersey on Monday as part of their first visit to the Channel Islands which are Crown Dependencies off the north-west coast of France since the King acceded to the throne. They will travel to Guernsey on Tuesday, where they will attend a special sitting of the States of Deliberation and ancient ceremony of homage to the monarch, held outdoors on the St Peter Port seafront where islanders can watch the events. Charles sent a private message to the former US president (Chris Jackson/PA) The King has written privately to Donald Trump after the former US president survived an assassination attempt, Buckingham Palace said. It is understood Charless message was in keeping with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmers conversation with Mr Trump, in which he condemned the violence, expressed his condolences for the victims and their families, and wished the former president and those injured a quick recovery. The Kings message was delivered on Sunday via the UK embassy in Washington DC. Charles condemned the violence which left Mr Trump injured at a political rally (Andrew Matthews/PA) Buckingham Palace said the contents of the correspondence would be kept private. In 2019, Charles, the-then Prince of Wales, hosted Mr Trump and his wife Melania for afternoon tea at Clarence House with the then-Duchess of Cornwall during a Nato summit in London. Mr Trump was also feted with a state banquet, hosted by the late Queen, during a state visit to the UK earlier the same year. The then-US president Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth II during the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in 2019 (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The Republican presidential candidate, who was targeted by a gunman at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, said he wants to bring the country together in the wake of the attack. He told The Washington Examiner, before an address to the Republican National Convention, if he had not turned his head away from the crowd to look at a screen showing data he was using in his speech, we would not be talking today. Mr Trump said on his Truth Social media platform that a bullet had pierced his ear before he was dragged to the ground by Secret Service agents. Republican presidential candidate former president Donald Trump is escorted to a motorcade following an attempted assassination at a campaign event (Gene J. Puskar/AP) One person at the rally was killed former fire chief Corey Comperatore and two other spectators were critically injured, authorities said. The gunman, 20-year-old nursing home employee and registered Republican Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by the Secret Service. It was the most serious attempt to assassinate a US president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that there had been disgraceful scenes in the run-up to the General Election vote (Jeff Moore/PA) Ministers and officials will hold talks next week following the alarming rise in intimidation and abuse of political candidates during the general election campaign, the Home Secretary has said. Yvette Cooper said there had been disgraceful scenes in some areas in the run-up to the July 4 vote as she announced she would chair a meeting of the Governments defending democracy taskforce. It comes as the Governments adviser on political violence John Woodcock, a former Labour MP who now sits in the House of Lords as Baron Walney, said he feared it was only a matter of time before there is another serious attack on a politician unless more is done to address the safety of MPs. Ms Cooper said in a statement on Monday: Political violence, intimidation and harassment have no place in our democracy. The recent general election campaign demonstrated some of the great strengths of our democratic traditions, including a smooth and peaceful transition of power from one party to another, but during this campaign, we also saw an alarming rise in intimidation, harassment and abuse towards candidates, campaigners and volunteers from all parties which simply cannot be tolerated. Some of those incidents are now being investigated by police. The disgraceful scenes we saw in some areas during this election campaign must not be repeated. Ms Cooper said the task force, which was set up by the previous Tory government and will bring together ministers and experts, would meet to make sure public safety, security and standards in our democracy can be upheld. The Home Office will carry out a rapid review of the election to gauge the level of harassment faced by candidates with police forces across the country investigating a number of cases, it is understood. John Woodcock was appointed the Governments adviser on political violence (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament) Speaking to the PA news agency on Monday, Lord Walney said that there is a much greater level of intimidation present in UK politics than what has appeared in the public domain. On Friday, he wrote to the Home Secretary suggesting a short but systematic review assessing the scale of the problem, and saying there had been a concerted campaign by extremists to create a hostile atmosphere for MPs within their constituencies to compel them to cave into political demands. Following the assassination attempt against Donald Trump on the weekend, Lord Walney said that in both Britain and the US there are some parts of our political debate that are deeply toxic and divided. My fear is that unless we can do more to address both the physical safety of MPs and a wider culture that too often is a permissive atmosphere for potentially violent threats, then it is only a matter of time before there is another serious attack on a serving politician in the UK, he told PA. Labour former minister Dawn Butler said there was definitely more aggression in the air during this years General Election campaign. Speaking to Sky News Politics Hub, the MP for Brent East added: I had somebody following me and being very aggressive and shouting and recording, but thats with the police so I dont want to talk too much about that. And just today, we had to report somebody to the police who was trying to advocate violence against me, and so I think social media has a huge role to play with it. She added: People have a right to ask a question and I dont mind people being angry, but being intimidating and violence and threatening to kill is a completely different matter. Earlier this month, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood recalled how she, her family and supporters had been targeted in the run-up to polling day, saying that some people had sought to deny her Muslim faith. Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy had the window of her office smashed days before the election while Jess Phillips used her victory speech in Birmingham Yardley to speak of repeated intimidation she and campaigners faced during the campaign. 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 Both Ms Phillips who quit Labours front bench last year to vote in favour of a Gaza ceasefire in Parliament and Ms Mahmood faced competition in their Birmingham seats from candidates who stood on pro-Gaza tickets. Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Diane Abbott criticised Lord Walneys intervention in a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying it was a crude effort to demonise all those who support Palestinian rights. Lord Walney said that during the election campaign there had been some deeply aggressive pro-Palestine campaigners seeking to single out and target (candidates), and that is an entirely separate thing to the expressions of protest on the streets. Ms Abbott said: John Woodcock is a Boris Johnson appointment. He has no credibility. This is just a crude effort to demonise all those who support Palestinian rights. Nurse Elizabeth Donowho was unable to walk for six weeks following a car crash (Jacob King/PA) A US citizen who allegedly left a mental health nurse unable to walk for six weeks after a car crash has been arrested in Texas almost a year later. West Mercia Police told Elizabeth Donowho that Issac Calderon is due to appear in a US court on Monday regarding his potential extradition to the UK following the collision in July last year. He is accused of causing Ms Donowho serious injury by dangerous driving. Elizabeth Donowho suffered multiple fractures in the crash (Elizabeth Donowho/PA) In an email, seen by the PA news agency, Ms Donowho was informed of the arrest on Monday. The force previously said the suspect was not arrested immediately after the incident on the A4103 near Shucknall in Herefordshire due to requiring medical attention for serious injuries. Ms Donowho, from Malvern, Worcestershire, suffered multiple fractures in the crash including both ankles, her sternum and her right hand. Police previously told the mental health nurse that Calderon had been carrying out work associated with the secret service and was working on matters that might come under the Official Secrets Act. Calderon, who was 22 at the time of the crash, was able to leave on a commercial flight to Texas on November 25 last year ahead of a scheduled hearing at Kidderminster Magistrates Court the following month. In a short statement released after being informed of Calderons arrest, the spokesman for Ms Donowho, Radd Seiger, told PA: It is almost a year since Elizabeth suffered the crash which very nearly took her life. We do not know why the extradition process has taken so long but we are delighted to see that it is now under way and we look forward to Mr Calderon being returned to the UK shortly so that he can face our justice system. He is of course innocent of the charges he faces until proven otherwise. PA understands there are no issues surrounding diplomatic immunity in Calderons case. Senator JD Vance, with Donald Trump, is a top contender to be selected as running mate (Jeff Dean/AP) A defiant Donald Trump, having just survived an attempted assassination, enters the Republican National Convention having not yet announced his vice presidential choice, but he said he would do so on Monday. It remains unclear whether the shooting on Saturday at his Pennsylvania rally has changed the former presidents thinking about his potential second-in-command. He told Fox News Channel host Bret Baier that he planned to make his pick on Monday. After the shooting, Mr Trumps choice carries considerably more gravity. If a bullet had struck just a little bit to the right, Mr Trump would probably have been killed or seriously injured. The close call puts in stark relief the significance of a position that is a heartbeat away from the presidency. Senator Marco Rubio could be chosen (Gerald Herbert/AP) Mr Trump has repeatedly said that choosing someone who was qualified to take over as commander in chief was his top consideration for the role. You need somebody that can be good just in case, that horrible just in case, he said in May. Hours before the shooting, in an interview before he boarded his plane from Florida, he told Fox News Channels Harris Faulkner: Its a very important position, especially if something bad should happen thats the most important. Those on Mr Trumps shortlist have differing levels of governing experience. Ohio senator JD Vance, for instance, has been in office less than two years, while North Dakota governor Doug Burgum runs a state with a population (780,000 people) smaller than Columbus, Ohio (908,000). Florida senator Marco Rubio has been in politics for decades and is in his third term in the Senate. Before the shooting, Mr Trump had made clear that he wanted to dramatically reveal his choice at the convention, which he said would make it more interesting and exciting. North Dakota governor Doug Burgum is in the running (Alex Brandon/AP) Its like a highly sophisticated version of The Apprentice, he quipped in a radio interview last week, referring to the show he once hosted that featured him firing contestants on camera. Mr Trump and convention organisers have said the convention schedule will go on as planned despite the shooting, with Mr Trump writing on his social media site that he could not allow a shooter, or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win, he wrote. He held meetings in the days before the shooting with the top contenders. All have submitted material to convention organisers that can be used to prepare content if they are picked. Mr Trump waiting until the convention to choose a running mate is later than usual for recent cycles but is hardly unprecedented. In 1980, Ronald Reagan negotiated with former president Gerald Ford for hours during the Republican convention in Detroit but settled on his former primary rival George HW Bush when those discussions collapsed. Mr Reagan cut it so close that his decision came less than 24 hours before he formally accepted the partys nomination. Mr Bush himself waited until the 1988 Republican convention in New Orleans before shocking many, as well as some of the then-vice presidents own top advisers, by picking little-known Indiana senator Dan Quayle rather than a more established running mate. Since then, though, the tradition has been to pick a running mate shortly before the candidates partys convention opens. In 2008, Arizona senator John McCain, looking for a way to reset his race against Democrat Barack Obama, picked little-known Alaska governor Sarah Palin shortly before the Republican convention opened in Minnesota. He got a bump in the polls that did not last. Democrat Joe Biden tapped then-California senator Kamala Harris as his running mate six days before his party opened its convention, which was held mostly virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Trump chose Indiana governor Mike Pence in the days before the 2016 Republican convention opened in Cleveland. First lady of NI drag donating 20,000 of outfits to local charity Show Some Love blown away by Lady Ps very generous gesture Marcus Hunter-Neill as Lady P Maureen Coleman Mon 15 Jul 2024 at 07:23 As Marcus Hunter-Neill, his style is a mix of summertime sailor and country gent, while his alter-ego, Lady Portia DiMonte epitomises north Down housewife elegance and glamour. Artist banned from painting by Taliban opens Antrim studio Razieh thanks local community for making her dream come true Razieh Mirzaee Stephanie Bell Mon 15 Jul 2024 at 07:21 An Afghan artist who opened a studio in Antrim has thanked the people of her adopted hometown for making her dream come true. East Belfast man James Reid facing trial accused of blackmail Alleged UVF enforcer James Reid has been granted bail to have a family meal with his ailing father. The 42-year-old, who is facing several charges in relation to a blackmail plot and cocaine supply operation, will be freed from jail for one day this week. The Vermont Historical Society will publish its next book, "Ira Allen: A Biography," in September. Written by eminent Vermont historian J. Kevin Graffagnino, this book is a new, full-length biography that examines Allens life and contributions to the founding of the state of Vermont. Born on April 21, 1751, Ira Allen was a land speculator, revolutionary, pamphleteer, politician and empire builder, and was a key figure on the Green Mountain frontier. In a remarkable Vermont pioneer generation that included such noteworthy leaders as his brother Ethan Allen, Thomas Chittenden, Moses Robinson, Isaac Tichenor and Stephen Row Bradley, Ira stood out for his extraordinary energy, vision and accomplishments. He helped create and sustain the independent State of Vermont, held such important state offices as treasurer, surveyor general and member of the Governors Council, published hundreds of pages defending Vermont against a host of internal and external enemies and represented Vermont in negotiations with the British Empire, other American states and Congress. J. Kevin Graffagninos biography ably details Ira Allens extraordinary life. As the first published examination of Allens career in nearly a century, this book shines new light on Allen and his prominent role in Vermonts formative decades. Graffagnino began his career at the University of Vermont library, where he served as curator of Vermont history from 1978 to 1995 and served as the Vermont Historical Societys executive director from 2003 to 2008. Vermont Historical Society Executive Director Steve Perkins says along with his brother Ethan, Ira Allen holds a distinct place in the mythology of Vermont. Ira's political thought contributed to early Vermont government, his mixture of private business and public service shaped much of our geographical landscape, and his pen defined an origin story for our state that persists to today. At times celebrated and villainized, this complex figure is now getting the even-handed biographical attention he deserves. VHS Managing Editor Alan Berolzheimer says Graffagnino has been researching and writing about Ira Allen for more than 30 years, and now he has pulled all that scholarship together to publish the first full-length, comprehensive, critical biography of arguably Vermonts most important Founding Father. It will enable scholars and readers interested in Vermont history to acquire a fuller and more nuanced picture of the states formative years. Former Gov. Jim Douglas praised the book, saying Surveyor, speculator, author, revolutionary: Ira Allen led a colorful and complicated life thats captured in all its glory by one of Vermonts foremost historians. Kevin Graffagnino brings a lifetime of scholarship to this biography of a Founding Father of the Green Mountain State. Was Ira likeable? Maybe not, but he was a key player in Vermonts early history. Youll know a lot more about the states formative years after reading this book. "Ira Allen: A Biography" will be released Sept. 13 as a trade paperback and eBook and will retail for $24.95. It is now available for preorder from the Vermont Historical Society store and will be available on Amazon.com and in physical bookstores throughout Vermont. Founded in 1838, the Vermont Historical Society believes understanding the past changes lives and builds better communities. Our purpose is to engage Vermonters and Vermonters-at-Heart with outstanding collections, state-wide outreach, and dynamic programming. China urges promoting "internet plus" to enhance elderly care Xinhua) 10:13, July 15, 2024 A contestant competes during an elderly care contest, part of a national vocational skills competition, in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has called for efforts to explore an "internet plus" monitoring mode as well as the application of other new technologies to enhance elderly care services. With the rapid development of the elderly care industry, new challenges have emerged, necessitating more efforts to push monitoring in elderly care onto another level, the ministry noted at a work meeting on Saturday. Risks should be prevented and eliminated in key areas such as elderly care funds, operations and emergency response, with enhanced ethics and professional skills education for practitioners to further standardize, normalize and professionalize elderly care services. The ministry also stressed efforts to improve the rule of law in elderly care by gradually shoring up weaknesses in the system, especially in key areas and emerging business forms. As of the end of 2023, China had over 217 million people aged 65 and above. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan) If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. At this point we dont foresee any change in the shopping center," said David Burns, general counsel for First Hartford Realty Corp which is managing the property. Students head into Drury High School in 2022. The first year of the early college program, in partnership with MCLA, saw more than 120 students earn college credits. WEST STOCKBRIDGE Facing a shrinking volunteer firefighter and paramedic pool, three towns are considering a plan to jointly fund round-the-clock coverage in their communities. Officials from three towns on Wednesday gathered at West Stockbridge Town Hall for the first public meeting of the Richmond/Stockbridge/West Stockbridge Fire/EMS Committee. The committee's mission is to deal with the issue now before it becomes a bigger problem in five to 10 years. Right now, the panel is about to start its research on cost and dig into the details. The question is: What it would take for a paid 24/7 call response service backed up by volunteers for both fire and ambulances, said Stockbridge Town Administrator Michael Canales. These discussions will include the cost of building a firehouse with sleeping quarters, which is required for this type of shift work. The most strategic location for such a building is up for debate, but officials, including West Stockbridge Town Administrator Marie Ryan, are already considering locations. At the next meeting, scheduled for Aug. 22, representatives of each town will return bearing some financial data to help move the project along. The committee was formed to brainstorm ways to ensure timely ambulance and fire services amid volunteer and money shortages that lead to slow response times. It began with friction as West Stockbridge considered merging its fire department with Stockbridge's leaving out Richmond, which currently shares fire services and a fire chief. But now the three towns are working together. Although, they initially had planned to keep these talks private, The Berkshire Edge reported. Ambulance response times and services are already growing anemic as squads scramble for money from private donors or municipalities. The state doesnt consider EMS as an essential service. Low Medicare reimbursements are swallowed up by costs. Its a countywide problem, and one that is creating ambulance deserts. These three towns are trying to get ahead" of what could be a dangerous crisis in future, Canales said. But that means taxpayers shelling out. Neal Pilson, chair of the Richmond Select Board, said he is concerned about the borrowing powers of the towns in building new firehouses. For Richmond, $2 million for this would be "hefty," Pilson said. Pilson also wondered if the towns should consider creating a fire district that taxes separately the way New York does. West Stockbridge/Richmond Fire Chief Steven Traver said this is entirely possible, as other towns in the county do it. Taxpayer dollars can be stretched in other ways. By sharing costs, the three towns are eligible for more state and federal grants, said Stockbridge Fire Chief Vincent Garofoli. But there are deeper problems causing the volunteer shortages that also need solving, said Jim MacDonald. MacDonald pointed to high housing costs in the county that are keeping young people out. He said housing specifically for responders is desperately needed going forward. God has revealed his character and identity to us through the Scripture and the Spirit. Since he is eternal, we know him to be unchanging, all knowing, all powerful, and all good. Our loving Father keeps his promises, and his word doesnt return void. But does God change his mind? And if he does, what does that mean in relation to his other attributes? Does the Bible Give Examples When God Changes His Mind? The Bible provides several instances where it appears that God changes his mind or repents of a decision. Scripture gives one notable example in Jonahs story, with the city of Nineveh. In Jonah 3:4, Jonah proclaims, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown! Jonah declares this as a definite future event. The people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth as a sign of their repentance. When God saw their deeds and that they turned from their wicked ways, he relented from the disaster he had said he would bring upon them (Jonah 3:10). Another significant example happens with King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:1-6. The prophet Isaiah tells Hezekiah to set his house in order because he will die. Hezekiah prays and weeps bitterly, asking God to remember his faithfulness. God responds to Hezekiahs prayer by sending Isaiah back to tell him that he has heard his prayer and seen his tears, and will add fifteen years to his life. In Exodus 32:9-14, after the Israelites worship the golden calf, God expresses his intent to destroy them and make a great nation out of Moses instead. Moses intercedes on behalf of the people, reminding God of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As a result, the LORD relented from the harm which he said he would do to his people (Exodus 32:14). Genesis 18:22-33 provides a compelling example when Abraham pleads with God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if righteous people are found there. Abraham negotiates with God, starting from fifty righteous people down to ten. Each time, God agrees to spare the city if that number of righteous people is found. What Are the Principles and Themes Surrounding When God Changes His Mind? One significant theme is repentance and intercession. Jonah 3:4-10 depicts how the people of Nineveh responded to Jonahs warning of impending destruction with genuine repentance. They fasted, wore sackcloth, and cried out to God, turning from their evil ways. In response, God relented. God is willing to change his plans in response to sincere repentance and the abandonment of sinful behaviors. Intercessory prayer is another powerful theme. In Exodus 32:9-14, after the Israelites made a golden calf and worshiped it, Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites, reminding God of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and appealing to his reputation among the Egyptians. As a result, the Lord relented. This story highlights how intercessory prayer can move God to reconsider his judgments, demonstrating his compassion and willingness to forgive. Additionally, Moses appealed to Gods character and glory with the nations, implying how God would be worshipped and feared more if Israel was redeemed and not destroyed. The theme of personal prayer and weeping is evident in the story of King Hezekiah. God responded to Hezekiahs prayer by sending Isaiah back to tell Hezekiah that he had heard his prayer and seen his tears, and he would add fifteen years to Hezekiahs life. This incident underscores the theme that God responds to heartfelt, personal prayer, showing his readiness to alter His plans in response to individual pleas. Abrahams negotiation with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18:22-33 showcases another aspect of intercession. Abraham pleaded with God to spare the cities if a certain number of righteous people could be found. Although the cities were ultimately destroyed due to their wickedness, this dialogue reveals Gods openness to intercession and his desire to find reasons to show mercy rather than execute judgment. Another instance illustrating this theme is found in the life of King David. In 2 Samuel 24:10-25, after David sinned by conducting a census of Israel, God sent a plague as punishment. David repented and pleaded for mercy. God instructed David to build an altar and offer sacrifices, after which the plague was stopped. This event underscores the theme of repentance and sacrifice, showing that genuine contrition and acts of atonement can lead God to relent from further judgment. What Does It Mean for God to Repent? In the Bible, to repent means to turn away from sin and change ones mind and actions towards God. The Hebrew word for repent, shuv, means to return or turn back, signifying a change in direction. The Greek word metanoia means a transformative change of heart and mind, reflecting a deep, sincere commitment to forsake sin and follow God's ways. At the same time, to relent means to show mercy or change ones intended course of action, often in response to repentance or prayer. The Hebrew word nacham means to be moved with compassion or to change ones mind, often implying a shift from planned judgment to mercy. The Greek word metamelomai conveys a sense of regret or reconsideration, highlighting a compassionate change of intention. God doesnt need to change his mind due to sin. And yet he does seem to either repent or stay his actions due to certain reasons. However, it is important to understand these instances in the context of Gods unchanging nature. Numbers 23:19 states, God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good? When the Bible speaks of God relenting or repenting, it signifies his willingness to show mercy and change his intended course of action in response to human repentance, prayer, and intercession. This does not imply that God makes mistakes or has regrets in the human sense, but rather, it demonstrates his dynamic relationship with humanity. Gods condemnation of sin is certain because his justice demands it. However, his compassion provides a way for mercy to triumph over judgment. Gods desire for a relationship with us is central to his nature. He longs for us to turn from our sinful ways and return to him. This is his will and plan. When God relents from sending calamity, it reflects his deep love and mercy, providing a path for redemption. Through repentance, prayer, and intercession, we partner with God in the redemptive process. Prayer and intercession are powerful tools through which we can appeal to God's mercy, both for ourselves and for others. This partnership is not contrary to Gods will; it is part of his divine plan. He has designed the relationship to be interactive, where our actions and prayers can influence his response. God's willingness to relent is a testament to his character. He desires to not just execute justice, but to foster a relationship with his creation. This relationship is one where his compassion and mercy make a way for redemption. What Does Gods Repentance Mean for Us Today? Gods repentance or relenting teaches us profound truths about his nature and our relationship with him. It reveals his immense mercy and love, demonstrating that while he is just and condemns sin, his compassion provides a pathway for forgiveness and restoration. This understanding allows us to rest in his mercy and love, assured that he is not eager to punish but rather to save and restore. It teaches us that our actions, particularly repentance, prayer, and intercession, significantly impact how God engages with us. When we turn from our sins and seek his forgiveness, we activate his mercy, just as the people of Nineveh did when they repented at Jonahs preaching. Jesus Christ embodies Gods ultimate expression of mercy and compassion. Through his Son, the Father provided a way for humanity to be reconciled to him, which he wants above all. Jesus life, death, and resurrection reveal the depth of Gods love and his desire to save rather than condemn. By appealing to Gods compassion through his Son, we find a sure and steadfast hope. Jesus is the mediator who makes it possible for us to approach God with confidence and get divine grace and mercy. Our repentance is key to experiencing Gods mercy. When we acknowledge our sins, turn away from them, and seek Gods forgiveness, we align ourselves with his will. He relents from the judgment we deserve and instead pours out His grace upon us. Moreover, as followers of Christ, we are called to intercede for others. These passages teach us the power of prayer. How much do we need to pray! When we pray for others, we appeal to God's mercy and compassion on their behalf. This not only reflects Gods heart for the lost but also aligns us with his mission of salvation. Just as Abraham interceded for Sodom and Moses for the Israelites, our prayers can make a significant difference in the lives of those we lift up to God. Gods willingness to relent also teaches us about the power of hope. It shows us that no situation is beyond redemption and that Gods mercy is always within reach. This hope empowers us to continually seek his face, knowing the Father delights in showing mercy. It encourages us to share this hope with others, inviting them to experience the transformative power of Gods love. The biblical examples of God changing his mind reveal the power of repentance, the importance of intercessory prayer, and the responsive nature of God. These lessons shape how believers should pray and interact with God, emphasizing a relational approach marked by humility, sincerity, and persistent appeals to his love and mercy. Peace. Photo credit: Getty Images/Pakin Songmor Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an author of fiction and non -iction, he is passionate about teaching ministries and nonprofits the power of storytelling to inspire and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth as well as Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. A number of arrests have been made after Gardai clashed with anti-immigration protesters at a site in north Dublin that is due to be developed to house asylum seekers. Gardai and fire service personnel came under attack with missiles at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock, where a makeshift camp has been set up by anti-immigration protesters. Advertisement It followed the setting of a number of fires at the site. Videos and pictures posted on social media on Monday showed a digger in flames. The protesters object to the disused building being redeveloped to house asylum seekers. The Garda Public Order Unit as wheelie bins are set alight by protesters (Niall Carson/PA) Advertisement Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee has said she was appalled by the scenes. The protest camp was set up several months ago to prevent workers from renovating the premises, with people in attendance around the clock. Videos on social media also showed a stand-off between gardai and protesters, while some demonstrators were seen shouting abuse at officers. Advertisement #Coolock The Malahide Road is closed in both directions near the industrial park as we deal with pallets and construction machinery alight. Three fire engines from Kilbarrack, North Strand and Finglas fire stations along with a turntable ladder are on scene. pic.twitter.com/zBzQxGZay0 Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) July 15, 2024 Advertisement Masked men and youths were also seen at the site, while a man with a megaphone told the crowd the Government is going to change the constitution. He claimed ministers will change the 39th amendment to take our private property. They are going to ask you if you have a private room and force you to put them in, he said. Dozens of gardai attended the site and formed a line to bar access to protesters. Advertisement Officers from the Public Order Unit were also in the area. Violence flared as bricks were thrown at Garda officers and the fire service and a bin was set alight. Protesters stand off with gardai after a number of fires have been started at the former site of the Crown Paints factory in Coolock (Niall Carson/PA) Pictures from the scene show a number of people being detained by Gardai, In a social media post, Ms McEntee said: I am appalled at the criminal behaviour that took place in Coolock today. I have spoken to the Garda Commissioner (Drew Harris) and he has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice. I am appalled at the criminal behaviour that took place in Coolock today. I have spoken to the Garda Commissioner and he has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice. Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) July 15, 2024 A garda spokesman said: Gardai are currently at the scene of a public order incident at a premises on the Malahide Road, Dublin 17, this morning. The Malahide Road is currently closed and diversions are in place. As this is an ongoing incident, An Garda Siochana has no further details at this time. Dublin Fire Brigade said: The Malahide Road is closed in both directions near the industrial park as we deal with pallets and construction machinery alight. Three fire engines from Kilbarrack, North Strand and Finglas fire stations along with a turntable ladder are on scene. Directions are awaited from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to a member of the Defence Forces who appeared before Cork District Court earlier this year charged in connection with the seizure of over 25,000 worth of cocaine at Collins' Barracks in Cork city. Shane Scanlon (34), of Cooline Heights, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, Co Cork, is charged with two offences. Advertisement He is charged with possession of cocaine at Old Youghal Road, Cork for the purpose of sale or supply on March 27th, and is also charged with having cocaine unlawfully in his possession at the same location on the same date. The alleged offences are contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act. On Monday, Sergeant John Kelleher told Cork District Court that directions from the DPP are awaited in the case. Mr Scanlon's solicitor, Frank Buttimer, consented to his client being remanded on bail until November 11th. The accused, who was present in court on Monday, wearing a pair of dark pants and a black North Face jacket, was remanded on bail until his next court appearance. Updated at 21:20 Gardai have confirmed 15 people have been charged in relation to public order incidents earlier on Monday in Dublin 17. Advertisement They are due to appear before a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice this evening. A major security operation was in place at a site in north Dublin that is due to be developed to house asylum seekers after gardai clashed with protesters. Hundreds of people gathered at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock on Monday and gardai have been attacked with missiles. Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee said she was appalled by the scenes which developed through the day. Advertisement Incapacitant spray was used by the garda public order unit in an attempt to disperse a crowd which had gathered close to where a makeshift anti-immigration camp had been set up. Gardai during a stand-off with protesters (Niall Carson/PA) The violence flared in the morning after preparations were made to start work at a disused building which is to be redeveloped to house asylum seekers. Advertisement Protesters gathered, some with their faces covered, and a number of fires were set. Videos and pictures posted on social media on Monday showed a digger in flames. Workers who were to begin renovating the premises were removed from the site. Wheelie bins were set alight by protesters (Niall Carson/PA) Advertisement The protest camp was set up several months ago to prevent workers from renovating the premises, with people there around the clock. Videos on social media also showed a stand-off between gardai and protesters, while some demonstrators shouted abuse at officers. Masked men and youths were also at the site, while a man with a megaphone told the crowd the Government is going to change the constitution. He claimed ministers will change the 39th amendment to take our private property. Advertisement #Coolock The Malahide Road is closed in both directions near the industrial park as we deal with pallets and construction machinery alight. Three fire engines from Kilbarrack, North Strand and Finglas fire stations along with a turntable ladder are on scene. pic.twitter.com/zBzQxGZay0 Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) July 15, 2024 They are going to ask you if you have a private room and force you to put them in, he said. Officers from the Public Order Unit were also in the area. The violence escalated as bricks and fireworks were thrown at Garda officers and the fire service, and bins and mattresses were set alight. Traffic was diverted from the area and one of the citys main arteries, the Malahide Road was closed. Protesters and gardai after a number of fires were started factory in Coolock (Niall Carson/PA) Pictures from the scene showed a number of people being detained by gardai. A large number of people gathered on Monday evening after a call on social media for a protest to take place at 6pm. Gardai were again attacked with missiles and responded by using incapacitant spray. A garda spokesman said officers remain at the scene of a serious public order incident. The spokesman added: There is a significant Garda presence in place, which includes several Garda public order units. I am appalled at the criminal behaviour that took place in Coolock today. I have spoken to the Garda Commissioner and he has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice. Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) July 15, 2024 Several people have been arrested, and are currently in custody at Garda stations in Dublin, pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The Malahide Road at Coolock is currently closed in both directions, and local diversions are in place. It is the intention to re-open the Malahide Road as soon as it safe to do so. This operation remains ongoing. In a social media post, Ms McEntee said: I am appalled at the criminal behaviour that took place in Coolock today. I have spoken to the Garda Commissioner (Drew Harris) and he has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice. She added: Gardai were on the scene immediately and the public order unit is on site. People engaged in such acts will face the full rigours of the law. A spokesman for the Dublin Fire Brigade said: The Malahide Road is closed in both directions near the industrial park as we deal with pallets and construction machinery alight. Three fire engines from Kilbarrack, North Strand and Finglas fire stations along with a turntable ladder are on scene. Cllr. Micheal Mac Donncha condemns deplorable violent criminal acts on Malahide Road "This is an effort to spread fear and hate in our communities and the vast majority of decent people want nothing to do with it."https://t.co/NWBcG6N7wf Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) July 15, 2024 Sinn Fein Dublin City councillor Micheal Mac Donncha described the scenes as deplorable. He said: The burning of vehicles and attempted burning of the building are violent criminal acts and must be strongly condemned. Those responsible should desist immediately. This is an effort to spread fear and hate in our communities and the vast majority of decent people want nothing to do with it. A teenager charged with murder has launched a High Court challenge aimed at halting his trial until new laws protecting his rights have been enacted. The action has been brought by John Mulrooney Sugrue (19), of Manorfield Green, Clonee, Dublin, who is charged with the murder of Aaron Keating on Main Street, Ongar, Dublin 15 on June 13th, 2023. Advertisement The applicant, whose case is pending before the Central Criminal Court, was a minor when the alleged offence is said to have occurred. The applicant, represented by Seamus Clarke SC, argues that if he is convicted of murder, the sentencing judge will have no option other than to impose a mandatory life sentence on him. In such a scenario, the judge will not be able to take into account that the alleged offence took place when Mr Mulrooney Sugrue was a minor. The fact that a person in the applicant's position would not be able to receive a determinate sentence or a review, it is claimed, amounts to a breach of his constitutional rights, and his rights under the European Convention of Human Rights, it is argued. Advertisement The current legal situation, it is claimed, has prejudiced the applicant and his legal advisors' ability to advise him. As part of his arguments to the court, the applicant submits that the 2019 UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommends that states abolish all forms of life imprisonment, including indeterminate sentences for all offences committed by persons who were below the age of 18 at the time of the commission of the offence. It is claimed that this situation has come about due to a legal oversight, rather than through an intentional decision by the Oireachtas. However, the applicant claims that it is vital that the issues raised in this case are addressed before he is obliged to indicate a plea in respect of the charge he faces. Advertisement Challenge In his action against the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ireland and the Attorney General, Mr Mulrooney Sugrue seeks various orders and declarations, including an order preventing his further prosecution until such time as provision is made in law for sentencing powers which are capable of reflecting the fact he was a child at the time of the alleged offence, and an order for damages for the breach of his constitutional rights. He also seeks a declaration that the State has breached his constitutional rights by failing to have a sentencing regime in place that allows a sentencing judge to take account of the fact that a convicted person was a child at the time they committed the offence of murder. He further seeks declarations, including that the part of the 2001 Children's Act is under-inclusive as it fails to provide for the imposition of a determinate sentence or for a review of a life sentence for an accused who was a child at the time an offence of murder was committed. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is a notice party to the proceedings. Advertisement The matter came before Ms Justice Niamh Hyland on Monday, who granted the applicant permission on an ex-parte basis to bring his challenge. The matter and other related cases will be mentioned before the court later this month. A French soldier was stabbed outside a major train station in Paris on Monday, and the attacker was arrested, officials said. Paris is on high security alert, 11 days before the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics. Advertisement A French military official said the soldier was taken to hospital with a shoulder blade injury but is not in a life-threatening condition. An investigation was opened into attempted murder, and the suspects identity was being confirmed, the prosecutors office said. Authorities did not suspect terrorism as a motive at this stage, according to the national counterterrorism prosecutors office. The soldier was among thousands of troops serving in the Sentinelle force for Frances domestic security. Advertisement Interior minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted that the soldier had been patrolling at the Gare de lEst train station in eastern Paris, and that the attacker was detained. Paris is deploying about 30,000 police officers each day for the Olympics, which run from July 26th to August 11th, with a peak of 45,000 for the opening ceremony on the Seine river. About 18,000 members of the military are also helping ensure security. Soldiers in the Sentinelle force have been targeted in the past. President Joe Biden warned on Sunday of the risks of political violence in the US after Saturdays attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump, saying: Its time to cool it down. In a prime-time national address from the Oval Office, Mr Biden said political passions can run high but we must never descend into violence. Advertisement The president acknowledged the passions of an election year, and that he and Republicans offer different policy visions, but implored Americans to recommit to resolving their differences peacefully. There is no place in America for this kind of violence for any violence. Ever. Period. No exception. We cant allow this violence to be normalised, Mr Biden said. We must stand for an America not of extremism and fury. But of decency and grace. pic.twitter.com/p5VV7C4Bio Advertisement President Biden (@POTUS) July 15, 2024 Mr Biden spoke for six minutes in his third address to the nation since Saturday evenings attack by a shooter that killed one rallygoer and seriously injured two more. Advertisement His warning came hours after FBI deputy director Paul Abbate said agents have seen increasingly violent rhetoric online since the attack at the Trump rally. The president noted that the Republican National Convention (RNC) was opening in Milwaukee on Monday, while he himself would be returning to the re-election campaign trail after pausing his schedule to manage the immediate response to the shooting. We can do this, Mr Biden pleaded, saying the nation was founded on a democracy that gave reason and balance a chance to prevail over brute force. American democracy where arguments are made in good faith. American democracy where the rule of law is respected. Where decency, dignity, fair play arent just quaint notions, theyre living, breathing realities. Advertisement Mr Biden also warned that political tensions were being flamed by a balkanised media environment and exploited by American enemies. Here in America we need to get out of our silos, where we only listen to those with whom we agree, where misinformation is rampant, where foreign actors fan the flames of our division to shape the outcomes consistent with their interests, not ours, Mr Biden said. Advertisement Earlier on Sunday he had been briefed in the White House Situation Room and condemned the attempted assassination of his predecessor as contrary to everything we stand for as a nation. He said he was ordering an independent security review of how such an attack could have happened. He called for the country to unite as one nation, promised a thorough and swift review and asked the public not to make assumptions about the gunmans motives or affiliations. The president said he has also directed the US Secret Service to review all security measures for the RNC. Hours later, Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, the Secret Services co-ordinator for the convention, said the weekend attack against Mr Trump did not prompt any changes to the agencys security plan for the event and officials are fully prepared. In his remarks, Mr Biden called the attack on Mr Trump not who we are as a nation. Its not American. And we cannot allow this to happen, he said. Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is more important than that right now. The president said he and first lady Jill Biden were praying for the family of Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who was shot and killed during the Trump rally on Saturday night in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was protecting his family from the bullets, Mr Biden said. God love him. The president also said he had had a short but good conversation with Mr Trump in the hours after the shootings and said he was sincerely grateful that the former president is doing well and recovering. Mr Trump, who has called for national resilience since the shooting, posted on his social media account after Mr Bidens remarks: UNITE AMERICA! Mr Trump arrived on Sunday evening in Milwaukee for the Republican convention. Photo: Gene J Puskar/AP. Actually achieving unity will be far more challenging, especially in the midst of a bitter presidential campaign. Mr Bidens team is grappling with how to calibrate the path forward after the weekend attack on the very person he is trying to defeat in Novembers election. Mr Biden, who has set out to brand Mr Trump as a dire threat to democracy and the nations very founding principles, put a temporary pause on such political messaging. Shortly after Saturday nights attack, Mr Bidens re-election campaign froze all outbound communications and was working to pull down its television ads. The president also postponed a planned trip to Texas on Monday, where he was to speak on the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the Lyndon B Johnson presidential library. An NBC News interview between Mr Biden and anchor Lester Holt will now occur at the White House, instead of in Texas, as initially planned. Mr Bidens campaign said that, after the NBC interview airs on Monday night, it and the Democratic National Committee will continue drawing the contrast with Mr Trump over the course of the Republican convention even though it remains unclear when ads would resume. Mr Biden also still plans to make a scheduled trip to Las Vegas, which will include a campaign event on Wednesday. Vice President Kamala Harris postponed her planned campaign trip to Florida on Tuesday, where she had been set to meet with Republican women. Mr Trump, meanwhile, arrived on Sunday evening in Milwaukee for the Republican convention, where criticism of Mr Biden and the Democrats is sure to be searing. A fresh search in the UK for the remains of Muriel McKay, who was murdered in 1969, is due to begin at a farm on Monday. Ms McKay, the wealthy wife of newspaper executive Alick McKay, was kidnapped and held ransom for 1 million more than 54 years ago. Advertisement The pair who kidnapped her had mistaken her for Anna Murdoch, the then-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Mr McKay, who was Mr Murdochs deputy, was also Australian. Muriel McKay, the wife of News of the World deputy chair Alick McKay, was kidnapped and murdered in 1969 Photo: PA. Advertisement Ms McKay (55) disappeared in December 1969 and was traced to Stocking Farm near Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire. Her body has never been found. Brothers Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein were convicted of her kidnap and murder. Arthur died in prison in 2009, while Nizamodeen was deported to Trinidad and Tobago after serving his sentence. Advertisement Stocking Farm was searched at the time of the murder, and again in 2022, involving 30 police officers, ground penetrating radar and specialist forensic archaeologists, but nothing new was found. A fresh search is due to take place at the property in Stocking Pelham, starting on Monday. The search will see officers from Londons Metropolitan Polices Specialist Crime Command and forensic officers working together with forensic archaeologists and other specialists, as well as Hertfordshire Police. Advertisement Ms McKays grandson, Mark Dryer, told BBC Breakfast: Its difficult not to get anxious and emotional but Ive got to keep on the straight and narrow. Really, if we dont find her it will be a disappointment, but it wont be unexpected. Advertisement But without searching for something youre never going to find it We havent dug behind the barn, no ones ever dug behind the barn. The search is expected to take around five days but could be extended. An air exclusion zone will be in place during the dig, with no access to the farm or to a section of public footpath that runs through it. A Spanish mountain rescue team in Tenerife found human remains in the area where British teenager Jay Slater went missing nearly a month ago, local police said on Monday, adding evidence strongly suggested the remains were his. The Guardia Civil police said in a statement that he may have died due to a fall in the difficult-to-access mountainous area, but that an autopsy would confirm whether it was an accident. Advertisement A police spokesperson told Reuters by phone that the body was found on Monday morning by a Civil Guard mountain rescue group. The family has been notified and an autopsy will take place shortly, with the case then being transferred to a Tenerife court to determine the cause of death, the spokesperson said. Slater (19) went missing on June 17th and his phone was last traced to the Masca ravine in a remote national park on the Canary Islands archipelago. Advertisement An appeal poster for Jay Slater (19), who went missing during a holiday in Tenerife (PA Media) On June 30th, Spanish police said they had ended a search for Slater that had involved dozens of officers, rescue workers and volunteers using dogs, drones and a helicopter. However, on Monday they said Guardia Civil officers had maintained a "continuous and discrete search" in the area for the whole 29 days. Slater's mother, Debbie, said on July 13th the family had arranged for a team of experts with specialist dogs to fly in over the weekend from the Netherlands. "Jay is just a normal hardworking young lad from Lancashire who is very loved by all who know him," she wrote in a statement, asking people to pray for him and his family. The family could not be immediately reached for comment. -Reuters British teenager Jay Slater vanished on the Spanish holiday island of Tenerife last month, prompting a search effort which spanned weeks and involved family members, police and volunteers. The apprentice bricklayer, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, had attended the NRG music festival with friends before his disappearance, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island, which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. Advertisement A body has been found in the search for the 19-year-old, and below are the key events leading up to the discovery... Jay Slater was an apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire (Family handout/LBT Global/PA) Sunday, June 16th Mr Slater attends the NRG music festival with friends at Papagayo nightclub in the tourist resort of Playa de las Americas in the south of the island. Advertisement Monday, June 17th In the early hours of Monday he goes to stay in an apartment in the north of the island with people he had met over the course of the night. 7.30am Mr Slater posts a picture on Snapchat from the doorway of the property he stayed at overnight, tagged as being in Rural de Teno park. 8.30am He calls his friend, Lucy Law, telling her he had attempted to walk back to his accommodation after missing his bus a journey that would take more than 10 hours. Advertisement In the frantic last phone call, Mr Slater says he had cut his leg on a cactus and had no idea where he was. Ms Law says her friend told her he was lost in the mountains, he wasnt aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1%. Mr Slaters phone runs out of battery shortly after with his last known location being in Rural de Teno park. 9.04am Advertisement He is reported missing. Tuesday, June 18th After friends spend the previous day searching to no avail, local police and mountain rescue teams scour Rural de Teno park for Mr Slater. His family fly out to Tenerife to join the search. Advertisement Police were involved in the search (James Manning/PA) Wednesday, June 19th The search is temporarily moved to the Los Cristianos area in the south of the island because of a potential lead, but this is quickly discounted and the search returns north. Mr Slaters mother, Debbie Duncan, says she feared her son had been taken against his will. Thursday, June 20th The search returns to Rural de Teno park, around the village of Masca. Emergency workers meet in various locations throughout the day, combing bushes, overgrown terrain, hillsides and rivers, but fail to find the missing teenager. Friday, June 21st Spanish police reject an offer of support from Lancashire Constabulary as the hunt continues. Police, firefighters and search and rescue personnel comb a vast area of land in and around the village of Masca. Search and rescue personnel carefully look through dead palm trees covering a river at the bottom of the hillside near to an Airbnb property Mr Slater had reportedly been driven to. The owner of the property tells reporters she saw Mr Slater walk up the road past her property but did not see him again after that describing the situation as worrying. Saturday, June 22nd Mr Slaters mother issues a direct plea to her missing son on the sixth day of the hunt, saying: We just need you home. Firefighters appear to conduct the majority of the searches as they wear helmets to tackle dangerous hillside terrain in Tenerife. The search parties seem noticeably smaller compared with other days with only a handful of emergency workers visible in the village of Masca and the surrounding areas. Sunday, June 23rd Search teams narrow their efforts on small buildings close to where Mr Slaters phone last pinged. Officers from the Guardia Civil in the Canary Island can be seen circling two structures at the bottom of a ravine in Rural de Teno Park. Efforts appear to be solely focused on the one area after days of searches in the village of Masca and the surrounding landscape. Thursday, June 27th Mr Slaters mother says she will use donations from the GoFundMe appeal set up by Ms Law, to fund her stay on Tenerife. Ms Duncan says the 36,000 raised by more than 3,200 individual donations will be used to support mountain rescue teams, and to cover her own accommodation and food costs during her extended stay on the island. Friday, June 28th The Guardia Civil appeal for volunteer associations, such as firefighters, and individual volunteers who are experts in rugged terrain to assist in a busqueda masiva, or massive search, to take place on Saturday. Saturday, June 29th A renewed search for Mr Slater gets under way in the village of Masca, near to his last-known location, co-ordinated to take in a steep rocky area, including ravines, trails and paths. Sunday, June 30th Spanish police call off the search for the missing teenager. A Guardia Civil spokesperson reportedly says: The search operation has now finished, although the case remains open. It is understood that Mr Slaters family and friends will stay in Tenerife to continue to look for him. The area around Masca in Tenerife (James Manning/PA) Tuesday, July 2nd Ms Duncan says words cannot describe the pain and agony we are experiencing after searches fail to trace her missing son. In a statement issued through the British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global, she says the land search for her son has been called off, but thanks the Guardia Civil who she says worked tirelessly up in the mountains where Jays last phone call was traced. Wednesday, July 3rd In a statement on the GoFundMe appeal Get Jay Slater Home, which had raised almost 50,000 as of Wednesday, Ms Duncan thanks the vast generosity of donors, saying her family are grateful for all of your support and kindness during this unimaginable time. She writes that part of the funds will be used to support volunteers hunting for Mr Slater in the mountains near to where his last phone call was traced. Sunday, July 14th The missing teenagers mother speaks of her heartache and criticises awful comments and conspiracy theories as it approaches a month since Mr Slater disappeared. In a statement released through LBT Global, Ms Duncan says: As we approach four weeks of our beautiful Jays disappearance, we cannot put into words the heartache we are suffering as a family. Ms Duncan says the family wish to thank the public for their continued support and well wishes and praises the British Embassy and police for doing all they can to support us. But she also criticises awful comments and conspiracy theories posted on social media, which she brands vile and says were hindering people trying to help locate the teenager. Monday, July 15th A body is found in the search for Mr Slater. Charity LBT Global says that, while formal identification has not yet taken place, the remains were found with the 19-year-olds clothes and possessions near his last known location. Members of a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard discovered the body near the village of Masca on Monday. The force says Mr Slater could have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area where the body was discovered. Ukraine needs 25 Patriot air defence systems to fully defend its airspace and protect the entire country from Russian missile attacks, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said. The Ukrainian leader added that he also wants Western partners to send more F-16 warplanes than those already pledged. Advertisement In his first news conference since returning from a trip to the United States, Mr Zelenskiy said he is ready to work with Donald Trump if he wins Novembers American election. I am not afraid of that prospect, Mr Zelenskiy said, adding he is convinced that most Republicans support Ukraine in its war with Russia. Mr Zelenskiy said he did not fear a return by Donald Trump to the White House (AP) Advertisement On Sunday, Mr Zelenskiy said he was appalled by the attempt to assassinate Mr Trump, and wished him a speedy recovery. Western support is crucial for Ukraine as it tries to beat back Russias bigger and better-equipped invading army. Mr Zelenskiy has proved talented at persuading friendly countries to provide ever more support, even if he does not always get what he wants immediately. A six-month delay in military assistance from the US, the biggest single contributor to Ukraine, meant that Kyivs forces lost the initiative on the front line, Mr Zelenskiy said. Advertisement Since the US aid resumed in April, Ukraine has been scrambling to block a Russian offensive in eastern areas. Mr Zelenskiy did not say how many Patriot systems Ukraine currently possesses, though it is far fewer than the 25 he says his country needs as Russia has battered the national power grid. The US and other Nato allies promised last week to provide Ukraine with dozens of air defence systems in the coming months, including at least four of the sophisticated and expensive Patriot systems. Advertisement Unwavering faith in victory and a just peace for Ukraine is very important; in the idea that life will overcome this war and all the evil it brings. Today, we prayed for this in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, and also for protection and blessings for the Ukrainian people and our pic.twitter.com/G2KGj2PXiI Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) July 15, 2024 Advertisement F-16 warplanes pledged by Western countries are due to arrive in Ukraine in two waves: the first batch this summer, and the second by the end of the year, Mr Zelenskiy said. He acknowledged the deliveries will not, on their own, be a game-changer in the war, given that the Russian air force is far larger. Ukraine will need more warplanes, he said. Commenting on other issues, Zelenskiy said Russia should be present at a second international gathering to discuss peace. Russia was absent from the first meeting. There is no date for a second gathering. He added that a Ukrainian government reshuffle is in the cards. We are discussing various changes with some ministers, Mr Zelenskiy said. Efforts to mobilise more troops are going according to plan, though Ukraine does not have enough training grounds and 14 brigades have not yet received promised Western weapons. Advertisement Review Eating outRoxburgh Park More Turkish than the ones in Turkey: Melbourne bakerys simit runs rings around the competition No need to catch a plane. Drive north of the airport to Roxburgh Park instead to find this sesame-studded bread. Dani Valent July 15, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share As featured in the August hit list. See all stories . 1 / 7 Melbourne Simit Palace (also called Simit Sarayi) in Roxburgh Park. Wayne Taylor 2 / 7 Stacks of simit, a sesame-studded bread ring that is a popular street food. Wayne Taylor 3 / 7 Simit sandwiches. Wayne Taylor 4 / 7 Assorted biscuits. Wayne Taylor 5 / 7 Baklava (front) and chocolate eclairs. Wayne Taylor 6 / 7 Melbourne Simit Palace is more Turkey than Turkey. Wayne Taylor 7 / 7 Boregi with cheese. Wayne Taylor Previous Slide Next Slide Turkish$$$$ Turkish Airlines recently started flying directly from Melbourne to Istanbul. I did the calculations. Within 22 hours of flying over the kangaroo mobs of Tullamarine, I could be standing on a street corner in Istanbul, holding a simit in my hand. The sesame-studded bread ring is Turkeys most popular street snack, sold by vendors from carts in busy thoroughfares, or piled up on trays balanced on their heads. Crisp on the outside, light and fluffy within, tearing into a simit is a key Turkish experience, as important as munching a fish sandwich by the Bosphorus, eating anchovies on the Black Sea coast, or tackling a stretchy ice-cream in Gaziantep. Advertisement Then I heard about an easier and cheaper way than hopping on an Airbus. If you drive north of the airport to bustling Roxburgh Park, you can find a simit just as good as those in their country of origin. Their simit is more Turkish than the ones in Turkey, was the whisper. In a way, thats not surprising. This part of Melbourne has more Turkish people than anywhere else in the city. Simit Palace owner Recep Altindal had decades of baking experience in Turkey before moving to the area and running a bakery factory in Campbellfield. After 14 years of cooking at scale, he wanted to do something a bit more personal, with a menu that could change on a whim. Just over two years ago, Melbourne Simit Palace cranked up the ovens. Stacks of simit, a sesame-studded bread ring that is a popular Turkish street food. Wayne Taylor My informant was right about the simit. Theyre made traditionally, which means twisting dough into rings, dipping it in pekmez, a grape molasses, then rolling it in sesame seeds before baking. The result is dark golden bread with a sweet, toasty crust and a yeasty enveloping fragrance thats released as you break it open. Advertisement Thats the classic simit: theres another version laced with butter (its richer and heavier) and a sweeter, brioche-adjacent patisserie simit made with milk. There are also pogaca (pastry pockets) and boregi (layered pastries) filled with cheese or meat. Boregi with cheese. Wayne Taylor Keep moving along the counter and youre in sweet territory. The biscuits and baklava are excellent, but a couple of desserts need a special mention. Kadayif, a nutty pie made with shredded pastry, is a transporting balance of savoury crunch and sugary heaven. Sekepare the name means piece of sweet is a syrup-soaked semolina biscuit that goes beautifully with a glass of strong, black Turkish tea. Simit Palace is an easygoing place. Tradies swing by for simit sandwiches and cappuccinos, local mums sit with prams and breakfast platters and men talk over sweet tea or Turkish coffee. Receps daughter Zehra Altindal manages the business with a sharp eye and a friendly outlook, an ambassador for famous Turkish hospitality. Advertisement Review Eating outMarrickville Theres no restaurant quite like it: Is that a good thing at this ex-Rockpool chefs new steakhouse? A crazy mix of local grittiness, fine-dining refinement and steakhouse sizzle, Corey Costelloes 20 Chapel is hard to categorise, easy to like, and feels right for its time. Terry Durack July 16, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share As featured in the August hit list. See all stories . 1 / 13 Dave Allisons Stix Cafe is now a 66-seat dining room. Oscar Colman 2 / 13 Go-to dish: Wagyu bolar blade with Korean barbecue sauce and jalapeno hot sauce. Oscar Colman 3 / 13 Potato wedges are deep-fried to order in wagyu beef fat until crusty and golden. Oscar Colman 4 / 13 Soft polenta is served with scallops, strips of greenlip abalone and melting pancetta. Oscar Colman 5 / 13 The organic salad greens, from Stix Farm, are dressed with a gutsy mustard vinaigrette. Oscar Colman 6 / 13 Cavatelli with Blackmore white bolognese makes for high-comfort eating. Oscar Colman 7 / 13 Daria Nechiporenkos eight-layer Russian honey cake. Oscar Colman 8 / 13 The bar at 20 Chapel is made from one long, thick slab of stone. Oscar Colman 9 / 13 The wine list is built with red meat in mind. Oscar Colman 10 / 13 The huge kitchen is equipped with a custom-made wood-fired grill and a 12-seat chefs table behind glass. Oscar Colman 11 / 13 Oscar Colman 12 / 13 Oscar Colman 13 / 13 Oscar Colman Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat 15 / 20 How we score Contemporary$$$$ Good grief. Theyre decrumbing tables in Marrickville these days. One of fine dinings highest forms of table etiquette straight out of Carmys new Michelin star ambitions in The Bear is happening in a converted warehouse opposite the workshop that shot-blasted and powder-coated my outdoor table. Chef Corey Costelloe marks the start of his post-Rockpool life by firing up the grills and dry-ageing the Blackmore wagyu rib-eyes. A formidable talent whos not afraid of hard work, he has joined forces with Stix Farms Dave Allison (whose site it is), former Rockpool Bar & Grill maitred Anthony Qalilawa, and chef Owen Okada. Old habits die hard, laughs Qalilawa, waging war with the crumbs armed with folded linen and a small metal tray. I wouldnt bother, mate. Just embrace the warehouse vibe and let the crumbs fall where they may. Advertisement And they will, because the bread rolls are a super-crisp homage to the local Vietnamese bakeries and shatter to the touch. What was Allisons Stix Cafe is now a 66-seat dining room, with a huge kitchen, custom-made wood-fired grill and a 12-seat chefs table behind glass. One long, thick slab of stone forms an impressive bar, and theres serious glassware on the bare tables, and sharp steak knives with carved olive wood handles commissioned from Portuguese artisan Telmo Roque. Custom steak knives from Portuguese artisan Telmo Roque glide through the wagyu bolar blade. Oscar Colman The house commitment to whole beast butchery means the menu is meat-heavy, to use up all the bits and pieces. Four different wagyu butchers cuts hail from Ben Blackmore, with the remaining non-butchers cuts deployed across very cute baby rissoles with onion gravy ($22), and house-made cavatelli in an elegant white (tomato-free) bolognese ($28); high-comfort eating. A clean, fresh negroni on tap ($21) uses the local Poor Toms Gin, and an entry-level 2023 Giant Steps Pinot Noir/Syrah ($17 glass) from Victorias Yarra Valley is vibrant and juicy. Advertisement These chefs cook with the end game being flavour, not Instagram. Soft, loose polenta brings a Venetian vibe to scallops, strips of greenlip abalone and melting pancetta ($32). Theres one fish dish, but while it isnt token Costelloe is one of the best fish cooks in town most people are hitting up the wagyu 9+ marble score cuts, from a juicy bolar blade with Korean barbecue sauce and jalapeno hot sauce ($55) to a mighty 600g rib-eye aged for 42 days ($280). Handkerchief steak ($52) is a clever way to cook wagyu topside, always a tricky muscle. Finely sliced, its glazed in soy, mirin and sake, flash-charred on the grill and swiped with smoked butter and egg yolk. Its like eating barbecued carpaccio, and it smells insanely good. The potato wedges are deep-fried to order in wagyu beef fat until crusty and golden. Oscar Colman Now for a need-to-know: the potato wedges ($18). Brined, boiled and blast-chilled, theyre finally deep-fried to order in wagyu beef fat until crusty and golden, with a soft mousse-like mash inside. Swipe through a bowl of Coppertree Farm creme fraiche pooling with caramelised chili jam, and you can hear yourself eating them. Advertisement Order a big green salad ($10) for balance, full of strong organic leaves from Stix Farm in a gutsy mustard vinaigrette. Russian honey cake, its eight biscuit layers sandwiching dulce de leche and sour cream. Oscar Colman Head pastry chef Daria Nechiporenkos eight-layer Russian honey cake ($18) is a delight, the fine lines of honey biscuits softening into the sandwiching dulce de leche and sour cream to become as one. The food, it must be said, isnt pretty; unless youre a big fan of browns and tans. These chefs cook with the end game being flavour, not Instagram. And some of the meatier dishes are no longer hot on arrival; something that will need addressing. I cant think of a restaurant quite like 20 Chapel. It has the energy of a no-frills pop-up, but theyre talking seriously about the long game. Its a fire-driven vehicle for Corey Costelloes old-school craft, and a shop window for Blackmore wagyu, with prices that are the talk of the locals. Advertisement Id call it the best steakhouse in Marrickville, but it is quite possibly the only steakhouse in Marrickville. As a crazy mix of local grittiness, Rockpool refinement and steakhouse sizzle, its hard to categorise, easy to like, and feels right for its time. The low-down Vibe: Steakhouse in a warehouse Go-to dish: Wagyu bolar blade with Korean barbecue sauce and jalapeno hot sauce, $55 Drinks: Local beers, negroni on tap, and an eclectic wine list made for meat Cost: About $170 for two, plus drinks Greens senator David Shoebridge said it was absolute nonsense to suggest his party or pro-Palestine protesters were damaging Australias democracy after Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil said demonstrations outside electorate offices were a threat to social cohesion. Senator David Shoebridge. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Last night, ONeil gave a fiery speech at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House on the theme of democracy under attack. Denying access to government services, terrorising politicians and their staff, painting symbols of terrorism in public spaces, smashing windows, setting buildings alight: these are the measures of autocrats, despots and tyrants. They have no place in our democracy, she said. This afternoon, ABC Afternoon Briefing host Greg Jennett suggested to Shoebridge that was a fairly clear reference to the Greens, without naming them. MPs across the political spectrum have criticised the party in recent months for either allegedly supporting or failing to criticise the actions of demonstrators. In response, Shoebridge said: Well, thats just absolute nonsense One of our four pillars is peace and non-violence. Weve always condemned violence to property. Lets look at what theyre really criticising. Theyre criticising millions of Australians coming out and peacefully, overwhelmingly peacefully, protesting against a war. Now, there have been generations and generations of Australians who came out in their millions to protest the Vietnam War, to protest the Iraq War, to protest the Afghanistan War. All of that, when we look back in history thank goodness they did it. Thank goodness. History views those protests as peaceful and productive. Shoebridge said he agreed there were threats to democracy across the world, but that the government needed to live up to its commitments from the last election if it wanted to restore Australians faith in democratic values. They promised whistleblower protections and, instead, they put David McBride in jail. They promised greater transparency, and yet we have a secretive [National Anti-Corruption Commission] and a broken [freedom of information] system, Shoebridge said. They promised greater compassion, but theyve brought forward some of the most cruel and novel proposed laws against migrants and refugees. Three men found guilty by a jury of the gang rape of three women during a bucks party weekend in Newcastle have been taken into custody and now face years behind bars. Then groom-to-be Maurice Hawell, 30, his brother Marius Hawell, 22, and friend Andrew David, 30, faced trial in Sydneys Downing Centre District Court accused of attacking the three women at an Airbnb over two nights in February 2022. Maurice Hawell faced trial accused of the gang rape of three women during his bucks party weekend. Credit: Rhett Wyman Two 18-year-old women alleged they were set upon after consensual sexual activity in the apartment on the Friday night, while a 19-year-old woman was allegedly lured inside on the Saturday night. The Crown case was that each accused had a particular state of mind that weekend to seek out experiences or opportunities to engage in group sex with females with or without their consent. 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. Police have charged a 36-year-old man with murder after the body of a woman with multiple stab wounds was found in Ipswich on Monday morning. Twenty-eight-year-old Kierra-Lea Jensen was found dead at a property on Flinders Drive in the Ipswich suburb of Leichhardt about 9.15am, after police were called to do a welfare check by a concerned relative. Police deployed the Polair helicopter to track down Jensens de-facto partner, Kitchel Shillingsworth, who was travelling in a Toyota sedan. An hour later, police used tyre spikes to stop the Toyota on Ipswich Boonah Road at Peak Crossing and arrested Shillingsworth. This article is part of a months-long series investigating misconduct in the CFMEU. Labors federal executive is set to ban donations from the Victorian branch of the CFMEU to cauterise the political damage over revelations of underworld infiltration into the scandal-plagued construction union, as pressure increases on the Albanese government to intervene. Senior ALP sources, who were unable to speak publicly as details of the ban were being finalised, said the party was preparing to announce the measure in the coming days. Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke is weighing up federal interventions including deregistering the CFMEUs construction division or appointing an external administrator. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen It comes after Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said on Monday she would cut off donations from the union, while South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas asked for the CFMEUs construction division to be suspended from his states branch of the party. Labors national executive will meet on Wednesday, the same day as the ACTU, which is bracing for conflict after the CFMEUs national leadership declined to stand down its NSW boss despite the peak union bodys ultimatum to remove from positions of power any official facing criminal allegations. Singapore: The vision of volunteers racing to dig patients and staff out of the smouldering rubble of a childrens hospital in Kyiv last week was the latest reminder that Russias barbarous efforts to conquer Ukraine knows few constraints, not even sick kids. The Kremlins missile strike on the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital came as world leaders arrived in Washington, D.C., for the annual North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit, where Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine once again dominated the agenda. By the end of the summit, the alliance had pledged a further 40 billion ($64 billion) in military aid and support to Ukraine, and affirmed the country was on an irreversible path to NATO membership. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenzky and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles. Credit: Marija Ercegovac But it was NATOs decision to denounce China as a decisive enabler of Russias war machine that marked a turning point among the 32 member countries, calling out Beijings duplicity in claiming neutrality in a war it is aiding by supplying Moscow with dual-use technologies used to manufacture weapons. The PRC cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation, the NATO leaders said in a final communique, their strongest condemnation to date of Chinas military support for Russia. Milwaukee: Donald Trump will no longer face trial for mishandling classified documents after a federal judge he appointed threw out the case, ruling that the prosecutor overseeing the charges was improperly appointed. In a major win for the former US president days after his attempted assassination, Judge Aileen Cannon who was appointed under Trumps administration filed a court ruling on Monday dismissing the charges. The move is the second significant legal victory for Trump in as many weeks, following the US Supreme Courts decision to grant presidents and ex-presidents substantial immunity from being prosecuted for official acts that took place while in office. This image contained in a court filing by the Department of Justice shows documents seized during the FBI search of Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate. Credit: AP Conversely, it is a major blow for Special Counsel Jack Smith, the former war crimes prosecutor who charged Trump last year after highly sensitive documents were found at the former presidents Mar-a-Lago resort. Our God still saves, Scott said. He still delivers and he still sets free. Because on Saturday the devil came to Pennsylvania holding a rifle, but an American lion got back up on his feet and he roared! Vance, 39, was a fierce Trump critic in 2016, but he has since become one of the former presidents staunchest defenders, embracing his false claims that the 2020 election was marred by widespread fraud. Vance is deeply popular with Trumps core supporters, but whether he can broaden the tickets appeal remains to be seen. He shares Trumps aggressive approach to politics, and his conservative statements on issues such as abortion could turn off moderate voters. Soon after Trumps announcement, Vance emerged on the convention floor with his wife, Usha, shaking hands with and hugging delegates who swarmed the couple. He is scheduled to address the convention on Wednesday (Thursday AEST). Biden told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland that Vance was a clone of Trump on the issues, while other Democrats criticised Vances record on reproductive rights. In an interview on Fox News on Monday night, Vance said he backed Trumps position that each state should decide for itself whether to permit abortion. Trumps announcement of J.D. Vance as his pick for vice presidential running mate on Truth Social. Credit: Truth Social Opinion polls show a close race between Trump, 78, and Biden, 81, though Trump leads in several swing states that are likely to decide the election. Trump has not committed to accepting the election results if he loses. The head of the main fundraising super PAC supporting Trumps campaign, Taylor Budowich, said on X that MAGA Inc had raised more than $US50 million ($74 million) on Monday. Billionaire Elon Musk plans to donate about $US45 million a month to a new pro-Trump super PAC, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with his intentions. Musk endorsed Trump after the assassination attempt. Loading Following the shooting, Trump said he was revising his acceptance speech to emphasise national unity, rather than highlight his differences with Biden. The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it would have been two days ago, Trump told the Washington Examiner. The day began with another string of recent legal victories for Trump when US district judge Aileen Cannon threw out federal charges accusing him of retaining classified documents after leaving the White House. Trump is due to be sentenced in New York in September for trying to cover up a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the weeks before his 2016 election victory. But his other two indictments on federal charges in Washington and state charges in Georgia both related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat are mired in delays and could be significantly limited after the US Supreme Court ruled in July that he had immunity for many of his official acts as president. This dismissal of the Lawless Indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts, Trump said on Truth Social on Monday, also referencing the prosecutions of hundreds of his supporters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. No place for violence The shooting attempt on Trumps life immediately altered the dynamics of the presidential campaign, which had been focused on whether Biden should drop out due to concerns about his age and acuity following a halting June 27 debate performance. Nearly two dozen of Bidens fellow Democrats in Congress have called on him to end his re-election bid and allow the party to pick another standard-bearer. The focus this week will be squarely on Trump. Having consolidated party control, Trump could seize on the opportunity to deliver a unifying message or paint a dark portrait of a nation under siege by a corrupt leftist elite, as he has done at times on the campaign trail. Trump has frequently turned to violent rhetoric in campaign speeches, labelling his perceived enemies as vermin and fascists. As we enter the new financial year, on the back of a record quarter (around 50% up on the previous year), the timing is right for the business to take this next step, Smith said. AI used to help preserve China's oldest wooden pagoda 10:21, July 15, 2024 By Luo Wangshu and Zhu Xingxin ( China Daily The Sakyamuni Pagoda, also known as the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, features centuries-old plaques written by renowned calligraphers and emperors. (ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY) Artificial intelligence is being used to safeguard the country's oldest and tallest wooden pagoda in North China's Shanxi province which has withstood natural disasters and human calamities for 968 years. The technology is being used to enhance the understanding of the 67-meter-tall Sakyamuni Pagoda, visualize its states over time, and prepare for restoration work. AI is not only being used to aid in preserving the pagoda in Yingxian county's Fogong Temple, but also to enhance the visitor experience by revealing its significant architectural, historical, and religious value. Built in 1056 during the Liao Dynasty (916-1125), the pagoda, built entirely out of wood without the use of nails, has weathered earthquakes, wars, and other challenges. Its intricate structure features innumerable mortises and tenons. As tall as a 20-story building, and with a base diameter of about 30 meters, the pagoda is a remarkable architectural feat. For its protection, visitors can only enter the first floor and are prohibited from climbing to higher levels. AI technology, however, will allow them to experience the whole pagoda through 3D animation. When renowned architect Liang Sicheng visited the pagoda for the first time in 1933, he was impressed by the pagoda's intricate structure and ingenious design. He meticulously measured, surveyed, and recorded the building, introducing its treasured relics to China and the world. A well-preserved Buddha statue in the Sakyamuni Pagoda. (ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY) In Yingxian, the Sakyamuni Pagoda, also known as the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, has been the most prominent landmark for generations, but over the years the pagoda has developed a slight lean. Zhao Yushan, a 63-year-old carpenter in Yingxian, was so taken aback when he first saw the tower as a teenager that he has since dedicated most of his life to replicating it. He's made numerous scale versions of the pagoda using only the traditional methods of construction and is currently working on an 8-meter-tall replica. The pagoda is an octagonal structure comprising nine stories, with five visible from the outside and four concealed within. The Buddhist statues on each story and the paintings adorning the inner walls of the first floor are all creations from the Liao Dynasty. "We local people believe the pagoda was built by Lu Ban (China's legendary master carpenter of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). The work is beyond manpower," said a Yingxian resident surnamed Li. He said that as the pagoda's lean has increased over the past few years, the need for restoration has become more urgent. A worker experiences "climbing" the Sakyamuni Pagoda with virtual reality gear in Yingxian, Shanxi province, in April. (ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY) High-tech preservation In April, a virtual reality program that replicates the pagoda was released by Chinese technology company Lenovo Group and Tsinghua University's School of Architecture. Wearing VR glasses, visitors can experience what it would be like to climb the pagoda and explore its interior. The program has been donated to the county government to become a part of its digital museum. In February last year, the school began conducting modeling work on the wooden structure inside the pagoda, creating a database of parameters through structural research. Meanwhile, Lenovo Group is utilizing its AI-generated spatial computing technology, which combines AI, neural radiance fields technology, and extended reality technology to construct a digital "twin" of the pagoda. Besides benefiting tourists, the technologies provide strong technical support for re-creating the complete structure and details of the pagoda. Mao Shijie, vice-president of Lenovo Group and head of Lenovo Research Shanghai, said the project has utilized cutting-edge AIGC technology, enabling the swift digital reconstruction of the pagoda within 10 hours. "It was a task that would have taken months using traditional methods," he said. By combining AI algorithms with data collected from drones and radar cameras, the project aims to recreate the pagoda's intricate details accurately, he said. The Sakyamuni Pagoda of the Fogong Temple in Yingxian, Shanxi province. (ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY) Professor Liu Chang from Tsinghua University emphasized the importance of fully understanding the pagoda from various perspectives in guiding effective restoration. He said unraveling the pagoda's historical transformations and predicting its future state are crucial steps in the preservation process. Liu hopes to utilize the collected data to analyze and deduce the appearance of the pagoda during different periods. "I can see how much the pagoda has been compressed and changed over time," he said. By revealing the appearance of the pagoda at different stages of its history, Liu hopes to speculate on how the pagoda might have looked during certain periods, such as when well-known Chinese architect Liang Sicheng saw it in the 1930s, during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) and Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). "It may even be possible to predict the future appearance of the pagoda by adjusting parameters and simulating how the wood may change after over 100 years," he said. The first step in protecting or even restoring the pagoda is to know it deeply, he said. The pagoda is tilting, which means it is "sick", he said, and to "cure" it, they have to first find a "hospital". Addressing the challenges faced in protecting the pagoda, Liu highlighted the need for meticulous preparation, a comprehensive understanding of the pagoda's condition, and the embrace of innovative technologies to drive conservation efforts forward. Wang Xiaolong, deputy director of the Institute for the Protection and Research of Ancient Buildings and Colorful Sculptures in Shanxi province, hopes more information about the pagoda, such as the building's original design and material degradation, can be collected by utilizing technologies such as AI and big data. "We experts are responsible for protecting and even restoring the pagoda, while other people can see this masterpiece and love it," Liu from Tsinghua University said. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan) With a contraction of 14 per cent in knitwear exports during 202324, India's textiles export hub Tiruppur is back in positive terrain in 202425, with the first three months seeing a rise in exports. This revival is mainly driven by major orders from global players like Primark, Tesco, George at ASDA and Decathlon. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp While in April it was marginal at 1.5 per cent, May and June saw a rise of over 11.4 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. The region is also seeing a beeline of other brands which include US players like GAP, Carter's and Walmart. There are also European majors like Next and Duns, and Australian giants like Target and Woolworths, according to the Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA). Export numbers were in negative terrain for 10 months in the last financial year. This was owing to multiple reasons like the war in Ukraine, the financial crisis in Europe and the United States, and global businesses not coming back to normalcy. We have seen over 10 per cent rise in June also. This is mainly driven by the global majors diversifying their sourcing basket due to the "China Plus One" policy and a major wage hike in an important market like Bangladesh, said K M Subramanian, president of TEA. Late last year, Bangladesh reportedly announced a 56 per cent increase in the monthly minimum wage to $113 from the previous $75 for garment factory workers. This has now forced global buyers to look at other traditional sourcing hubs like Tiruppur. According to data shared by TEA, the region's exports in April 2024 stood at $294 million, up from $290 million in April 2023. And in May 2024, they were at $360 million versus $323 million last year. According to data shared by TEA, the region's exports in April 2024 stood at $294 million, up from $290 million in April 2023. And in May 2024, they were at $360 million versus $323 million last year. At present, Tiruppur accounts for 90 per cent of the countrys cotton knitwear exports and 55 per cent of all its knitwear exports. During the calendar year also, except for a dip of 3.8 per cent in January, all the other months saw the exports rise. In February, the increase was 6.4 per cent and in March it was around 5.6 per cent compared to the same months last year. "We are yet to see the peak. This is because of Europe and the possible US recession when people were conservative in placing orders. The rise in cotton prices also hit trade. Now, the markets are coming back to a new normal, said R Senthil Kumar of Premier Agencies, a micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) based out of Tirupur. According to him, stabilising of cotton prices due to better supply-demand situation and Bangladesh wages nearing Indian rates helped the order book. One of the major issues haunting the region was its labour shortage. However, after elections, this situation is also improving. Before polls, the city was seeing a shortage of around 40 per cent in migrant employees. Now, it has come down to 10 per cent with facilities for employees increasing, said industry sources. Tiruppur's textile industry has 600,000 inland employees and 200,000 migrants. The rise in orders also gives a push to activities in the entire cluster. These include knitting units, dyeing and bleaching units, fabric printing, garmenting, embroidery, compacting, calendaring, and other ancillary units. At its 44th annual User Conference, Esri announced an expanded collaboration with Microsoft to integrate spatial analytics technology with Fabric, Microsofts unified analytics SaaS platform. By integrating Esri technologies, data expertsincluding analysts, data scientists, engineers, and their executive stakeholderscan seamlessly use Esri's advanced spatial analytics tools and visualizations within Microsoft Fabric. This results in powerful spatial analytics easily shared across organizational tools like Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, and Esris ArcGIS environment. "With this collaboration, Esri is committed to helping our shared customers understand and leverage spatial data to uncover insights and make better decisions," said Jack Dangermond, Esri president. "We are pleased to deepen our work with Microsoft and provide our spatial analytic capabilities for data professionals within Microsoft Fabric." The collaboration, which integrates Esri's ArcGIS with Microsoft Fabric, is currently in its private preview phase. Trusted customers and partners are participating in the select group across industries including local government, architecture engineering and construction (AEC), energy, gas, manufacturing, petroleum, financial, and technology. "This next step in our collaboration will demonstrate how Microsoft Fabric customers are benefitting from powerful spatial analysis technology from Esri to achieve deeper insights for their organizations, said Amir Netz, Chief Technology Officer of Azure Data at Microsoft. Fabric users will have direct access to advanced spatial analytics tools and functions, as well as an extensive library of authoritative and curated spatial data. As a private preview participant, we are already seeing incredibly impressive performance working with geospatial data in Fabric, said Alejandro Vidal, founder of GIS Routes, a company creating technology solutions focused on the transportation ecosystem in Latin America. Fabric was unbelievably fast at processing data and producing results, and our team is looking forward to the additional benefits that this collaboration between Microsoft and Esri will deliver to our organization and our customers. The public preview of Microsoft Fabrics new spatial analytics capabilities from Esri will be available in Q3 2024. For more information and to sign up for the preview, please visit go.esri.com/fabric-preview. About Esri Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in hundreds of thousands of organizations globally, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofit institutions, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial technology and analytics, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions that leverage a geographic approach to solving some of the worlds most complex problems by placing them in the crucial context of location. Visit us at esri.com. Copyright 2024 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri Globe and Frame logos, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240715827260/en/ Sodali & Co (the Firm), formerly Morrow Sodali, a leading global advisory firm, is proud to announce the launch of its new brand, redefining its market presence following the Firms rapid international expansion through a series of successful acquisitions. The new identity recognizes the Firms 50-year history and unifies the compelling combination of businesses it has acquired in recent years including GPS; Di Costa Partners; Nestor Advisors; Gryphon Advisors; Citadel Magnus; FrameworkESG; HXE Partners; Powerscourt; Domestique; and Designate. Sodali & Co has the strong investment backing of its majority owner, TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity platform of TPG, one of the largest asset managers in the world. Sodali & Co has built an impressive global scale with a team of more than 450 employees serving over 2,000 clients. The Firm has been consistently ranked as the leading global proxy advisor in activist and merger situations. Across its three complementary practice areas of Shareholder Services, Governance & Sustainability, and Strategic Communications, each has specialties covering: Shareholder Services covers proxy solicitation services, capital markets intelligence, M&A advisory, fund solutions, and global debt and bondholder solutions Governance & Sustainability covers corporate governance, board services, sustainability advisory, and climate advisory Strategic Communications covers corporate communications, crisis & special situations, financial & transaction communications, investor relations, public affairs & campaigns, research, and brand & design The new name derives from the Latin word Sodalis, meaning companion, and aligns with the Firms role as a trusted advisor, helping clients build stakeholder capital through navigating the complex dynamic of shareholder and wider stakeholder interests. By bringing together our diverse expertise under one unified entity, we are better positioned to assist our clients evolving needs, said Alvise Recchi, global CEO. No other firm combines integrated and specialist expertise in shareholder services, governance and sustainability, and strategic communications in the same way as Sodali & Co. This is not just a rebrand. It represents our dedication to building a world-class advisory firm, said Recchi. We are unwavering in our commitment to excellence for our clients, supporting them to adapt and thrive in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. The Sodali & Co brand will be deployed globally immediately. ABOUT SODALI & CO Sodali & Co advises corporate clients worldwide as they navigate the complex dynamic of shareholder and stakeholder interests. The firm supports business leaders in anticipating issues, making better, more informed decisions, and communicating more effectively to drive alignment and accelerate performance. From headquarters in New York, London, and Sydney to offices in major capital markets, Sodali & Co serves over 2,000 corporate clients in 70 countries, across three practice areas of Shareholder Services, Governance & Sustainability, and Strategic Communications. In addition to listed and private companies, its clients include financial institutions, mutual funds, ETFs, stock exchanges, and membership associations. For more information about Sodali & Co, please visit www.sodali.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240715014030/en/ Posiflex Technology Inc., a global leader in Point of Sale (POS) systems and Online to Offline (O2O) solutions, is pleased to announce its latest flagship POS terminal series Mozart BT. The Mozart BT Series introduces beautiful modular monitor systems that integrate high-performance computing power, the latest operating system, and user-friendly ergonomic designs. With a high degree of modularity in construction and sleek elegance in appearance, the series conceals all cables and connectors, perfectly integrating the printer, providing a sense of space economy and aesthetics that enhances Posiflex's brand identity. The small and clean footprint of the Mozart BT Series allows seamless integration into various commercial spaces such as fashion boutiques, hospitality, convenience stores, food and beverage establishments, or multifunctional storefronts. Designed for versatility, it is an ideal solution for businesses requiring an additional display on the counter board for advertising playback, offering an elegant, beautiful, and useful POS terminal solution. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240714496907/en/ Posiflex Mozart BT Series POS Terminals (Photo: Business Wire) A Harmonious Work of Paper-Thin Elegance Posiflex's Mozart BT Series, aptly named, strives to unite all its structural, functional, and aesthetic elements into a seamless harmony, reminiscent of a Symphony composition. Following the design principle of "less is more," the thinner display, host, and stand, along with narrower monitor bezels, not only reduce the system's size and weight but also enhance its functionality. Every curve and angle is meticulously crafted to convey a sense of elegance. Integrated and concealed designs ensure the elimination of exposed cables and connectors, presenting a clean and uncluttered aesthetic. The overall outcome is a sleek, harmonious, and elegant masterpiece. Ripple Brand Identity The ripple icon on the start button and thermal printer gives a sense of brand identity, symbolizing the continued vitality and the continuous quest for innovation and user benefit. The burgundy red on the sides of the stand suggests understated luxury and the deep, round taste associated with red wine. Brilliant Modularity Modular design has consistently been the pinnacle of innovation in Posiflex products, and the Mozart BT Series has elevated modularity to new heights. Each main component, from displays to the host and thermal printer, is independent, facilitating easy installation, removal for repair and maintenance, yet seamlessly integrates in function and structure when assembled into the system. The thermal printer is cleverly incorporated into the stand, becoming an integral part of the POS terminal base. Alternatively, it can function independently, showcasing a design that optimizes both space and functionality ingeniously. User-Friendly Ergonomic Designs The Mozart BT Series POS terminal incorporates ergonomic designs to optimize the user experience. Narrow bezels on the displays minimize interference with the user's view, directing attention to the screen. Moreover, the adjustable angles of the displays cater to the user's comfort and dynamic needs. Both main and secondary displays can be vertically oriented, aligning with current market trends. Additionally, all peripherals are positioned at the same level from the user's perspective, promoting heightened comfort. State-of-the-Art Specifications The Mozart BT Series POS Terminal stands out with a host of impressive features. It runs on the latest operating systems, including Android 13 with EDLA certified (GMS) or Windows 11 OS, available in both x86 and RISC variants. The terminal is powered by up to the latest 13th-generation Intel processor, ensuring top-notch performance. Users can choose between a 15" or 15.6" LCD display, notably the 15.6" main screen featuring oTP technology (typical 400 nits) for vibrant colors and high brightness. Plus, the terminal offers versatility with accessory and attachment choices, including the 3-in-1 side attachment for RFID/MSR/FPU, iButton, 2D BCR (discrete/side attached), and the detachable printer. These features combine to provide a powerful and versatile electronic POS system with high-speed processing power and the ability to run the latest applications to meet the changing needs of the retail and hospitality industry. About POSIFLEX Group Posiflex Group is a global leading Commercial AIoT platform powered by smart Online-to-Offline (O2O) and Scenario-defined Embedded Appliance Solutions. Pillared by three brands, Posiflex Group consists of Posiflex as global top 5 brand in POS & Kiosk, Portwell as Embedded Foundry for AIoT Edge Compute, and KIOSK Information Systems (KIS) for managed self-service automation together with a common mission to enable optimized productivity and superior customer journey across the connected world. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240714496907/en/ The House of Suntory, the Founding House of Japanese Whisky, recently hosted One Night in Toki-O, an exciting event aimed at exploring the essence of Japan through creative reinvention. Held in Bengaluru, the evening celebrated the confluence of Old meets New, featuring Toki Suntory Whisky from the iconic portfolio of The House of Suntory. One Night in Toki-O is a concept that takes the audiences to the streets of Tokyo, a modern version of Japan where the juxtaposition of old and new sparks creative reinvigoration. A vivid world that is dynamic, playful, and whimsical, providing cultural enrichment through the discovery of a new piece of Japan that is exciting, engaging and fun. In partnership with Toki, the event captured the essence of Japan by merging its rich traditions with a modern, innovative approach. Toki is a blended whisky inspired by Japans culture, heritage, and future-forward outlook. It is a fusion of three storied brands from Suntory's portfolio - Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita - creating a blend that excites whisky enthusiasts and beginners alike. Representing the best of old and new, Toki Suntory Whisky blends the rich legacy of The House of Suntory with Japans cultural traditions and modern spirit, resulting in a groundbreaking and timeless whisky. Reflecting on the event, Rohan Jelkie, Brand Advocacy Head, Suntory Global Spirits expressed, "It was a true delight to host 'One Night in Toki-O' to bring an experience that celebrates the cultural richness of Japan, blending tradition and innovation much like Toki Suntory Whisky. Our aim was to transport attendees to the vibrant streets of Tokyo, offering a sensory fusion where 'Old meets New' in every sip and sight. As the evening unfolded, from the immersive Tokyo ambiance to tasting sessions revealing Toki's intricate layers, each moment reflected the essence of Japanese craftsmanship and modern allure. Beyond celebrating Japan's cultural tapestry, this event also underscored our brand's commitment to pushing whisky's boundaries and defining new standards in immersive experiences for guests to enjoy. At the event, the essence of Japan came alive, transporting attendees into the heart of Japanese culture. It began with an intimate mixology workshop by Robert Hospet, Brand Ambassador, South, Suntory Global Spirits delving into Suntorys rich heritage and its cultural integration. Beyond merely demonstrating the artistry of mixology, the session shed light on the revered Japanese Highball tradition, a drink deeply entrenched in Japanese culture, celebrated for its simplicity and nuanced palate. This resonates deeply with Japanese culture, where the Highball has long been embraced as a popular means to savour whisky. Suntory Global Spirits has always played a pivotal role in popularising the highball as a drink, making whisky more accessible to consumers in Japan. The guests also enjoyed a vinyl listening session featuring Japanese music that immersed everyone in Japan's enchanting sounds. The event featured The Toki Art Studio, an interactive screen printing & Hanko stamp workshop along with curated culinary delights inspired by the streets of Japan. The festivities culminated in a mesmerising musical performance, leaving guests with lasting memories of a night infused with the magic of music and art. Held at Muro, Churchstreet, the event celebrated the rich tapestry of Japanese heritage and contemporary creativity. Through a fusion of interactive workshops, tantalising cuisine, and soul-stirring performances, attendees were transported on a cultural odyssey, discovering the timeless allure of Japan. If theres one car that can be considered as the king of reinvention, its the Hyundai Santa Fe. In the five generations its been around, e... Improvements continue to be made in the city of East Ridge, largely due to its status as a border region retail tourism development district from the state. The city qualified for this designation in 2012 because it borders another state and has an interstate running through it. Being a border region district allows East Ridge to receive 75 percent of the state sales taxes generated in the district in addition to the local option sales tax that the city receives. The tax money can be used to provide economic development incentives for businesses and infrastructure improvements that will be necessary to attract businesses. East Ridge continues to take advantage of these benefits with several large projects currently in progress. . An $8 million bond issue has recently been closed. Of that, $6.5 million has been appropriated to build a new multi-purpose pavilion behind the city hall and the community center and $1.5 million has been allocated for making various upgrades at Camp Jordan Park. Mayor Brian Williams said that the $8 million bond will all be eligible for reimbursement from the citys border region status. City Manager Scott Miller said that the new East Ridge Animal Shelter is close to being completed. The interior should be finished by the end of next week and inspections are scheduled for July29 when the building will be considered substantially complete. Then furniture, fixtures and equipment will be installed and the shelter will be opened sometime in August. Another project is widening North Mack Smith Road. EPB is installing wire on new poles in the area and underground wires are being placed. Next, gas line replacements will be done. All of this work should be finished by the end of July after which the road construction will begin. The East Ridge Fire Department will be the first municipality in Hamilton County to install a Safe Haven Baby Box. It will be put at Station #1 and East Ridge will be one of only four cities in Tennessee to have one, said Fire Chief Mike Williams. He said it is important and he feels there is a great need because East Ridge is located on the state line and borders the city of Chattanooga. He said, "We do not want to find a baby in a dumpster or trash can. This is a way that someone can safely surrender a baby with no questions asked. The fire department location was chosen because it is staffed 24 hours every day." The cost to install it will be $15,000, but Chief Williams said that the Craig Foundation will pay for the installation and all costs for the first three years. He said that the box is 100 percent safe and is climate controlled and has a camera inside. Once the doors are closed an alarm notifies dispatch who in turn immediately notifies the firefighters. Once the doors close the baby cannot be retrieved, however the mother has 30 days to petition the court to get her rights back. A baby that is left will first be taken to a medical facility for a health check and will then be turned over to the department of children's services. Chief Williams will ask the council for approval at the July 25 meeting. At that meeting, amendments to the sign ordinance will also be made, specifically about lighting and store front displays. The proposed changes drew a room full of concerned business owners when it was on the June 13 agenda because some feared that there would be unintended consequences. It was the changes to store front displays, not lighting, that drew the most opposition. They are related to how much of the window area can be considered to be an advertising sign. In some cases conforming to the new ordinance would requirer the business owner to renovate the building. The city manager wants to put the public on notice that these issues will be on the agenda of the next meeting on July 25. In regular business, the council voted to approve the purchase of a new ladder truck for the fire department. Chief Williams said it will be replacing a 1993 ladder truck that was original equipment from the time when the fire department was taken over by the city. Parts are no longer available for the 30-year-old truck, so it cannot be repaired and it did not pass the last inspection. The lead time for building a new truck is 40-41 months and the city will pay $2,163,598, which includes a savings of $173,853 if $1 million is paid up front when it is ordered. This is the largest purchase that the fire department has ever made, said the chief. It is expected to last for over 20 years. When the truck is delivered in three years, the city manager said a decision will be made whether to get a loan or to pay for it from the fund balance, which he said is now at a healthy $12,300,000. Mayor Brian Williams proclaimed July 10 as Leona Lucille Culpepper Day in East Ridge to celebrate the day she turned 105. She grew up in East Ridge, moved away and then returned and now lives one mile from her childhood home. Louis Brill is an engineering technician for Signal Mountains public works department and noticed bicycles were consistently being disposed of at the towns transfer station. Some of the bikes were in terrible shape with broken fenders, missing handlebars and bent wheels. But some were just rusted and missing a tire, clearly outgrown by its former rider. Every month we were seeing so many bicycles being put into our scrap metal container or, even worse, into our landfill container, Louis said, thinking it was shame to both let bikes folks might be able to us go to waste, and add to Signal Mountains carbon footprint by adding them to the landfill. Bikes take up a good amount of space, and Louis and other employees had been brainstorming to find a way to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill from the town. It just seemed like a no-brainer to figure out some way we could repurpose these bikes, Louis said, and the solution was actually right under his nose. Or more literally, right around the block from his home in Red Bank. "Im quite familiar with White Oak Bicycle Co-op as theyre based out of a workshop a few blocks down from my home in Red Bank, and I had heard about their mission to get bicycles into the hands of those that are in need here in our region, Louis said. He was aware that White Oak Bicycle Co-op, a local 501c(3) nonprofit, takes in bicycles that are no longer needed and refurbishes them so that they can be donated at no cost to children who otherwise wouldnt have access to them, as well as to unhoused individuals in our region. He reached out to Blake Pierce, the executive director at WOBC, and asked if he might be interested in partnering with the town of Signal Mountain and taking the bikes. "He was extremely interested, Louis said happily, adding that since the recent partnership, about 60 bicycles that would have gone straight to the landfill have been collected by WOBC. Once they are taken to WOBC, volunteer bike mechanics examine the bike and determine if it can be refurbished to working order. If thats not possible, they strip the bike and use the parts they can on another bicycle. Now, residents of Signal Mountain can drop their old, broken or no-longer-needed-but-still-running-great two-wheeler off at the Signal Mountain Public Works transfer station, at 714 Mississippi Ave., and know it will provide joy to another rider, possibly one who wouldnt have had the chance to own a bike otherwise. What a win-win, all thanks to the considerate, forward-thinking folks at SMPW and the generous volunteers at WOBC. Overall, we couldnt be happier with this program and the impact that it has on the wider community! Louis said. Learn more at WOBC at whiteoakbicycle.org. * * * Ferris Robinson is the author of three childrens books, The Queen Who Banished Bugs, The Queen Who Accidentally Banished Birds, and Call Me Arthropod in her pollinator series If Bugs Are Banished. Making Arrangements is her first novel. Dogs and Love - Stories of Fidelity is a collection of true tales about mans best friend. Her website is ferrisrobinson.com and you can download a free pollinator poster there. She is the editor of The Lookout Mountain Mirror and The Signal Mountain Mirror. Georgia Northwestern Technical College students Rance and Ryder Smith are building on their construction experience this summer by interning with local companies.The twins, Calhoun natives, said they have always been interested in construction and started classes in the Construction Management program at GNTCs Gordon County Campus in Calhoun in fall 2023. Each expects to graduate with an associate degree in spring 2025.Donny Holmes, Construction Management program director and instructor at GNTC, said this is the first time he has had twins go through the program together.Ryder and I are the first in our family to go into this line of work, Rance said.Virginia Smith-Hensley knew her sons were interested in construction and had heard how highly regarded Mr.Holmes and GNTCs Construction Management program were, she said.To my delight, both Ryder and Rance received acceptance letters (into the program), and we promptly scheduled an appointment to meet with Donny, Ms. Smith-Hensley said. He provided a comprehensive overview of the program, detailing the invaluable skills and knowledge that students would gain upon completion.As a mother, I was thrilled to discover that GNTC could provide an environment where small-town students could access a world-class education from a highly-regarded instructor like Donny, she said.As a high school sophomore, Ryder said he felt overwhelmed by the variety of career options available and the pressure to select a career path before graduation, but speaking with Mr. Holmes helped him to establish a foundation for his career.Seeing something on blueprints come to life is really exciting to me, Ryder said. I still have the pamphlet and business card Donny gave me.Mr. Holmes, describing Ryder as intrigued and motivated, said, Ryder is very motivated to do the best that he can because he knows that will help him be better prepared for work challenges down the road.The brothers have completed the first year of their program. Ryder is completing a 10-week internship with Americas Home Place in Calhoun, while his brother is interning with JBrennon Construction Inc. in Dalton. Both are assistant project managers.In his position, Ryder said he oversees the construction process from inception through completion, interacts with subcontractors daily and performs tasks assigned by the project manager.I couldnt imagine a better internship than the one I have now, Ryder said. They let you get involved in the entire process, not only by building houses, but also by building relationships with customers. The people I work with made me feel at home as soon as I started there.Ryder applied through the Americas Home Place online internship link, said Alfred Trapp, general manager for Americas Home Place in Calhoun. The Calhoun office received about 30 intern applications from other colleges in Georgia for two available internships. The other summer intern selected was Easton Childs, who is also one of Mr. Holmes students and winner of the gold medal in Masonry at the 2024 SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership and Skills Conference.Ryder really impressed us during our lengthy interview process, which involved multiple interviews with our team in Calhoun and my peers from other offices across the Southeast, Mr. Trapp said. It was obvious that he had a passion for the industry and already had hands-on experience from his time at GNTC."Ryder has shown urgency and does not require micromanagement to complete any lessons or challenges presented to him; he also does not mind working late or learning a new skill to perform the job correctly."The brothers said their internships have helped them to grow professionally by building on the framework of Construction Management knowledge they received in their classes at GNTC.Mr. Holmes has been impressed with Rances drive and captivation. He said, Rance is dedicated to his studies and has a drive to do the best that he can. He asks questions about the areas he doesn't understand as well as direction assistance for his career pathway.Rance said he is grateful for his internship, which has provided a window into all of the preparation that happens before a project breaks ground; then he gets to follow the project through all the way to completing the clients punch list at the end of the job.A recent recipient of an Associated General Contractors of America scholarship, Rance said he assists in any pre-construction bidding, gets quotes from subcontractors for future jobs, makes sure all work is done safely and as specified in the contract, supervises and manages jobs when needed.I love that we are very professional, and we do great work and have great attitudes, Rance said. We focus on having great relationships with our clients and with everyone who works with us.The brothers said they would like to continue with their respective employers after their internships until they graduate. Then they would like to become full-time project managers.Ryder said he would like to work for a custom home builder and eventually start his own home construction business; Rance said his long-term career plan is to stay with a company and help it grow.When Rance contacted JBrennon Construction about an internship, the company was not advertising for a position, said Brent Smith Jr., the companys chief financial officer and vice president.Upon interviewing Rance, we quickly found him to be reliable, calm, analytical and eager, Mr. Smith said. "Rance has performed well on the job, and JBrennon Construction has been flexible in working with him so that he can continue to work for the company as he completes his degree."Mr. Smith believes Rance has a bright future in construction management, adding Its likely that he will stay on with us.Mr. Trapp characterizes Ryder as responsible, trustworthy and diligent. He said he believes the young intern will excel in the construction industry and looks forward to seeing how far he goes with his career.Our hope is for interns to stay on board with us long after their internships are completed, Mr. Trapp said, adding that Americas Home Place typically has many part-time and/or post-graduate opportunities available at the Calhoun office and other offices across the nation.The hands-on lessons and level of leadership taught in the Construction Management program at GNTC have clearly prepared Ryder for this field, Mr. Trapp said. We have seen a level of confidence and capability from him and our other GNTC intern that is pretty rare among students their age.Mr. Smith said JBrennon Construction will consider hiring more GNTC Construction Management interns in the future; Mr. Trapp said his company has been so impressed with the interns that the company looks forward to developing a partnership with GNTC in the future.The brothers praised Mr. Holmes for preparing them for their internships and fostering their professional growth.Donny is an amazing instructor and even better person, Rance said. I am grateful to have an instructor like him.GNTCs Floor and Wall Framing, Ceiling and Roof Framing and Energy Measures and Efficiency courses have been the most beneficial for him so far, Ryder said.According to Rance, the most important lessons hes learned at GNTC are never give up on the things you want, and never be afraid to learn something new every day.Ms. Smith-Hensley attributes her sons success to the exceptional education and support they both have received at GNTC and through Mr. Holmes' Construction Management program.Mr. Holmes said he is pleased to see how much the brothers have matured and grown in their knowledge of the construction field since they entered the program with minimal construction experience.They were both excited to start and learn more about construction right out of the gate, Mr. Holmes said. Now, after being in the program for a year, they have had several classes with hands-on labs and management classes that have peaked their interest.Mr. Holmes receives texts from them periodically in which they share what they are doing and learning. He said he is excited to see their professional growth, as well as eager to see where they go after completing the program and the difference they will make in the construction industry.I advise anyone who has an interest in the construction field to take the Construction Management program at GNTC, Ryder said. You will gain knowledge that will help you succeed in your career and gain relationships that you will have forever. GADNR Adaptive Hunt - Hunting Blind - January 2024 GADNR j- Adaptive Hunt - successful harvest by Dana Hawkins, pictured here with her husband, from the first adaptive hunt held in 2021. GADNR - Adaptive Hunt - target practice - January 2024 GADNR - Adaptive Hunt - target practice - January 2024 Previous Next The Georgia Department of Natural Resources announced the Outdoors Beyond Barriers initiative earlier this year, and already new events are planned for mobility-challenged hunters this upcoming season.More than 2.2 million Georgians have a disability, and of that, 14 percent of those are mobility related. Outdoors Beyond Barriers puts an increased focus on expanding existing and creating new adaptive outdoor opportunities, said Walter Rabon, commissioner of Georgia DNR. Having personally attended one of the initial adaptive hunts we introduced last year, I cannot wait to see the excitement of hunters taking part in some exceptional new opportunities this next year.The Outdoors Beyond Barriers initiative puts an emphasis on removing obstacles for people with mobility impairments to help them connect with nature, explore the outdoors and take part in activities like hunting and fishing that may have previously been unavailable.NEW Hunting Opportunities: Beginning July 15, adaptive hunters will have the opportunity to apply for one of seven New Adaptive Wildlife Management Area Hunting Events on public properties across the state.To apply, visit GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com and select the Events and Learning Opportunities tab. The deadline for applications is Aug. 15.Previously, adaptive hunters could take advantage of an early waterfowl hunting opportunity on private land or participate in one of the multiple dedicated mobility-impaired hunts (for different species) on a variety of public land Wildlife Management Areas. These opportunities will continue.Georgia DNR also is working on more accessible fishing events and seeking additional outdoor opportunities in partnership with private landowners throughout Georgia.Other Adaptive Opportunities and Amenities in Georgia: Action Trackchairs Available at Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites. Accessible Cottage/Campsite Accommodations at Georgia State Parks. Accessible Kayak Launch at Hard Labor Creek State Park. Accessible Horse Ramps (Don Carter State Park and Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center). Georgia Public Fishing Areas offer a variety of ADA accessible fishing piers and facilities. Coastal Public Fishing Piers are ADA-accessible. 12 Public Ranges (Archery or Shooting) in Georgia are ADA-accessible. Birding and Wildlife Viewing Opportunities: Many DNR sites offer multiple accessible piers and trails for mobility-impaired visitors and others, including the Colonial Coast Birding Trail and the ADA bridge connecting the City of Winder with Fort Yargo State Park.Eligible participants must meet the requirements for a disability hunting and fishing license. However, hunters taking part in these new hunts do not have to possess a Disability License if they already have an alternate legal license, such as a Lifetime License.Disability License Change: Disabled hunters who complete the Certification of Disability Application (available at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com) and are approved will receive an electronic certificate of disability and never again have to resubmit proof of their disability (as long as they remain disabled). The certification allows hunters to obtain their disability hunting or fishing license online or by phone.For more information on the Outdoors Beyond Barriers initiative, visit GADNR.org/OBB. Dan Reuter, the current executive director of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency, brings with him a vision deeply rooted in the modern liberal agenda that shaped much of Atlanta, Georgias urban planning. While this approach may have resonated with the diverse and progressive population of Atlanta, it poses significant challenges for the traditional conservative values of Hamilton County, Tennessee. Urban Planning vs. Conservative Values Reuters tenure in Atlanta was marked by a focus on progressive urban development strategies, including high-density housing, extensive public transportation projects, and community improvement districts. These initiatives were designed to foster inclusivity and sustainability, often at the expense of individual property rights and low-density suburban living, which are highly valued by conservative communities.Hamilton County, with its rich history and conservative electorate, prioritizes a different set of values. The community places a strong emphasis on personal freedom, property rights, and limited government intervention. Many residents prefer the tranquility and privacy of suburban and rural lifestyles over the dense, urban environments championed by Reuters planning strategies.Economic ImplicationsThe economic policies associated with Reuters planning approach also clash with the fiscal conservatism prevalent in Hamilton County. Large-scale public transportation projects and urban redevelopment require substantial government funding, often leading to higher taxes and increased public spending. Conservative residents, who favor low taxes and minimal government spending, may find these policies burdensome and misaligned with their economic principles.Cultural MismatchCulturally, Hamilton Countys population leans towards traditional values, with a strong emphasis on family, community, and local traditions. The liberal agenda that promotes progressive social policies and urban lifestyles may seem out of touch with the day-to-day realities and desires of the countys residents. This cultural mismatch could lead to a sense of disenfranchisement among the local population, undermining community cohesion and eroding trust in local governance.ConclusionWhile Dan Reuters vision for Chattanooga may aim to bring about modern, inclusive, and sustainable urban development, it fundamentally misaligns with the conservative values that are deeply ingrained in Hamilton Countys identity. The people of Hamilton County deserve a planning approach that respects their preferences for lower-density living, limited government intervention, and preservation of their cultural heritage. It is crucial for local leaders to consider these values and ensure that any development initiatives are tailored to the unique needs and desires of their community. Mike McElhone * * * We completely agree with all of the observations of Mike McElhone. We have attended RPAs planning meetings in person and online. The desire RPA has to make all of Hamilton County like Atlanta, Nashville and other large cities is extremely unsettling. Many love living in close proximity where walking to a business such as an eatery is desirable, but just as many do not and have chosen to live outside of city limits in rural areas. During these RPA meetings it has been expressed to keep both options, giving the residents the choice, but plans continue to show development going into an area and making mini rural establishments of commercial development and large subdivisions. This will ruin the true character of Hamilton County for the rural residents. Frank & Cindy Triplett * * * I have to agree with Mr. McElhone with regard to his opinion of the Regional Planning Authority. The RPA is not a good deal for Hamilton County citizens. The cost of the contract is onerous. All anyone has to do is look not only at Dan Rueters background/agenda but look at the RPAs board of directors. One should see a huge conflict of interest with those serving and the decisions that are made. I am in hopes that with Mr. McElhones astute observations and input from others, our county officials will listen, then take steps to change the relationship with RPA and we as citizens of the county will be able to save our way of life and not become an over-developed metropolis with no infrastructure. Cathy Faulker The king responded to a question regarding his youngest son and whether or not he would ever accept him as part of the royal family again. It is rare that King Charles publicly speaks about his relationship with his estranged son, Prince Harry. He adheres to the royal motto, Never complain, never explain when it comes to addressing the royal familys personal relationships. However, Charles did utter a four-word response to a question by someone who requested Harry be brought back into the royal fold. Prince Harrys royal family absence caused King Charles to respond in this way King Charles visited the University of East London for its 125th anniversary in February 2023. He was scheduled to open its hospital and training hub and unveil a plaque. Express reported that Charles was met by university students during the visit. As he mingled with onlookers, a man shouted, Bring back Harry, please. Can you please bring him back, please, Sir? Charles asked aloud, Who? The man replied: Harry, your son. The kings response? It would be nice. King Charles and Prince Harry reportedly remain estranged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opted out of royal life after being married only two years. The couple, who wed in 2018, wanted out of their royal duties by March 2020. They released a statement published on Instagram. It reads, After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. However, this decision came with a cost for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Subsequently, the couple became estranged from the king and other senior royals. By March 2021, Harry told Oprah Winfrey, When we were in Canada, I had three conversations with my grandmother and two with my father before he stopped taking my calls. By September 2022, relations between family members remained estranged as Harry and Meghan Markle returned to England for Queen Elizabeths funeral. Despite rumors that father and son were mending their relationship, Harry continued to speak poorly about royal life in a Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, and his book Spare. King Charles subsequently evicted Harry and Meghan from their Frogmore Cottage home. Will Prince Harry and King Charles ever reconcile? King Charles and Prince Harry photographed in 2019 | Samir Hussein/WireImage Royal author Robert Hardman has reported that a reconciliation will not happen anytime soon. There appear to be too many burned bridges between father and son. However, Harry did fly to the United Kingdom earlier this year when King Charles revealed a cancer diagnosis. He met with his father for less than a half hour before flying back to California. To Express, Hardman said, Its not what Harry said, its the fact that he said it, and he gave away so many secrets. And he was, effectively, at the time of the Queens death, you know, he was taking notes. Hardman continued, There he is; hes got two sons, one he hardly sees, and two grandchildren hes barely ever seen, and yes, I think he would like some sort of modus vivendi. Clearly, they cant come back to royal life. I dont think they want to. And, after all thats happened, it wouldnt work. I thought it was telling that when the cancer diagnosis came through back in February, Prince Harry came straight over. People asked why he didnt stay longer and why he didnt talk to his father. I mean, there is so much to be worked through, but this was absolutely not the moment to have some sort of summit with Harry about all of Harrys grievances. He concluded, But I think the fact he came was important, the fact he was received was important; I think what encouraged people at the palace and encouraged the king was that afterward, we didnt read about it or hear about it. It remained private. Prince Harry resides in Montecito, California, with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. One of the most selfless things you can do for someone is agree to adopt their child if theres ever an emergency or they cant take care of it anymore for some reason. A lot of people sign up to do this when they become the godparent of a close friend or relatives baby, although most of the time, nothing bad happens, and its just a sweet commitment. But have you ever heard of someone adopting and agreeing to raise the baby of someone who used to date your spouse? One woman has gone viral on social media after she shared the story of how she adopted the infant son of her husbands late ex-wife. Christie Werts (@cjthemom5), a mother of five, author, and TikTok creator living in Ohio, is married to her husband, Wyatt. When they came together, they became a blended family, as Christie had two children of her own, and Wyatt had two from his previous marriage. Tragically, Wyatts ex-wife was an addict who struggled to stay sober for years, and he discovered her health took a turn for the worse after she gave birth to her final child in 2021, a baby boy. Sadly, Wyatts ex-wife passed away only five days after giving birth to her son, and Wyatt was quickly notified, as the babys biological dad was nowhere to be found. Christie and Wyatt quickly traveled from Ohio to Texas to see the baby boy, who was nameless at the time. Christie, who grew up spending time in a traumatic foster care system, knew she didnt want that for the little boy. She knew he deserved to live in a happy home with his brothers and sisters in Ohio. Although Christie and Wyatt did not communicate with his ex-wife and she had never met her, she felt it was her duty to prevent her infant son from being abandoned. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. The worlds smallest elephant, known as the Bornean elephant, is in danger of dying out as its population dwindles. The elephants are native to the island of Borneo, where much of their habitat has been lost due to deforestation. Now, there are only 1,000 Bornean elephants left in the wildbut theres hope for them yet. Recently, the Bornean elephant has made it onto the International Union for the Conservation of Natures (IUCN) list of endangered species. Their new endangered status on the Red List can help bring more awareness and boost support for the dire circumstances of the Bornean elephants. We hope that by getting the Borneo elephants on to the Red List, that will galvanize the efforts for their conservation to protect their habitat because the authorities will now see that the eyes of the world are on this species, said Adrian Lister, a professor from Londons Natural History Museum. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Bornean elephants are a high conservation priority. However, out of all the elephant species in the world, they remain the least understood. Efforts have been made to learn more about them, though. In 2005, the WWF attached satellite trackers to five different herds of elephants in Sabah, Malaysia. The data theyve gathered has allowed experts to determine the dangers they face. At 8.2 to 9.8 feet tall, Bornean elephants are three feet smaller in height than their larger Asian counterparts. These miniature elephants have large ears, straighter tusks, and long tails that reach the ground. They also have gentle, playful personalities. They are found only on the island of Borneo in the Malay Archipelago of Southeast Asia. DNA evidence has proved that Bornean elephants are genetically different from other Asian elephants. They were estranged from their cousins in mainland Asia and Sumatra about 300,000 years ago. The main threats to their survival are deforestation and conflict with humans. In Malaysia and Indonesia, the palm oil industry has been booming. The increased building of palm oil plantations has led to widespread deforestation and the loss of wildlife. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Home News USCIRF urges State Dept. to add Pakistan to CPC list of worst violators of religious freedom LAHORE, Pakistan The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom again has recommended that the State Department designate Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern, citing the countrys blasphemy laws as a prime source religious freedom violations. The U.S. State Department does not accept all USCIRF recommendations in its annual designation of countries that practice or tolerate egregious religious freedom violations, but it has designated Pakistan as a CPC every year since 2018. Pakistan continues to witness widespread abuses of religious freedom, including blasphemy laws, forced conversions of minority girls, and targeted violence against religious minorities, according to the 2024 USCIRF report. 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 blasphemy laws, particularly Sections 295-A, B, and C of the Pakistan Penal Code, have been criticized for broad and vague provisions often misused to settle personal scores or target people of minority religions in the 96% Muslim country. The USCIRF report documents numerous cases of individuals, including Christians, Hindus and Ahmadis, being falsely accused and imprisoned under these laws. The mere accusation of blasphemy can lead to mob violence, extrajudicial killings, and mass protests, creating a climate of fear and intimidation, the USCIRF noted. The recent high-profile case of Zohaib Masih, a young Christian who was wrongfully detained and tortured on false blasphemy charges, exemplifies the ongoing misuse of these laws, it stated. The report also highlighted forced conversions, particularly affecting young Christian and Hindu girls who are abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to their abductors. These incidents often go unpunished due to societal and institutional biases. In addition, the USCIRF report pointed to numerous instances of targeted violence against religious minorities. Attacks on places of worship, including churches, temples, and Ahmadi mosques, continue to be a serious concern. The lack of adequate government response and protection for these communities exacerbates the situation, it noted. The USCIRF urged the State Department to designate Pakistan as a CPC, which would subject the country to potential sanctions and other diplomatic measures aimed at improving religious freedom conditions. The commission also recommended increased U.S. support for civil society organizations working to promote religious tolerance and human rights in Pakistan. In the most recent CPC designations, Pakistan joined Burma, the Peoples Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan on the list of the countries that most practice or tolerate violations of religious freedom. The Pakistani government has often dismissed such reports as biased and politically motivated. USCIRF insisted, however, that its findings are based on thorough investigations and credible sources, urging Pakistan to undertake significant legal and policy reforms to address the violations. The USCIRF recommendation drew reactions from international and domestic observers as church leaders and rights organizations welcomed the report, calling for immediate action to protect religious minorities in Pakistan. Church of Pakistan President Azad Marshall said that the report adequately reflects the grim situation of religious minorities in Pakistan. The international community should not only push Pakistan to address these issues but also support it in any way possible, Marshall told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. We want a secure, free and fair environment for religious minorities in Pakistan, and it is the responsibility of the state to fulfill this constitutional duty. Pakistani officials, however, criticized the USCIRF recommendation, arguing that it overlooks the efforts made by the government to promote interfaith harmony and protect minority rights. We are committed to ensuring the safety and rights of all our citizens, said a spokesperson for Pakistans Ministry of Religious Affairs. We reject any biased assessments that ignore our progress. Samson Salamat, chairman of advocacy group Rawadari Tehreek (Movement for Equality), rejected the governments stance, saying that repeated acts of mob violence in the name of Islam and continued persecution of minorities contradicted the government's narrative. The USCIRFs recommendation to designate Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern underscores the urgent need for addressing severe religious freedom violations in the country, Salamat told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. He said that there has been alarming increase in blasphemy allegations in recent years. This has also resulted in violent attacks on Christian settlements and individuals, he added. Spike in blasphemy cases Hundreds of people in Pakistan were incarcerated on blasphemy charges in 2023, many on the basis of a mere accusation without evidence, with 552 detained in jails in Punjab Province alone, according to a recent report by Lahore-based Center for Social Justice. Moreover, at least 103 people have been charged with blasphemy between January and June of this year, it noted. Government data submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Committee presented an exponential increase in blasphemy cases over four years a 30% jump from 2019 to 2020, and a further spike of 62% from 2021 to 2023, according to the report. The government report acknowledged that 53% of all complaints were false allegations (398). The government data about complaints from 2018 to 2023 acknowledged that the conviction rate under blasphemy laws was around 1%, with seven acquittals against every single conviction. Nevertheless, all convictions so far have been overturned by the high courts and supreme courts of Pakistan, indicating that even 1% of convictions lacked merit. Muslims accounted for 98.40% of those accused of blasphemy, the report stated. About 100 individuals have been killed in connection with blasphemy allegations since 1987, including 63 Muslims, 26 Christians, seven Ahmadis, one Hindu, one Buddhist, and the religion of two others was unknown. The CSJ report also noted the upsurge in religiously-motivated killings and lynching in the past two years. In 2023, at least six persons or individuals were killed by private persons after the alleged blasphemy accusations, the report added. Along with two extrajudicial killings, another three persons alleged of blasphemy died in jail between June 2023 and 2024. Hence, a total of 11 persons alleged of blasphemy have lost their lives in the past 18 months, including the latest incident in Madyan, Swat. The CSJ report also criticized giving the Federal Investigation Agency powers to investigate cybercrimes related to blasphemy laws, as well as empowering anti-terrorism courts to prosecute cases under Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code. This has resulted in abuse of authority and miscarriage of justice, the report stated. Therefore, an exponential increase in the number of alleged blasphemy cases with FIA. On the other hand, the perpetrators of mob violence in particular get away with through the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997. 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. Originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News Home News Pastors slam Todd Starnes for urging Christians to leave churches if they didnt preach on Trump attack Conservative media personality Todd Starnes has come under fire from a number of pastors after he urged Christians to leave their church if their pastor did not address the assassination attempt on the life of former President Donald Trump from their pulpits on Sunday. If your pastor did not address the assassination attempt in today's service, you need to find another church. There is tremendous spiritual warfare being waged in this country. This is no time for limp-wristed wokevangelicals, Starnes wrote on X Sunday evening. Starnes comment came less than 24 hours after Trump, who is expected to accept the Republican nomination for president for a third time at the Republican National Convention this week, was injured during the assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening. The attack, according to The Associated Press, was the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. 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 a statement on Truth Social after the attack, Trump said, I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear, but his campaign said he is now doing fine. Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman in the attack, as well as audience member Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old volunteer fire chief, were killed during the attack. David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, were also injured. James White, a well-known pastor and elder at Apologia Church in Tempe, Arizona, who also serves as director of Alpha and Omega Ministries in Phoenix, said Starnes comment about what pastors should be preaching about on Sunday was out of order and urged him to get back in your lane. You've GOT to be kidding me. No sir, I did not address the assassination attempt in today's service. I taught on Jesus' view of Scripture, actually. There would have been nothing wrong in mentioning it, even praying about it. In fact, if we had wanted to address, again, the proper role of the church in calling magistrates to obedience to Christ (something we were doing long before it became popular after 2020), that would have been fine as well, White wrote on X. But how dare you get on your high horse and pretend to dictate to the elders of Christ's churches what they must address on a given Lord's Day from the pulpit lest they be labeled limp-wristed wokevangelicals. You need to apologize for this absurd tweet and delete it. Back in your lane, sir. The Rev. Johannon Tate, senior pastor at New Era Baptist Church in Middletown, Ohio, said he didnt preach about the attempted assassination of the former president and said it had nothing to do with spiritual warfare. I didnt [preach about the assassination attempt] and I guarantee not one member of our church will leavethis aint spiritual warfaretry again, Tate wrote on X. And Pastor Clifford Mayes, who didnt share his affiliation, also disagreed with Starnes position. I am a pastor, and I did not address the assassination attempt, but I did declare Jesus Christ, His crucifixion, His resurrection, His ascension, and His return. Jesus is my king and Hes the only one who saves., he wrote on X. Taylor Combs, a pastor at Kings Cross church in Nashville, Tennessee, was a bit more nuanced in his response to Starnes but he, too, did not agree that Christians should leave their churches if their pastors chose not to preach about the assassination attempt against Trump on Sunday. There are reasons to leave your church. This isnt one of them. At every membership interview, I tell future members that there will come a time when they think I say too much, too little, or the wrong thing about some cultural issue. But thats no reason to leave! Combs said in a thread on Starnes comment on X. Its possible to hold together truth from both sides on this. For example: I do think it wouldve been wise for pastors to address this yesterday. People came to church with it on their minds. Some were fearful, sad, angry. Shepherds are called to speak the Gospel to this! Combs wrote. He also doesnt think it is wise to tell pastors to just preach the Gospel. Just preach the Gospel doesnt carry the weight here some think. Did John the Baptist just preach the Gospel at Herod? Paul when he confronted Peter? James when he addressed partiality? We speak the Gospel *to* real life realities, not to escape them, he insisted. That said, we do speak *the Gospel* to those realities not our partys talking points, not our political opinions, not conspiratorial speculation. This isnt a time for partisanship (frankly, there is no time for that, as Gospel preachers). Combs further added: None of this has anything to do with being a woke Evangelical or limp wristed any more than speaking the Gospel to the insurrection had anything to do with being non-woke. All of it has to do with lovingly meeting our people where they are with the gospel. Home News Rio de Janeiro churches suspend activities in fear of 'Evangelical' drug lord Four Catholic parishes in the northern parts of Rio de Janeiro suspended their activities amid rumors that gang leader and converted Neo-Pentecostal Evangelical, Alvaro Santa Rosa, also known as Peixao (Big Fish), had ordered the closures. The churches St. Hedwig and St. Cecilia in Bras de Pina, and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and St. Justin in Parada de Lucas announced a temporary suspension of their activities from July 5-7, Crux Now reported, citing the local media outlet G1. Prior to the announcement, armed individuals on motorcycles visited the churches and demanded the immediate cessation of all church activities, a local resident 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 churches confirmed on social media that their weekend activities would be halted, offering no further explanations. Notably, St. Hedwig also called off its traditional festivities in honor of St. John the Baptist and other saints celebrated in June. Peixao, who controls several favelas in the region, is reportedly infamous for his misled fervor and past acts of religious intolerance, particularly against Afro-Brazilian religions like Umbanda and Candomble. He previously forced the closure and relocation of religious centers, and launched attacks on holy figures and sites. The area under his influence, referred to as the Israel Complex, features numerous depictions of the Star of David and the name of his gang, Aarons Band. Over the years, Peixaos actions have been denounced as part of a pattern of religious intolerance. The medias attention to the church closures prompted a response from the state government of Rio de Janeiro. Officials announced the deployment of police forces to the area and claimed that there had been no directives from any drug lords regarding church operations. By July 7, normal services had resumed across the parishes, with St. Hedwig reinstating its June celebrations. Governor Claudio Castro, a Catholic and member of former President Jair Bolsonaros Liberal Party, has historical ties to the Charismatic Catholic Renewal through his past involvement in a related musical group, according to Crux Now. Ivanir dos Santos, a scholar and leader in the Candomble community, has documented the increasing violence against diverse religious groups. He has advocated for a substantial governmental plan to combat religious intolerance to prevent the escalation of such violence, which has historically targeted Afro-Brazilian religious centers and is now affecting other denominations. Fr. Luiz Antonio Pereira Lopes, head of Rio de Janeiros Favelas Pastoral Ministry, linked the hostilities to dominion theology, an ideology that's growing in influence in Brazil. Behind these actions are misinterpretations and decontextualized views of biblical conquests, wherein faith is purported to justify both territorial and ideological domination. Pereira Lopes noted that gang leaders often have relatives who are active church members. Home Opinion 'Trans widows' desperately need the Church's help Amid the rising tide of people arguing for transgender rights, may I draw your attention to the fallout in a little-discussed dimension of this troubling space? Im speaking of the heartbroken and betrayed spouses and children, who are sometimes called trans widows and trans orphans. Would you consider listening to the ripples, repercussions and recoil of a wife as she watches her husband fight a war against the family but mostly against himself as he drugs and surgically maims his physical body, all in pursuit of a lie? There is truly no suffering quite like it. Might you consider how the Pride flag sets off triggers for a group of people adversely affected by this body-morphing segment of our population? Allow me to explain what its like. Though it may surprise you, this trans phenomenon is happening to married women and children of all ages, wives of many religious persuasions and socio-economic levels, yes, including even the Boomer generation. We have had to find each other online because that is the only place to be supported in this painful journey. It is my view that we, as trans widows, are the least heard from group in this milieu of people who, like the de-transitioners and their families, have had their lives forever upended by gender ideology. Local organizations and churches have divorce care and drug addiction recovery programs, but support for a trans family/widow is rare. But the need is great and, unfortunately, growing. The Church, as a whole, does not know what to do with us and this topic is still not addressed much though we are thankful to a few ministry organizations like Help4Families that produce materials, offer support, and walk with us in our time of uniquely terrible grief, unimaginable loss, fiery trials and brokenness. Yet we are often reluctant to speak out socially because of the cultural gaslighting and the leftward flow of the woke agenda that now pervades so much of society. This even disrupts our immediate family relationships, and we are targeted by extended family, which takes sides. 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 Most of us dont even like being called trans widows and we shy away from the label because we prefer not to be seen as victims. We have personally seen the mental health issues, trauma, PTSD, family dynamics, emotional turmoil and relational co-dependency mixed up in this mess when trans invades our homes. I lived it for 31 years and do not wish it on my worst enemy. I am not sure who was the rat in the laboratory. I think both my former husband and I were part of the grand experiment. Trans medical hormone treatments and surgeries didnt work, and they still do not work. In warning others about the rocky road to ruin when trans comes on the scene in a marriage, Ill tell you that it shatters families and society at large. Families are the fundamental unit of society, charged with producing the next generation of stable citizens who can think clearly and act accordingly. But transgenderism ruptures all of this. I had children with a man before he underwent trans surgery so I will likely inherit grandchildren from my kids. But with the explosion of transgenderism among youth there are many today in Generation Z who will never see their offspring because their bodies have been disfigured and sterilized. Sometimes we trans widows talk about that together and we mourn because it is one of the happy spots of life, being a grandparent and seeing grandchildren. But these youngsters will never know that joy. Those of us who are Christians walking the path of trans widowhood face another kind of spiritual anguish an irreparably broken covenant. I knew exactly what it meant to enter into a biblically rooted marriage the study of our vows, a God-honoring covenantal relationship, and what life with ones spouse was supposed to be like together. I entered this relationship with my former husband willingly and with my eyes wide open, but I struggled for years with the concept of divorcing him because that commitment was very important to me. In a Christian marriage, your body is not your own, it is bought with a price, and is considered the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Moreover, marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church, so this made stepping out of that dysfunctional relationship extremely difficult. A broken covenant is not something I ever wanted, and when its broken, we experience another layer of searing pain. Many trans widows like me also watch in horror as we observe family courts that do not consider the position of small children who are forced to deal with the loss of a parent when dad goes trans. Children are, quite appallingly, asked to adjust more than the trans-identified parent in these court cases, particularly regarding visitation rights and with the use of his preferred language and pronouns. We ask ourselves: what sane society values the welfare of a deeply unwell parent over an innocent child? While the masses inhale the air of the pink and blue rainbow brigade, especially during the month of June, we, as a small misunderstood community of Christian trans widows, do our best to remember the words Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. To put it mildly, the working out of all things does not look so good for some of us, but the answer comes in the next verse: We are being conformed into his image, the image of Christ in this extremely difficult process. Our marriages might have been crushed by a diabolical force, a vain fetish, a lie that is impossible to accept that our husbands are somehow women. But the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, is always faithful to us and it is to Him we cling in the midst of our turmoil. * The Christian Post is publishing this op-ed under a pseudonym given the sensitive subject matter and to protect the identity, (which we have verified), of the author. Home Opinion Why isnt there more evidence for Jesus outside the Bible? Theologian and Bible commentary author R. T France begins his book, The Evidence for Jesus, in a seemingly odd way by saying: The first thing to be said about non-Christian historical evidence for Jesus is that there is not much of it, at least from a period close enough to the events to be of any value as an independent witness to Jesus as seen through non-Christian eyes. France follows up his initial statement by adding, It is often suggested that this fact is very damaging for the New Testament portrait of Jesus: it lacks external corroboration and is therefore suspect. What France is referring to is a line of anti-Jesus argumentation that is very long in the tooth that says if you have a man with such universal significance like Jesus who did the kinds of things we read about in the Gospels, well then, He would have been known by everyone during that time and written about by every historian worth their salt. And since thats not what we have, then either Jesus never really existed, or the biblical authors have greatly exaggerated His life. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe OK, so lets ask the question: Is the non-biblical evidence for Jesus so thin as to make a thinking person question if He lived or matches up to how the Bible presents Him? Lets start at the top and work our way down to the bottom and see where we end up. The myth that Jesus is a myth At the far end of the Jesus-denying train are figures like the controversial figure Bruno Bauer (1809 1882) who put forward a series of widely-disputed works nearly 200 years ago arguing that Jesus never existed. That position is beyond extreme fringe today, with Princeton professor Bruce Metzger writing decades ago, Today no competent scholar denies the historicity of Jesus. Very true, says Christian skeptic Bart Ehrman, who wrote a book a few years back refuting the mythicists entitled Did Jesus Exist?: The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth. He sums up his work by saying: He [Jesus] certainly existed, as virtually every competent scholar of antiquity, Christian or non-Christian, agrees. Round 1: Christianity, 1; Skeptics, 0. Moving past the radical Jesus-never-lived crowd we find those who say the gospel accounts have the character of a fairy tale or, at the very most, were heavily redacted long after they were originally written by mythologizers who turned Christ into a legend that He wasnt. Putting those allegations to rest is Dr. Richard Burridge and his landmark work What are the Gospels A Comparison with Graeco-Roman Biography. Burridge originally set out to disprove the thesis that the Gospels fit within the genre of ancient biography, but during his research, the evidence he uncovered caused him to reverse his opinion. A fairy tale is something the Gospels are not, argues Burridge, with Graham Stanton of Cambridge saying in the forward to Burridges book: I do not think it is now possible to deny that the Gospels are a subset of the broad ancient literary genre of lives, that is, biographies. What about the charge of mythologizing redaction? That would be the real magic trick as no New Testament historian dates the Gospels outside of the first century (of which we have ancient copies) during which His eyewitnesses lived, and the same group will tell you it typically takes two generations to pass before legend can be successfully inserted into a historical account. But that said, we do know of three attempted additions to the New Testament the longer ending in Mark; the account of the adulterous woman in John; and the Johannine Comma that contains a Trinitarian formula insertion. But it should be kept in mind that, through the science of biblical criticism, we know of these attempts, and all are marked as such in the vast majority of Bibles. The conclusion is that no other redactions or additions are known to exist. Round 2: Christianity, 2; Skeptics, 0. OK, fine, maybe the Gospels are ancient biographies of Jesus, and what they originally wrote back then is what we have today. But lets get back to the question of why there arent more outside-the-Bible accounts of Jesus. First, this particular area of historical research is fairly young. As Robert Van Voorst points out in his book, Jesus Outside the New Testament, Until about one hundred years ago, scholars did little or no search for Jesus outside the New Testament. Those who have pursued the topic are faced with the fact that the availability of news back in the first century was scarce, especially on a multi-nation level. Even though Rome was the focus of activity in the first century, Jesus deeds were confined to Judea and Galilee, two tiny administrative areas under the massive umbrella of Rome. The sayings, actions (no matter how profound), and death of a seemingly failed Jewish insurrectionist likely caught little long-term attention. That last point should not be overlooked. Keep in mind that, even with all that Jesus did and taught, the overwhelming majority of people rejected, abandoned, and put Him out of their minds once He was put to death. As for His miracles, Jewish writers explained them away by saying He practiced sorcery (JewishSanhedrin The Talmud, 43a), which was intentionally crafted to make Him laughable and forgettable in most peoples eyes. Next, its widely understood that much of the historical writing from that period has not survived. R. T. France notes that even the great histories of Tacitus have survived in only two manuscripts, which together contain scarcely more than half what he is believed to have written; the rest are lost. The New Testament itself speaks to that fact. Luke tells us other accounts of Jesus were written that we, to date, dont have: Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word (Luke 1:1-2, my emphasis). Even if much of the non-biblical evidence for Jesus may have been lost, what we do dovetails pretty well with what Scripture says about Him. Take, for example, this blurb from Tacitus: Nero substituted as culprits and punished with the utmost refinements of cruelty, a class of men loathed for their vices whom the crowd styled Christians. Christus, from whom they got their name, had been executed by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilate when Tiberius was emperor. But the deadly cult, though checked for a time, was now breaking out not only in Judea Short and sweet but useful as Tacitus gives us His name (Christus), His sentence under Pilate, His date (the reign of Tiberius, AD 14-37), and His home origin (Judea). Not bad. I wont go into all the other non-biblical authors mentions of Christ, which include Jewish writings like Josephus (yes, his Testimonium Flavianum of Jesus does have historical merit) and the Talmud, as well as other non-Jewish historians like Celsus, Pliny the Younger, Lucian, and Mara bar Serapion. All in all, theres a healthy set of non-biblical references to Jesus that add historical weight to the Gospel accounts, strengthening a belief that Hes real. Historian and theologian Gary Habermas, in his book The Historical Jesus, sums up this conclusion by saying: We have examined a total of 45 ancient sources for the life of Jesus, which include 19 early creedal, four archaeological, 17 non-Christian [my emphasis], and five non-New Testament Christian sources. From this data we enumerated 129 reported facts concerning the life, person, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus, plus the disciples earliest message There can be little doubt that this is a substantial amount of pre- and non-New Testament material for Jesus existence. Strike three for the skeptic's side. Lastly, lets not forget that having mountains of more non-biblical materials wont provide any additional Heavenly benefit for us other than whats contained in the Gospel accounts. John tells us at the end of his gospel that we have enough information to make the most important decision well ever make and that should be sufficient: Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:30-31). Home News Over 1,000 North Carolina churches gear up to help their communities through statewide initiative The hands and feet of Jesus are moving and walking in the Tar Heel State. At least 1,003 churches in North Carolina have pledged to participate in ServeNC, a statewide initiative from Aug. 3 to Aug. 10 calling on church members to complete service projects in their local communities. Most participating churches are affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The convention's Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Unzincker told The Christian Post that every church serves every community in this initiative. 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 "And that was how could we not only declare the love of Jesus but we could demonstrate the love of Jesus," he said. "And what if we could all do it together where 'on mission together' was more than a slogan but it was an actuality. And we wanted to glorify the Lord by meet[ing] human needs, and we wanted to tell a different story when people thought of Baptists." Service projects will range from food pantry projects and free yard sales to wheelchair ramp builds and back-to-school distributions. Projects have been tailored to each community's specific needs, and churches are still reporting new projects online. One project for the state's churches is already underway: unity. "What we're aiming to see is unity within our community so that we can better serve and reach our community in Jesus' name," Pastor Andrew Clark of Arran Lake Baptist Church in Fayetteville said in a statement. "If your church ceased to exist, would your community notice? Would they miss you?" Those who attended Arran Lake's regional ServeNC rally in May could answer Clark's questions with a resounding "yes." The rally facilitated volunteer opportunities at area ministries and nonprofits for members of various churches, serving quite literally as a "rallying point," according to the press release. Unzincker hopes the statewide rally next month will continue in different ways long after it formally ends. "We know that the Holy Spirit moves on hearts that say, 'ServeNC is more than just one week.' This is something that churches can do throughout the year. And the ministries will pop up through this," he said. "If we just go out and do a bunch of good deeds and then put Purell hand sanitizer on our hands and say, 'Look at us,' then we've missed it. This is an opportunity to open our eyes to the needs around us and an opportunity for those in need to see that the churches care." While a church serving its community is not a novel concept, the whole body of Christ doing so together is "special," Unzincker said. Although around 30,000 Baptists will serve together statewide, he hopes that churches will look to the Holy Spirit for project ideas instead of looking to event organizers. "We don't want to be clanging gongs and telling a homeless person about Jesus while not meeting their needs," he said. "We don't want to be a clanging gong that ignores the needs around us. We want to do both ends. We want to meet people's physical needs. We [also] want to give people help for today and hope for tomorrow." Any church wishing to sign up for ServeNC can do so at servenc.com. The website offers free promotional materials, training and other resources to help churches prepare for the August event. Unzincker said the event partly serves as preparation for a more important one. "God taught to us to be deployed to bring His kingdom come, [His will be done] on earth as it is in Heaven," he said. "So we just asked the question, 'Why not in North Carolina as it is in Heaven?'" Home News Democrat House staffer fired over post telling would-be Trump assassin 'don't miss next time' A staffer for Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., is out of a job following her alleged social media post telling any potential assassins for former President Donald Trump "don't miss next time" after Trump was shot during a campaign rally on Saturday. "I was made aware of a post made by a staff member and she is no longer in my employment," Thompson said in a media statement in an apparent reference to Thompson's field director Jacqueline Marsaw. In the post that went viral Saturday evening and stoked outrage, Marsaw wrote: "I don't condone violence but please get you some shooting lessons so you don't miss next time ooops that wasn't me talking." The post led to calls for Thompson to fire the staffer. "I call upon Congressman Bennie Thompson to immediately fire Jacqueline Marsaw," tweeted GOP Mississippi Lieutenant Gov. Delbert Housemann. I call upon Congressman Bennie Thompson to immediately fire Jacqueline Marsaw. pic.twitter.com/ylUL2i7HMS Delbert Hosemann (@DelbertHosemann) July 14, 2024 Thompson, who chaired the U.S. House of Representatives January 6 committee, was himself slapped with a community note on X that provided context for his tweet condemning political violence after the attempt on Trump's life. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "There is no room in American democracy for political violence," Thompson tweeted. "I am grateful for law enforcement's fast response to this incident. I am glad the former President is safe, and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved. X users noted that he had introduced legislation titled the DISGRACED Former Protectees Act that would strip Trump or any other recipient of Secret Service protection while serving a prison sentence for a felony. Bennie Thompson just got BODIED by Community Notes. Nice try, Bennie pic.twitter.com/cwDJoQtCAC Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) July 14, 2024 "Unfortunately, current law doesn't anticipate how Secret Service protection would impact the felony prison sentence of a protected even a former President," Thompson said in a statement at the time. "It is regrettable that it has come to this, but this previously unthought-of scenario could become our reality," he continued. "Therefore, it is necessary for us to be prepared and update the law so the American people can be assured that protective status does not translate into special treatment and that those who are sentenced to prison will indeed serve the time required of them." Trump was convicted in May on 34 felony counts of falsified business records related to his alleged hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. His sentencing was at first scheduled for July 11 but was later postponed until at least September. "Remember, if [Thompson] and the Democrats got their way, my dad would be dead right now," Donald Trump Jr. tweeted along with a photo of a news story about Thompson's legislation. "Don't let them memory hole it." Remember, if @BennieGThompson and the Democrats got their way, my dad would be dead right now. Don't let them memory hole it. pic.twitter.com/KUdYx1AIAs Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 14, 2024 During a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Trump was grazed by a bullet fired from the AR-style rifle of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who fired six to eight rounds at the former president from the roof of a building. Some of the bullets struck rallygoers, including Corey Comperatore, 50, who was killed while shielding his daughter. The shooter also severely wounded David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Both have been reported as being in stable condition. Trump released a message on Truth Social on Sunday claiming "it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening," and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. Home News 'Hillbilly Elegy' highlights 'shared humanity,' says director Ron Howard The film adaptation of Hillbilly Elegy seeks to highlight the importance of family, loyalty, and sacrifice while taking a realistic look at the struggles facing many working-class Americans, according to Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard. Howards Netflix-produced adaptation of J.D. Vances bestselling memoir stars Amy Adams, Glenn Close and Gabriel Basso. It details Vances tumultuous upbringing in deep Appalachian Kentucky and the Rust Belt of Ohio, his unlikely escape from destructive behavioral cycles, and his efforts to grapple with his mothers opioid addiction. Rated R for language throughout, drug content, and some violence, "Hillbilly Elegy" tackles issues of white poverty, drug addiction, and domestic violence. But it's also a bittersweet drama that examines the importance of family, indomitable strength, and triumph over adversity. 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 an interview with The Christian Post, Howard, who is behind the critically acclaimed dramas A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13," said that though his family is from rural Oklahoma rather than Appalachia or the Rust Belt, the attitudes, spirit, and foibles of Vances family felt familiar to him. I kind of related to the cadences and the spirit and nature of those characters, he said. But more importantly, the award-winning director said he was interested in both the complexity of the family and the specifics of their particular struggle and the universal, common, relatable aspects they presented. They're sort of one and the same, he said. I felt like [when we] understand and look at things with a perspective of shared humanity, there's a value in that. And I found that in this story. Watch Ron Howard discuss "Hillbilly Elegy" with The Christian Post. Flashing back and forth from Vances youth, adolescence, and young adulthood, Hillbilly Elegy opens in rural Kentucky in the mid-90s, when a young Vance is dealing with his familys dysfunction. It then fast forwards 14 years, when a now-college age Vance (Basso) is working three jobs to put himself through school and interviewing for internships at Yale Law. But Vances past comes back to haunt him when his abusive and troubled mother, Bev, (Adams) is hospitalized for a heroin overdose. Now grown up, Vance is forced to drive from New Haven to Ohio to help his sister Lindsay (Haley Bennett) address his mothers addiction, facing his own demons in the process. The unexpected hero of Hillbilly Elegy is Bevs mother, Bonnie, universally known as Mamaw (Close). Though impoverished and in poor health, tough-love Mamaw sacrifices her own comforts to help her grandson succeed. Howard said he was particularly struck by Mamaw, who he described as an amazing figure, simultaneously colorful, flawed, hilarious and truly heroic. At a time when she was not at her best physically, and she could have checked out ... she really rose to the occasion, in a way that changed the history of the family in a really significant way, he said. Mamaws sacrifice, Howard added, is not the kind of stuff that would ever make the nightly news, but it's the kind of stuff that makes a difference in families all over the world. She's culturally specific, he said of Mamaw. Those who are from the region will recognize her spirit and her nature, and that's great. But there are versions of Mamaw and people like [her] that make those kinds of powerful decisions to make a difference in the life of somebody that they care about all over the world. Howard noted that Hillbilly Elegy effectively recognizes that in certain parts of our country, people who are assumed to be either all-right, or we just don't really think about are actually facing some real economic hardship. The particulars of their region are traumatizing, and that creates all kinds of problems, he said. You have to recognize it first before you can start finding the solutions. While those living in cycles of abuse must take some agency to move beyond the baggage of their environment, and family patterns of dysfunction, "Hillbilly Elegy" is not, Howard stressed, a pull yourself up by the bootstraps story. JD doesn't feel that way, and I don't feel that way, he stressed. Instead, its an ode to the women in JDs life his grandmother, sister, girlfriend, and even, in some instances, his mother who supported and guided him, eventually allowing him to succeed. Now married, Vance, who executive-produced the film, went on to serve in the U.S. Marines before attending Ohio State University and Yale University. I really appreciate that about their story, and their willingness to share it with all of us, Howard said. It was a really interesting, creative challenge, but something I was grateful to take on. I hope people can see it and find something of themselves in it, and maybe view things a little differently than they had before they watched the film, he added. Hillbilly Elegy is now streaming on Netflix. Home News Man killed by shooter at Trump rally went to church every Sunday,' hailed as 'hero' for protecting family Corey Comperatore, the 50-year-old man from Butler, Pennsylvania, who was killed during an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a political rally, went to church every Sunday and loved his family and community, Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a press conference. Comperatore, a devoted father of two daughters and a former fire chief of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company, was attending the rally when the assailant opened fire on Saturday. Corey was a girl dad. Corey was a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday. Corey loved his community. And most especially, Corey loved his family, Shapiro said at a press event Sunday, commemorating Comperatore as a hero who died protecting his family from gunfire, as reported by NBC Philadelphia. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe At the rally, Corey threw himself over his family to protect them, said the governor. Corey was the very best of us. May his memory be a blessing. Coreys daughter, Allyson Comperatore, wrote on Facebook, He shielded my body from the bullet that came at us. He truly loved us enough to take a real bullet for us. His wife, Helen Comperatore, also expressed her grief over the events. What my precious girls had to witness is unforgivable, she wrote on Facebook. In a White House address to the nation, President Joe Biden paid tribute to Comperatore, recognizing his act of heroism in defending his family. The Pennsylvania governor also noted that Corey was an avid supporter of the former president and was so excited to be there last night with him in the community, NPR reported. Rich Hill, the township manager of Buffalo Township, expressed his deep sadness over Comperatores death. Political violence is always unacceptable and should be condemned, NPR quoted Hill as saying. The former president has supported a GoFundMe page for the victims, organized by Meredith ORourke, the national finance director for his 2024 election campaign, which has already raised well over $3.6 million. Several other GoFundMe accounts were initiated. One specifically for Comperatores daughter Allyson has raised over $840,000. At the press event, Shapiro said he had reached out to Comperatores family and the families of two other individuals critically injured during the incident. The wounded, identified by Pennsylvania state police as David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, are both in stable condition. Shapiro, in a subsequent press conference, called for peace and civility, reminding everyone of the importance of engaging in political and civic processes peacefully. My message to all Pennsylvanians, my message to all Americans, is to be firm in your beliefs, to believe what you believe, to advocate for what you believe, and to be engaged in the political and civic process, but to always do so peacefully, he was quoted as saying. In memory of Comperatore, Shapiro has ordered flags throughout the state to be flown at half-staff. Home News No 'fundamental right' to change sex on birth certificate, federal appeals court rules A Tennessee law that prevents trans-identified residents from changing the sex marker on their birth certificates to reflect their self-declared gender identity is not a violation of the U.S. Constitution, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the state of Tennessee in a 2-1 decision, ruling against plaintiffs Kayla Gore, L.G., K.N. and Jaime Combs. The four plaintiffs are men who identify as women who sought to change the sex on their birth certificates. Writing for the majority opinion, Judge Jeffrey Sutton stated that "there is no fundamental right to a birth certificate recording gender identity instead of biological sex." The judge wrote that the Tennessee law treats both sexes equally, and the state recording sex instead of gender identity on birth certificates "does not withhold a constitutionally prescribed benefit." 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 "Tennessee's decision to abide by its long-standing approach to the issue hardly amounts to unequal protection of the laws, even under the most soaring generality of those terms," Sutton, a George W. Bush appointee, stated. The judge noted that 11 states currently allow trans-identified individuals to change the sex listed on their birth certificate to reflect their self-declared gender identity. Sutton advised federal courts to be careful about "freezing in time just one new approach to a difficult policy issue." Regarding the plaintiffs' discrimination claim, Sutton concluded that the individuals failed to show that Tennesse's law is the result of hatred against trans-identified people, noting that the policy "long predates medical diagnoses of gender dysphoria." "The States have considerable discretion in defining the terms used in their own laws and in deciding what records to keep," the judge wrote. "Tennessee did not exceed that discretion in distinguishing biological sex from gender identity in its birth certificate records." Judge Amul Thapar, a Trump appointee, joined Sutton on the majority opinion. Senior Judge Helene White, also a Bush appointee, wrote the dissenting opinion. "[T]he State denigrates those who do not conform to societal assumptions about what it means to be male or female, like transgender individuals, conveying that they are somehow less male or female because of the accidents of their birth that no matter what, in the eyes of the State, their genitalia at birth alone determine their identities forevermore," White wrote. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti praised the ruling, saying each state should decide whether an individual can change the sex on their birth certificate. "While other states have taken different approaches, for decades Tennessee has consistently recognized that a birth certificate records a biological fact of a child being male or female and has never addressed gender identity," Skrmetti stated. "We are grateful that the Court of Appeals agreed with the district court that any change in Tennessee's policy can only come from the people of Tennessee." Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, senior counsel and health care strategist for Lambda Legal, an LGBT legal group that represented the plaintiffs, expressed disappointment with the decision in a Friday statement published by The Tennessean. "The discrimination that is being suffered by transgender people in present-day America is something that, frankly, is reprehensible and shameful," Gonzalez-Pagan said. "I hope that this decision doesn't give fodder to that, but rather allows us to galvanize to ensure that we can have a more inclusive and protective set of laws and policies." The federal appeals court ruling follows the U.S. Supreme Court's announcement earlier this year that it will hear an appeal in a case about whether Tennessee can prohibit sex-change surgeries and puberty blockers for minors. Tennessee passed Senate Bill 1 last March, a law that prohibits providers from offering life-changing interventions to minors who express confusion about their sex. The American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal were two of the legal groups that sued the state over the new law. The U.S. Department of Justice also filed a complaint on behalf of trans-identified minors and their families. While a lower court temporarily blocked the law from taking effect through a preliminary injunction, a three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit later allowed the measure to take effect. Home News Trump says God alone saved him from assassination attempt Former President Donald Trump said "God alone" spared his life at a campaign rally Saturday where a 20-year-old gunman attempted to assassinate him. Just minutes into his speech at Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, climbed on top of a building some 130 yards away where he found an unobstructed line of sight, shot and pierced the upper part of Trump's right ear. The shooter killed rally attendee Corey Comperatore, who was hailed a "hero" by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro because he used his body to shield his daughters from harm. 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 Comperatore, 50, was known as a devoted father of two daughters and a former Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department fire chief. Comperatore's daughter Allyson Comperatore wrote on Facebook, "He shielded my body from the bullet that came at us. He truly loved us enough to take a real bullet for us." The shooter also severely wounded two audience members, who Pennsylvania state police have identified as David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Both have been reported as now being in stable condition. In a message shared on Truth Social at 7:36 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday, Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, expressed gratitude for those who prayed for him and who continue to pray for Comperatore's family and for the men who were wounded: "Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. "We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win. I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin." Following Trump's post on Truth Social, former first lady Melania Trump released an official statement recounting how her life could have been irrecoverably changed if the shooter had succeeded in assassinating her husband. "I am thinking of you now, my fellow Americans," she began. "When I watched the violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron's life, were on the brink of devastating change. "To the families of the innocent victims who are now suffering from this heinous act, I humbly offer my sincerest sympathy. Your need to summon your inner strength for such a terrible reason saddens me. "A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald's passion his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration. The core facets of my husband's life his human side were buried below the political machine. Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and worst of times," she wrote in part. Minutes into the former president's speech at the campaign rally in Butler, the 20-year-old shooter took several shots at Trump, piercing through the top of his right ear (watch the video here). Trump instinctively ducked for cover after realizing a gunman was shooting at him. The former president has supported a GoFundMe page for the victims, organized by Meredith O'Rourke, the national finance director for his 2024 election campaign, which has already raised over $3.9 million as of Monday morning. Home News UMC benefits org drops 34 church leaders who paid into program after disaffiliation A United Methodist Church organization dedicated to providing financial support for the families of deceased pastors has dropped over 30 members who have paid into the program because their churches left the denomination. The Brotherhood/Sisterhood of the UMC Western North Carolina Conference was founded to provide financial assistance to the families of deceased clergy in the regional body. Members pay into the program over time. However, former UMC clergy like Pastor Talbot Davis of Good Shepherd Church in Charlotte have been severed from the program, even after paying thousands of dollars into the group. 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 Davis told The Christian Post that he began investing in BH/SH in the 1990s when he was 29. He put approximately $7,000 into the program over the last few decades. "As a young clergyman in the Western North Carolina Conference of the UMC back in 1990, I heard the presentation from the floor of our Annual Conference gathering about the Brotherhood / Sisterhood and its ability to present a $10,000 check to the surviving family members of any clergy who died," he recounted. "I wanted to support clergy families during my time in ministry, and then wanted my own surviving family to receive the benefit whenever I die. I was 29 when I made that decision." Davis' congregation voted nearly unanimously to disaffiliate from the UMC last September. It is one of approximately 7,500 churches to leave the denomination over the past few years due to the ongoing debate over UMC's stance on homosexuality. The congregation is currently nondenominational. Davis said he received an email last November explaining that he and other clergy whose churches were disaffiliated could still participate in the BH/SH program "and be assured of the death benefit if we so desired." "I responded with, 'I'm in!' as I believe in the ministry," David told CP. Davis said he received a new email in May stating that clergy who had joined the Global Methodist Church, a denomination launched as a conservative alternative to the UMC, would not be allowed to participate in the program. While his church did not affiliate with the GMC, he was also removed. "Finally, the BH/SH executive director admitted in an email that [if] I had joined a liberal, left-leaning denomination such as the PCUSA, the Episcopal Church, or the ELCA, my BH/SH membership likely would not have been removed," Davis said. Burton Williams, pastor at Christ Church Gastonia, is a former UMC clergyman who had served on the board of the BH/SH program for eight years. He was also removed from the program. "I joined to be part of a group that wanted to be supportive of spouses and children when a clergy person passed. I think it's important that we care for one another in a tangible way. That was the purpose of the BH/SH as explained to me back in 1997," Williams told CP. Williams said he "pushed the board to make revisions to allow for those of us departing the UMC to continue as members" because "many of us had decades of membership in the organization and I and others still wanted to provide care for our brother and sister clergy person's families." "It was a fight to convince them to make this allowance," he recalled. "They finally consented to allow for clergy who joined denominations that were connected to the World Methodist Council to remain. I also pointed out that joining would take time for a new denomination." Williams said he didn't receive the notice Davis did from the program and has queried the BH/SH for more information. Williams pointed out that since the GMC has not had its first convening conference or general conference yet, it will not have "as of yet joined the aforementioned Council." Launched in 2022, the GMC is scheduled for its inaugural general conference on Sept. 20-26 in San Jose, Costa Rica. CP contacted the UMC WNC Conference for a response. Spokesperson Aimee Yeager clarified that the regional body "has no role in this situation or the decisions that have been or will be made by Brotherhood/Sisterhood." "Brotherhood/Sisterhood is a completely separate entity that makes its own determinations and decisions. The Western NC Conference was not involved directly or even indirectly with any course of action they adopted. Therefore, we cannot speak to these questions," she added. Yeager directed CP to contact Roland Barnhardt, the executive director of The BH/SH, who said that to "remain a member of the BH/SH, a clergy person must be a member of the WNCC of the UMC." Barnhardt said there were 34 members who had withdrawn or disaffiliated from the conference and "ended their membership in the BH/SH as a consequence of their action." "They removed themselves from the covenant relationship they had entered into with other clergy members of this organization that was formed by clergy and laity working together in 1893," he explained. Barnhardt did note that the constitution and bylaws of the BH/SH state that "beneficiary membership in the Brotherhood/Sisterhood shall not be forfeited by transfer to a church that is a member of the World Methodist Council or one named by the Pan-Methodist Commission in paragraph 433.1 & 2 of The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church." This was "provided that the member continues to be a clergy member of that church in good standing as outlined in paragraph IX above and continues to pay the assessments." "The assessments that each member agrees to pay per death of another beneficiary clergy member helps to fund the benefit The BH/SH provides to the surviving spouse or other designated family member or beneficiary of our deceased brothers and sisters," he explained. "This is our ministry. It is an expression of our affirmation and love for the families of our colleagues. I can only pray for those who think it's all about the benefit their loved ones are entitled to." Home News UMC elects third openly gay bishop; first since UMC changed rules A regional body of The United Methodist Church has its third openly gay bishop, the first since the mainline Protestant denomination changed its rules to allow noncelibate homosexuals to be ordained. The Rev. Kristin Stoneking, a United Methodist studies professor at the Pacific School of Religion, was elected a bishop by the UMC Western Jurisdiction at their meeting held last week in Spokane, Washington. Stoneking was elected on the 11th ballot, receiving 65 votes out of 94 valid ballots cast. For that ballot, she needed to receive at least 63 votes, according to UM News. Her term of service begins on Sept. 1. 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 An emotional Stoneking addressed the regional body shorty after being elected, stating that saints were ordinary people who love without limits, echoing the theme of the gathering. Western Jurisdiction, you love. You love big, she said. We know that there are saints who continue to walk among us and Im only here because of the saints who have poured love into me. The love that flows through each of you, the love that has been offered. Im so humbled at this time, at this incredibly momentous opportune time for us as a denomination to lean in to all of the doors that are opening. May we all be humble learners. I commit to you to be a humble learner. Stoneking is the third person in a same-sex marriage to be elected bishop by the Western Jurisdiction, as the regional body had previously elected Bishop Karen Oliveto in 2016 and Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth in 2022, both in defiance of the denominations rules prohibiting the ordination of noncelibate gay clergy. Although Olivetos election was declared invalid by The United Methodist Judicial Council, the denominations highest court, in 2017, Oliveto remained in her position. Additionally, a UMC pastor filed a complaint against the election of Bridgeforth shortly after he became a bishop, arguing that it undermined all United Methodist clergy who uphold the highest ideals of the Christian life and said it sends a confusing message about the meaning of marriage to the community and potential parishioners. Earlier this year, at the UMC General Conference, delegates voted overwhelmingly to remove from the Book of Discipline rules that prohibited the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals, the blessing of same-sex unions, and the funding of LGBT advocacy groups. This came after more than 7,000 mostly conservative congregations had left the denomination over the ongoing debate over LGBT issues, as well as the refusal of many progressive UMC leaders to enforce the rules. Despite the UMC dropping the requirements, many churches and regional bodies within the global denomination continue to refuse to ordain openly gay clergy or allow pastors to officiate same-sex unions. For example, last month, the UMC Liberia Annual Conference stated that it will not change its rules on the issues, noting that it is traditional in its interpretation of Holy Scripture and will continue its evangelistic outreach to all persons who live in darkness and do not know the redemptive grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Healing from gay desires is possible Men who are struggling with gay desires must come to understand three truths in their healing journey. This is not an exhaustive list, but it is a good place to start. The first truth is that no one is born with hardwired homosexual desires. This argument is a creation of those who enjoy their sin and want to make an excuse to live the way they want to. Convincing oneself that you were born with homosexual desires is nothing more than a sinful coping mechanism. If you can convince yourself that you were born with homosexual desires, then you can convince yourself that the desires and the radical behaviors you indulge in are not sinful. "I was born this way baby. What do I have to repent for?" The Bible says that we are born with a sin nature (Ps. 51:5), not that we are born with predetermined genetic sinful desires. Just like there is no such thing as an "I want to steal a pack of gum from the store gene," or an "I want to cheat on my math exam gene," there is no such thing as an "I want to commit homosexual acts gene." The idea that people are born with a genetic proclivity towards homosexual behavior is not taught anywhere in the Bible. This is in direct opposition to what the Bible says about the location of our sinful desires. This brings us to point number two. The Bible says that sinful desires, including sinful sexual desires, come from the heart (Matt. 15:19), not our genetics. And that through the power of Christ we can have our desires changed (Gal. 5:24). That we can have our minds renewed and find true and lasting freedom from the sin that is in our lives (Rom.12:2). Jesus said that a man who looks at a woman with lustful intent has committed adultery in his heart (Matt. 5:28), not his genetic code. Nowhere in the Bible are we instructed to ask God to change the desires of our chromosomes. Rather, through repentance and the supernatural work of the Spirit in our lives, we can become more like Christ and have our hearts transformed (1 Thess. 4:3-8). This brings us to our third point, which is really two points in one. Men who struggle with gay desires must understand that their sinful desires to connect with men in a relationally disordered way is a result of a complex assortment of wounds that have been sexualized. These men must also recognize, believing fully in their hearts, that homosexuality is contrary to God's design for gender, marriage, and human sexuality. Men were designed by God to relate platonically to one another as equal brothers. Fundamentally, homosexuality is predicated on men relating to one another not as equals, but within a sexualized hierarchy of dominance and submission. Truthfully, homosexuality is a desire/behavior to emasculate and/or be emasculated by another man. In homosexual world these are called "tops and bottoms." When it comes to gender expression according to God's design, a husband will always express his masculinity by "giving," and his wife will always express her femininity by "receiving." A husband and his wife become one-flesh in marriage because a husband and his wife were created from the same flesh to begin with (Gen. 2:23). Homosexuality takes this beautiful design and distorts it. A man was never meant to "give" to another man, and/or "receive" from another man. Homosexuality is thus, an attempt at recreating that relational dynamic, of which is proper for a husband and wife, but is improper for two people who share the same gender. Men who struggle with homosexuality must recognize that the desire to engage in any behavior that is homosexual, is a desire for something rebellious. Something rebellious against God's design for gender, marriage, and human sexuality. The world says embrace these desires. God calls us to holiness (1 Thess. 4:3-8). A man for example, who desires a homosexual context, must humbly stand before God, recognizing it as a disordered desire. And that underneath the sinful desire for a sinful sexual context is a wound. The non-sexual desire, for example, to receive the love of an absent father figure is a very common wound amongst men who struggle with homosexual desires. And so, beyond repentance, there must also be a recognition in the individual that there are many wounds underneath the surface that need to be dealt with. This is not just "I desire sinful sexual contexts," but also, "I have wounds that I have sexualized from childhood that I need to bring before the Father who loves me." Healing requires a lot of reflection work. It can be painful to rehash the childhood wounds and family of origin issues that have negatively affected us, but it is some of the most valuable work to be done in this life. Men should be encouraged to know that God will be with them every step of the way. Even in the most painful parts of the journey. In my own life, as the Lord did this for me, I realized that at the core of my homosexual desires was a masculinity crisis, which began formulating as far back as early childhood. This was due to many factors in my home life and social settings. Recognizing that I had sexualized men during puberty in an attempt to satiate my own masculinity crisis, and deal with the layers of wounds I was struggling with at the core, has been a part of my healing journey. I didn't find healing from exclusively praying that God would take away the homosexual desires, but by simultaneously having the Lord go deep into the wounds of my heart that were giving life to the gay desires in the first place. Christian men who are struggling with gay desires are not only sealed with the Spirit of God, forgiven of all their sins, and given eternal life, but are in a right relationship with the Father who loves them and longs to sanctify them. That means that we can bring our sinful desires, childhood wounds, hurts, and pains to the Father, and ask Him to bring healing. We can ask Him to change our desires in His Fatherly love. To help us see our sin the way He sees our sin. As God begins to mature us in the faith and change us from within, the things we once wanted lose their power. Perhaps you need to get a journal and write letters to the Lord. Be as vulnerable and inquisitive as possible. Talk to Him about what you are going through. Ask him questions about the desires of your heart. Be expectant for Him to respond in your position of humility. Go on a walk with the Father. Ask Him to reveal to you your story. Ask Him to help you understand why you struggle with what you struggle with. Get together with a buddy or two. Process each other's stories, speak into one another's lives, and pray together. Ask God to be your counselor. Ask to be filled with the wisdom and clarity you need in order to understand all the complex portions of your story. The wounds that have caused you to struggle with gay desires in the first place. Bring your wounds to the Father. Bringing them to the altar of homosexuality will never give you what you are truly looking for. Only God can do that. Having God as our Father is like having the best therapist in the world. And the great news is that you don't have to pay for it. It was purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. Humbly surrender before Him, recognizing that homosexual desires and behaviors are sinful. That homosexual desires are not a result of genetics, but rather a result of sexualized wounds from our life stories. God wants to help you process and understand why you struggle with what you struggle with and bring healing. He is the loving Father who cares. By walking beside the Father as a son, the man who struggles with gay desires will find radical transformation and healing in the Lord. Healing is possible. And praise be to the Father who provides that healing and makes us more like His Son Jesus Christ! Taylor Simon Maxwell is the author of The Desire Tree. He is a student at Dallas Theological Seminary. Follow him at https://x.com/TaylorSimonMax Originally published on The Christian Post MAF and Mercy Ships enter partnership to deliver medical aid by land, sea and air The renewal of a partnership agreement between two leading faith-based medical charities will see isolated communities across Africa receive life-changing surgical care, extending their reach further inland and across a broader spectrum of the continent's population. The memorandum of agreement between Mercy Ships and Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), which was launched in Madagascar, renews a previous partnership that ran from 2014 to 2016, with the two organisations also working together in Liberia. Mercy Ships operates state-of-the-art hospital ships that offer free surgeries and healthcare services to sub-Saharan nations that have limited access to safe surgical care. The logistical support provided by Mission Aviation Fellowship will allow the Mercy Ships teams to access hard-to-reach parts of Madagascar and provide transport for patients needing critical surgical interventions. "Traveling by road in Madagascar can be incredibly challenging due to the rough terrain and poor infrastructure," Michael Jurgensen, MAF Madagascar Country Director, said. "In many cases, reaching remote villages can take days by car, draining valuable time and energy. "However, with MAF Madagascar's support, the [Mercy Ships] patient selection team can cover vast distances swiftly and safely, enabling them to visit multiple locations within a short period. "Flying not only saves time for the selection team but also ensures the team can travel to evaluate and select patients from the most isolated areas for surgery on-ship at a later date." According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Madagascar has only one surgeon per 100,000 people, making receiving necessary surgical treatment unattainable for many people. According to a 2016 study from BMJ Global Health, only a fifth of the population can receive surgical services within a two-hour window, while 95% would be financially ruined if they required surgery. "By transporting Mercy Ships teams with our aircraft to the interior of Madagascar, we provide help, hope and healing to residents with the surgical care they desperately need," Bastiaan de Waal, Africa Regional Director of MAF, said. "The need is high in these areas, and these people in isolated communities are equally entitled to care. We are pleased to partner alongside Mercy Ships to support this often-forgotten group." Mercy Ships' hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, has been docked at Toamasina, the capital of the Atsinanana region on the east coast of Madagascar, since February. Its teams have been actively collaborating with Madagascar's Ministry of Health to identify the most pressing needs and have been delivering surgery and training. Bernard van den Bosch, who has worked for both MAF and Mercy Ships, and is currently the Director of the Africa Services Centre at Mercy Ships, is enthusiastic about the partnership, with further joint initiatives being explored in other African nations. "We are confidently re-engaging with MAF because together we are stronger. The country of Madagascar has many hard-to-reach areas, and MAF is the key to accessing them," he said. "Non-profit organisations can 'compete', but ultimately, we all serve the same goal. I see many opportunities for future collaboration and intensive joint efforts." US religious freedom body adds Pakistan to list of worst violators (CP) The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom again has recommended that the State Department designate Pakistan as a "Country of Particular Concern," citing the country's blasphemy laws as a prime source religious freedom violations. The U.S. State Department does not accept all USCIRF recommendations in its annual designation of countries that practice or tolerate egregious religious freedom violations, but it has designated Pakistan as a CPC every year since 2018. Pakistan continues to witness widespread abuses of religious freedom, including blasphemy laws, forced conversions of minority girls, and targeted violence against religious minorities, according to the 2024 USCIRF report. The blasphemy laws, particularly Sections 295-A, B, and C of the Pakistan Penal Code, have been criticized for broad and vague provisions often misused to settle personal scores or target people of minority religions in the 96% Muslim country. The USCIRF report documents numerous cases of individuals, including Christians, Hindus and Ahmadis, being falsely accused and imprisoned under these laws. The mere accusation of blasphemy can lead to mob violence, extrajudicial killings, and mass protests, creating a climate of fear and intimidation, the USCIRF noted. The recent high-profile case of Zohaib Masih, a young Christian who was wrongfully detained and tortured on false blasphemy charges, exemplifies the ongoing misuse of these laws, it stated. The report also highlighted forced conversions, particularly affecting young Christian and Hindu girls who are abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to their abductors. These incidents often go unpunished due to societal and institutional biases. In addition, the USCIRF report pointed to numerous instances of targeted violence against religious minorities. Attacks on places of worship, including churches, temples, and Ahmadi mosques, continue to be a serious concern. The lack of adequate government response and protection for these communities exacerbates the situation, it noted. The USCIRF urged the State Department to designate Pakistan as a CPC, which would subject the country to potential sanctions and other diplomatic measures aimed at improving religious freedom conditions. The commission also recommended increased U.S. support for civil society organizations working to promote religious tolerance and human rights in Pakistan. In the most recent CPC designations, Pakistan joined Burma, the People's Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan on the list of the countries that most practice or tolerate violations of religious freedom. The Pakistani government has often dismissed such reports as biased and politically motivated. USCIRF insisted, however, that its findings are based on thorough investigations and credible sources, urging Pakistan to undertake significant legal and policy reforms to address the violations. The USCIRF recommendation drew reactions from international and domestic observers as church leaders and rights organizations welcomed the report, calling for immediate action to protect religious minorities in Pakistan. Church of Pakistan President Azad Marshall said that the report adequately reflects the grim situation of religious minorities in Pakistan. "The international community should not only push Pakistan to address these issues but also support it in any way possible," Marshall told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. "We want a secure, free and fair environment for religious minorities in Pakistan, and it is the responsibility of the state to fulfill this constitutional duty." Pakistani officials, however, criticized the USCIRF recommendation, arguing that it overlooks the efforts made by the government to promote interfaith harmony and protect minority rights. "We are committed to ensuring the safety and rights of all our citizens," said a spokesperson for Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs. "We reject any biased assessments that ignore our progress." Samson Salamat, chairman of advocacy group Rawadari Tehreek (Movement for Equality), rejected the government's stance, saying that repeated acts of mob violence in the name of Islam and continued persecution of minorities contradicted the government's narrative. "The USCIRF's recommendation to designate Pakistan as a 'Country of Particular Concern' underscores the urgent need for addressing severe religious freedom violations in the country," Salamat told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. He said that there has been alarming increase in blasphemy allegations in recent years. This has also resulted in violent attacks on Christian settlements and individuals, he added. Spike in blasphemy cases Hundreds of people in Pakistan were incarcerated on blasphemy charges in 2023, many on the basis of a mere accusation without evidence, with 552 detained in jails in Punjab Province alone, according to a recent report by Lahore-based Center for Social Justice. Moreover, at least 103 people have been charged with blasphemy between January and June of this year, it noted. Government data submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Committee presented an exponential increase in blasphemy cases over four years a 30% jump from 2019 to 2020, and a further spike of 62% from 2021 to 2023, according to the report. The government report acknowledged that 53% of all complaints were false allegations (398). The government data about complaints from 2018 to 2023 acknowledged that the conviction rate under blasphemy laws was around 1%, with seven acquittals against every single conviction. Nevertheless, all convictions so far have been overturned by the high courts and supreme courts of Pakistan, indicating that even 1% of convictions lacked merit. Muslims accounted for 98.40% of those accused of blasphemy, the report stated. About 100 individuals have been killed in connection with blasphemy allegations since 1987, including 63 Muslims, 26 Christians, seven Ahmadis, one Hindu, one Buddhist, and the religion of two others was unknown. The CSJ report also noted the upsurge in religiously-motivated killings and lynching in the past two years. "In 2023, at least six persons or individuals were killed by private persons after the alleged blasphemy accusations," the report added. "Along with two extrajudicial killings, another three persons alleged of blasphemy died in jail between June 2023 and 2024. Hence, a total of 11 persons alleged of blasphemy have lost their lives in the past 18 months, including the latest incident in Madyan, Swat." The CSJ report also criticized giving the Federal Investigation Agency powers to investigate cybercrimes related to blasphemy laws, as well as empowering anti-terrorism courts to prosecute cases under Section 295-A of the Pakistan Penal Code. "This has resulted in abuse of authority and miscarriage of justice," the report stated. "Therefore, an exponential increase in the number of alleged blasphemy cases with FIA. On the other hand, the perpetrators of mob violence in particular get away with through the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997." 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. Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News 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. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. Lorena Lopez came to the United States from her home country of Nicaragua, where she was an investigative reporter, in 1992. But it wasnt until 2016 that she managed to return to her passion, as the founding editor of La Prensa, a Spanish-language newspaper serving western Iowa. On this weeks Kicker, Lopez talks about her long journey back to journalism, why reliable, trusted information available for Spanish-speaking Americans is so hard to come byand why so many of her readers are leaning toward voting for Donald Trump. You can read more about Lopezs work in Jack Herreras profile, which was part of CJRs Election Issue. (A Spanish-language version of the article is available here.) Hosted by Josh Hersh Produced by Amanda Darrach Research by Kevin Lind Josh Hersh is an editor at CJR. He was previously a correspondent and senior producer at Vice News. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. On Saturdayshortly after a gunman attempted to assassinate Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania and killed Corey Comperatore, a Trump supportervarious observers remarked that a photo of a blood-smeared Trump, his fist raised as Secret Service agents scrambled him off the stage, was instantly iconic, and one for the history books. But this wasnt quite right. Not because the cliches about the photos historical import were wrong; its hard to describe, but my instinctive reaction was as if I were looking at something from a high school textbook, not something that had just happened. The observation was wrong because it was photos, plural. There was one by Evan Vucci, of the Associated Press, of Trump with his mouth open, and another by Vucci of Trump with his lips pursed. There was one by Doug Mills, of the New York Times, showing Trumps face screwed up in a ball, and another depicting a far more ambiguous expression. The Washington Posts Jabin Botsford captured Trumps fist rising from the tight scrum of agents encircling him; Gettys Anna Moneymaker captured Trumps bloodied ear through the scrum but also a shot of Trumps body to the camera, two buttons undone. Each photoand others besidesdepicted the same scene but with different emphases. As tough as he looked in that one picture with his fist looking very defiant, the next frame I took, he looked completely drained, Mills recalled afterward. That each photo was taken under the very real threat of gunfire only makes them more remarkable. I cant go back in time and get a redo, Vucci told the Daily Beast. Youre just making sure that your composition is good and youre making the images that you need to make. It wasnt just photojournalists who were on the scene trying to document what had happened, though they may have been closest; print, TV, and radio journalists were there, too, and could also conceivably have been in harms way. Gary ODonoghue, of the BBC, filmed a dispatch while lying on the ground; later, he spoke with a bystander who claimed that he had seen the gunman scaling a nearby building and tried to alert law enforcement, an interview that quickly went viral online. NBCs Dasha Burns noted that she and her team spent hours speaking to witnessesexchanging our stories, hearing their stories, trying to fill in the blanks. Burns also reported that, in the wake of the shooting, some rallygoers got heated with reporters in the press section. Sophia Cai, of Axios, heard cries of Fake news! This is your fault!Youre next! Your time is coming. James Pindell, of the Boston Globe, reported seeing middle fingers everywhere. For a moment, it felt like a growing mob, he wrote. I was separated by a temporary steel fence, but that wouldnt help much if things turned violent. He took off his press credentials, packed up, and texted his family to tell them he was okay. It wasnt just attendees at the rally who blamed the news media for the assassination attempt on Trumponline, various right-wing politicians and pundits did likewise, sometimes citing press coverage of Trump as a threat to democracy, even before anything at all was known about the shooters motives. J.D. Vance, a senator and leading contender to be Trumps running mate, did not blame the media specifically but did pin responsibility on the Biden campaign and the narrative that Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs; Tim Scott, another senator, accused the corporate media of having aided and abetted the shooting. The commentator Erick Erickson criticized MSNBC specifically for characterizing Trump as a would-be dictator, asking, What did they think would happen?; the congressman Chip Roy tweeted a New Republic cover depicting Trump as Hitler, adding, You bastards. In a series of tweets, the far-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene called the media corrupt, accused them of inciting violence, and said it was time to clean them up. Greene and others also criticized coverage from the immediate aftermath of the shooting that they clearly saw as whitewashing what had happened, including a CNN headline that, in part, described Trump as having fallen onstage. Absolute ghouls, Vance tweeted in response. If this sort of reaction seemed telling of a uniquely dark American moment, the reality is, as ever, less exceptional. As far back as 1901, various observers fingered inflammatory newspaper writing as complicit in the assassination of President William McKinley; striking a slightly different note, some Democrats turned on Republicans in the wake of the JFK assassination, as Politicos Jonathan Martin noted over the weekend. Our social media age undoubtedly eased and accelerated the sharing of recriminations and other forms of invectivenot to mention false accusations and conspiracy theoriesbut the shooting and immediate reaction had very recent echoes, too, just not in America. As I reported in May, some allies of Robert Fico, the press-bashing prime minister of Slovakia, accused elements of the media of having blood on their hands after a gunman tried to assassinate him earlier this year (rhetoric that has since apparently morphed into a legislative clampdown on the press). Last week, Fico, who was seriously injured, returned to his duties and apologized to the progressive liberal media and opposition for having survived. Over the weekend, he weighed in on the Trump shooting. Its a carbon copy of the script, he wrote. Trumps political opponents are trying to shut him down. When they fail, they incite the public until some poor guy takes up arms. Sign up for CJRs daily email Still, the accusations of media complicity in the Trump shooting have perhaps come at a uniquely difficult moment for the mainstream American press, which has been dealing not only with years of media-bashing on the part of Trump and his allies (as well as occasional physical violence) but also, as I wrote recently, widespread financial decline and a palpable (and understandable) sense of disorientation in the face of this toxic political moment. While not at all equivalent to the worst of Trumps anti-media rhetoric, many allies and supporters of President Biden have recently been sharply critical of parts of the press, too, over their coverage of his age. At an event on Friday, Biden said that the press has been hammering me while giving Trump a free pass, and many of those present booeda disconcerting sight, even if Biden urged them to stop and described reporters present as good guys and women. Also on Friday, before the Trump shooting, The New Yorkers Jay Caspian Kang wrote a widely shared column, headlined Joe Bidens cynical turn against the press, that captured many of the same feelings. The press is currently being blamed both for protecting Biden and for harming him, and for not focusing sufficiently on Trump, having previously been accused of obsessing over him, Kang wroteand yet the news media doesnt have anywhere near the level of influence that much of this criticism implies. (If it did, he argued, its critics would be afraid of attacking it.) Id quibble with aspects of Kangs columnas I see it, the critiques he references around Biden and Trump arent as contradictory as they might appear, and media criticism on the whole remains a vital democratic pursuitbut his invocation of powerlessness struck a chord. At this fraught moment, it can feel like were a convenient punching bag one minute, only to be sidelinedor at least drowned outthe next. But its important not to understate powers that the press does still have, including an enduring ability to set the agenda among political elites, even if many of them think they are reacting against it. And journalists can still get where others cant and report their observations back to the world. For all the invective hurled at the press in its aftermath, the Trump assassination attempt was evidence of both of these trendsindeed, the invective was arguably exhibit A, whether those laundering it truly believe, as they claim, in the agenda-setting power of the media or were just using the idea to score cheap political points (or both). Either way, much of the invective was inappropriate and incoherent. There has of course been overheated media coverage of Trump, but covering his threats to democracy is not overheated in and of itself, and the media is a very big place. Some of the critics seemed to be accusing journalists of being both overly reckless and, at least in their coverage of the shootings immediate aftermath, overly cautious (even if thats not what they thought they were criticizing). And plenty of those right-wing critics were only too quick to tweet out the iconic images that the photographers at the rallyvery much members of the mediarisked their lives to capture; one even made its way to the top of a Trump-endorsed crowdfunder for victims of the shooting that, as of this morning, had raised the best part of four million dollars. And, despite the aggression of some rally attendees toward members of the press, not every media story out of the event attested to a caricature of mutual hatred. As Burns and others noted, reporters and witnesses to the shooting swapped accounts; at least one person present spread mainstream news reporting on the days events by word of mouth; both Cai and Pindell attested to offering water to attendees in the sweltering heat, one of whom later checked that Cai was okay. For his part, Mills, the veteran Times photographer, told his paper afterward that hed never been in a more horrific scene. He continued, There were a lot of members of his staff backstage crying, I got lots of hugs all just saying, Im so glad were OK. Other notable stories: Last week, we noted in this newsletter that CNN was in the process of laying off around a hundred staffers as part of a broader restructuring. The journalist Phil Lewis subsequently reported in his newsletter, What Im Reading, that the network quietly disbanded its Race and Equality team as part of the shakeup; one of its three reporters was laid off, while two will reportedly be reassigned. The team was created in 2020 under CNNs then-boss, Jeff Zucker, amid the racial reckoning that followed the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. A CNN spokesperson acknowledged to Lewis that the team no longer exists, but insisted that its work will now be fully and completely integrated across the organization, adding, The investment is still 100 percent there. And a court in Ecuador sentenced five people to lengthy prison sentences in the case of Fernando Villavicencio, a crusading journalist turned politician who was assassinated last year while running as a candidate in the countrys presidential election. (I wrote about Villavicencio and his unorthodox journalistic background at the time.) Prosecutors alleged that at least two of those sentenced had ties to Los Lobos, a criminal gang that Daniel Noboa, the president, recently designated as a terror group. ICYMI: The Biden Rorschach test Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. American professor sings out his China stories People's Daily Online) 11:31, July 15, 2024 "The People's Republic of China is the place I want to be..." Mark Levine, an American professor at Minzu University of China, has been a teacher in China for 19 years. Through his travels, he has covered thousands of miles across the country. He has not only gained precious bonds with students and colleagues but also witnessed the progress of Chinese modernization through the implementation of major reform and opening-up measures. Diversity spurs interaction among civilizations, which in turn promotes mutual learning and their further development. In 2014, Levine received the Chinese Government Friendship Award, the highest honor available to foreign experts in China. Seeking common ground while embracing differences, and pursuing unity while respecting diversity, Levine is composing an ode to China and singing out his China stories. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Du Mingming) James B. Sikking, a longtime actor in television and movies whose most famous role might be as an uptight leader of a SWAT unit on Hill Street Blues, has died at the age of 90. Sikkings publicist, Cynthia Snider, tells Deadline that Sikking died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. He had been suffering from dementia. According to IMDB.com, Sikking was born on March 5, 1934, in Los Angeles. He started acting in college plays while attending the University of California-Santa Barbara, UCLA and the University of Hawaii. His first film role was in Five Guns West in 1955. His career consisted mainly of smaller TV and movie roles, including appearances in Mission: Impossible, M.A.S.H. The F.B.I., The Rockford Files, Hawaii Five-O and Charlies Angels. He also had a three-year stint on General Hospital. He did have a significant role with Donald Sutherland in Ordinary People in 1980. But it was in 1981 he moved more into the mainstream with his portrayal of the uptight and straight-laced Lt. Howard Hunter on Hill Street Blues. The shows fresh and different take on police drama eventually became a huge hit and stayed on the air until 1987. Sikking based his performance on a drill instructor hed had at basic training when military service cut through his time at the University of California, Los Angeles. The drill instructor looked like he had steel for hair and his uniform had so much starch in it, you knew it would sit in the corner when he took it off in the barracks, he told The Fresno Bee in 2014, when he did a series of interviews with various publications marking the box sets release. Sikking followed Hill Street Blues with a long run as the title characters father in Doogie Howser, M.D., which ran from 1989 to 1993. After Doogie Howser, he again returned to making smaller appearances on TV and in films. His final credited appearance was in Just An American in 2012. In a remarkable career, Sikkings wonderfully exciting face gave us drama, comedy, tragedy and hilarious farse. His career spanned over six decades in television, film and on stage, Snyder in the statement to Deadline. His talent, integrity and imagination intrigued and delighted audiences. Sikking is survived by wife Florine, son Andrew, daughter Dr. Emily Sikking and four grandchildren. (The Associated Press contributed to this story.) This story is part of CNBC Make It's The Moment series, where highly successful people reveal the critical moment that changed the trajectory of their lives and careers, discussing what drove them to make the leap into the unknown. Jay Chaudhry never thought he'd run a business, amass a fortune or help popularize an entire industry. Not growing up in rural India, not upon moving to the U.S. in 1980 to study engineering and marketing, not even after landing jobs at tech giants IBM and Unisys. "I have no background of entrepreneurship in my family of small-scale farmers. So if you asked me, 'Did I ever think about becoming an entrepreneur in my childhood [or] early years of my career?' Not really," Chaudhry, the billionaire founder and CEO of cloud security company Zscaler, tells CNBC Make It. It took Silicon Valley's dot-com boom the wild success stories of tech startups like Netscape to get Chaudhry thinking in 1996, "Why shouldn't I start a company?" He made the rash decision to quit his job as an executive at Atlanta-based tech company IQ Software, and his wife Jyoti quit her job as a systems analyst at telecommunications giant BellSouth. Together, they plunged their life savings roughly $500,000 into SecureIT, a cybersecurity software startup they co-founded in 1997. At the time, "maybe less than 5% of Fortune 500 companies had firewalls," Chaudhry says. "Within 18 months, we had deployed firewalls in about 50% of [the] Fortune 500." His timing was perfect: In 1998, Chaudhry sold SecureIT to VeriSign in an all-stock deal worth nearly $70 million. Over the ensuing decade, the husband-and-wife duo founded two more cybersecurity companies and an e-commerce business, each of which got acquired. By 2007, they were already wealthy entrepreneurs, and Chaudhry who gets "bored" without something to work on decided it was time to launch "one big company and put 200% focus on that," he says. That company was Zscaler, which aimed to help companies transition away from outdated firewalls and into the cloud era. The couple invested $50 million of their own money, says Chaudhry. Today, it brings in $1.6 billion in annual revenue and has a market value of roughly $30 billion. Chaudhry's own net worth is estimated at $11.5 billion by Forbes. Here, Chaudhry talks about putting his family's savings on the line to follow his gut, how his upbringing influenced his relationship with money and the advice he'd give someone who wants to quit their job to start a business. CNBC Make It: What prompted you to stake your entire life's savings on a startup idea in an industry that didn't really exist yet? Chaudhry: This thing happened because I love to read and I love technology. In 1996, Netscape had just launched and gone public, and I was fascinated by it. I said, "If [Netscape co-founder] Marc Andreessen could start a company he was a young guy [right] out of college why shouldn't I start a company?" My wife and I talked a few times, and the more we thought about it, the more conviction we got around it: [Netscape's web browser] is the way to access information, and it should become popular. But if every company is connected to the internet, that means there will be security risks. That was my simple thinking. There was no IDC or Gartner study about the market size. It was largely based on what the gut told us. A gut feeling is one thing. Betting every dollar to your name is another. It started out with us saying, "Let's go get venture capital funding." I had no experience raising funds, and I realized soon that it wasn't that easy. This was [1996], Atlanta was not a VC mecca and we kept hearing, "Hey, you don't have any experience." We were disappointed, but our conviction was building, which led to me saying, "Why don't we put our life-savings on the line?" I didn't know anything. So, I really didn't know how big the risk was. I couldn't quantify it. How did you make peace with that risk? After talking back and forth, we asked each other, "What's the worst thing that can happen?" The company could shut down, we'd lose all of our savings. The next question was, "Can we find jobs?" There was lots of confidence that we could. I never had money in my early childhood, so there was never a notion that I must buy A and B and C. Our lifestyle was pretty simple. Our house in Alpharetta, Georgia, was $200,000 a nice, typical middle-class house at that time and we didn't have any fancy cars or fancy payments. Our only child at that time was going to a public school. There wasn't a lot of overhead. We said, "Let's take a chance." When a bet pays off, does that success make you more confident to take on bigger risks? Were any of your other ventures as risky as that first one? The [financial] risk of SecureIT was, like, 1,000 times more than the risk of Zscaler. The amount I invested in Zscaler was a small fraction of my net worth. But Zscaler was much harder. I put more money in it than all the others combined. I took bigger bets. I hired people more quickly to solve some very hard problems. I wanted to do something big, something lasting. We were trying to solve a problem that was futuristic. Will it be successful or not? Will the market take off or not? That was all unknown. So if you asked me the chances of success of Zscaler, there was a much higher risk. Because, with SecureIT, it was fairly obvious that as you connect to the internet, you need firewalls. What's your best advice for someone who's thinking about quitting their job to start their own business? First, build conviction by learning more about what you want to do. Don't just do some of the cursory work. Second, start by putting in your own money. That actually is part of testing your conviction. If you really have conviction, you'll take a chance on yourself. That also means you've done some serious homework, you're ready, you're committed. You can also make decisions the way you want to make decisions. If Zscaler was largely owned by VCs, they probably could have shut it down. It took us a few years to really start getting traction in the market, and VCs can write you off and move on. They say, "It's one of my 20 investments." When you put in your own money, this is the only business you have. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Want to stop worrying about money? Sign up for CNBC's new online course Achieve Financial Wellness: Be Happier, Wealthier & More Financially Secure. We'll teach you the psychology of money, how to manage your stress and create healthy habits, and simple ways to boost your savings, get out of debt and invest for the future. Start today and use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off through September 2, 2024. watch now Donald Trump has selected Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his presidential running mate, ending months of speculation about the Republican nominee's choice to help him challenge President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. "After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio," Trump said Monday in a Truth Social post. Vance was formally selected as Trump's running mate later Monday afternoon, during the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump was officially picked as the GOP's presidential nominee earlier in the day. Trump's pick for Vice President, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) arrives on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images Trump's selection provides a sudden, massive jolt in stature for the 39-year-old Vance, who joined the Senate as a political newcomer less than two years ago. It's also the culmination of a long-term shift toward Trumpism for Vance, who was once a vocal critic of Trump. Vance gained fame in 2016 through his bestselling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," which traced his rural upbringing in Ohio and mused on the culture and politics of Appalachia. While not without its critics, the book quickly earned Vance a reputation as a trenchant political analyst who, despite an Ivy League education, possessed a unique sense of how the White working class viewed the rest of the country. In the private sector, Vance worked for Mithril Capital, the venture-capital firm run by Peter Thiel, and started his own VC firm, Narya, in 2019. Vance ran in 2022 for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican. Vance beat former Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, by a 53%-47% margin, and took office in January 2023. In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that aired Monday night, Vance described receiving the call from Trump earlier in the day asking him to be his running mate. "He just said 'Look, I think that we got to go save this country. I think you're the guy who can help me in the best way. You can help me govern. You can help me win. You can help me in some of these midwestern states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and so forth,'" Vance said Trump told him. Two other top Republican vice presidential contenders, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, were told earlier that they would not be picked for the role, NBC News reported. The Biden campaign promptly panned the selection, accusing Trump of picking Vance because he will "bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it means breaking the law and no matter the harm to the American people." "Billionaires and corporations are literally rooting for J.D. Vance: they know he and Trump will cut their taxes and send prices skyrocketing for everyone else," read the statement from Biden-Harris campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon. U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance look on as he is nominated for the office of Vice President on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images News | Getty Images Harris has previously accepted an invitation from CBS News to participate in a vice presidential debate on either July 23 or Aug. 13. After Trump revealed his selection, Harris left Vance a message congratulating him and welcoming him to the race, a source familiar with the call told NBC. Shortly after Vance was announced as Trump's running mate, the senator's wife, Usha Vance, resigned from Munger, Tolles & Olson, the law firm where she worked as an attorney. "Usha has informed us she has decided to leave the firm," according to a statement from the firm shared with CNBC. "Usha has been an excellent lawyer and colleague, and we thank her for her years of work and wish her the best in her future career." Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance shake hands as Eric Trump watches with Lara Trump during Day 1 of the Republican National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., July 15, 2024. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters Before entering politics, Vance had slammed Trump as a "total fraud" and even compared him and his MAGA political movement to a harmful drug. "Trump's promises are the needle in America's collective vein," Vance wrote in The Atlantic before Trump won the 2016 election. But as a politician, Vance has morphed into one of the most loyal and extreme backers of both Trump and his brand of nationalist, populist politics. In his interview with Hannity, Vance said he was not trying to "hide from" his prior criticism of Trump. "I was certainly skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016," Vance told Hannity. "But President Trump was a great president, and he changed my mind. I think he changed the minds of a lot of Americans, because again, he delivered that peace and prosperity." This combination photo shows, from left, Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio; Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. AP Former President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. LONDON European stocks started the week lower as global markets assess the effect of an assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump at a rally over the weekend. The pan-European Stoxx 600 provisionally closed 1% lower, with all sectors and major bourses in the red. Household goods led losses, down 2%, followed by utilities, which lost 1.9%. Shares in Burberry plunged 16% after a "disappointing" first-quarter performance led it to replace its CEO and axe its dividend. Meanwhile, Swatch Group fell 9.8% as profits fell amid a slowdown in China sales. Asia-Pacific markets were also lower Monday, as China's gross domestic product data missed expectations. Wall Street saw a strong start, however, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 both climbing to new intraday record highs as investors assessed the effect of the assassination attempt on Trump. General Motors ' goal of being capable of producing 1 million all-electric vehicles in North America by the end of 2025 in heavily in doubt, following comments Monday by CEO Mary Barra. The production capacity target for next year was one of the last EV targets the automaker hadn't lowered or withdrawn as demand for EVs has not materialized as quickly as many companies such as GM previously expected. "We won't get to a million just because the market is not developing, but it will get there," Barra said Monday at a virtual CNBC CEO Council event. "We're going to be guided by the customer." For more than two years, GM has said it would have production capacity of 1 million in EVs in each China and North America by 2025. Even after it changed or withdrew several EV targets and product plans in the last year, the company continued to say it would install the North American capacity for EVs. A GM spokesman said the company's target was about the production capacity, while the question was regarding actually producing 1 million EVs in 2025. Barra did not specifcally address whether it was production or production capacity that she was referring to. The spokesman later said the company would no longer reiterate the EV production capacity plans for 2025. The company has continually said its EV plans will be flexible to meet demand. More details about the automaker's EV plans could come when GM reports second-quarter results on July 23. Amazon is a buy ahead of its annual Prime Day starting Tuesday even as the stock has rallied hard this year. That's because the high-quality stock is still cheap, said Jim Cramer on CNBC Monday. Consider: Shares of the e-commerce giant are up nearly 29% in 2024 compared to the S & P 500 index's roughly 18% gain. And yet, the stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 37, well below its five year average of 61, suggesting it is undervalued. "How is Amazon's price-to-earnings multiple going down at a time when CEO Andy Jassy is doing such a remarkable job?" Cramer said. The company reported a strong first quarter in April in which it showed off the benefits of its cost control efforts. Operating expenses were lower than expected across the board, including fulfillment costs, while sales in e-commerce and the cloud business were solid. It reports second-quarter results July 25. "I still think it's a buying opportunity," Cramer Monday morning said on "Squawk on the Street." One potential catalyst for the stock is Amazon's annual Prime Day event and its ripple effects. As usual, the event, which runs Tuesday and Wednesday this week, will offer millions of special deals for Prime members across a variety of categories including electronics, household items, apparel, and wellness products. A new area this year is Amazon Travel, which offers discounts on cruises and car rentals. AMZN YTD mountain Amazon share performance year-to-date. Shoppers are expected to spend about $14 billion during the two-day event this year, a new record and a 10.5% increase from last year, according to projections from Adobe Analytics, which tracks e-commerce transaction data. And Wall Street sees benefits that go beyond sales during the event. JPMorgan, for one, said Prime Day will help Amazon "rationalize inventory levels" ahead of higher consumer demand in the second half of the year. This, in effect, will help Amazon further improve delivery speeds, which are already at record speeds, the analysts said in a note Friday. JPMorgan has an overweight rating on Amazon shares and a price target of $240. In a separate note Monday, Bank of America largely agreed that the event will help test newer operations. "We see this year's Prime Day as an opportunity to leverage several logistics initiatives such as new inbound centers, more efficient inventory placement and new third-party seller fees," Bank of America analysts wrote. They also said Prime Day should be a driver for Amazon's advertising business, particularly on Amazon Prime Video ad spend. The bank said this is important since ad revenues are a key driver to retail profitability. Bank of America reiterated its buy rating with a price target of $220. (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. The Amazon Prime logo on a package in Manhattan, New York City, on Sept. 16, 2023. Michael Kappeler | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Jefferies has identified a lesser-known and potentially undervalued Taiwanese company poised to benefit from the growing artificial intelligence sector. The investment bank said Insyde Software, listed on the Taipei Exchange, is well positioned to capitalize on the increasing demand for AI-enabled personal computers and servers. Investors are typically able to trade the Taiwan-listed stocks through international brokers, such as Interactive Brokers. Jefferies initiated coverage of Insyde with a research note titled "Firmware Leader and Yet-to-be Discovered AI Play" on July 9 with a "Buy" rating and a price target that suggests a potential 42% upside from current levels. However, the stock has already risen by more than 30% since the ratings action, according to FactSet data, which shows the stock currently offers 17% upside potential. The stock has risen by 101% in 2024, and is up by more than 1,500% over the past five years, FactSet data indicates. Founded in 1998, Insyde has established itself in the firmware industry, commanding over 50% market share in the personal computer segment, Jefferies suggests. Firmware is software embedded in hardware, which enables higher-level software such as operating systems like Microsoft Windows or Linux to operate with hardware components. Insyde's success stems from its early adoption of Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) technology, which has largely replaced legacy Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) systems. The company's "tight partnerships with top chip designers" such as Nvidia, Arm, Qualcomm, Intel, and Taiwan-headquartered ASPEED, as well as prominent original equipment manufacturers like Dell and HP, have also helped it succeed, according to Jefferies. "Amid rising AI PC/ servers globally, Insyde is well-positioned to capture the significant AI tailwind, driving 20% [compounded annual sales growth estimate until 2030]," said Jefferies analysts led by Matt Ma in a note to clients on July 9. However, Jefferies added that, despite the company's long history in technology and several partnerships, the stock's "limited sell-side coverage likely means the stock has yet to be discovered." The investment bank expects the personal computer BIOS sector as a whole to grow at a 14% compound annual growth rate from 2023 to 2030. The bank's analysts also hold that Insyde's royalty-based business model is another factor contributing to its appeal. The company charges a fee for each device using its firmware, creating significant economies of scale as client shipments increase. This model has allowed Insyde to maintain gross margins above 70% and steadily improve net margins, as shown by the company's earnings over the past decade. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle does not plan to resign, she told ABC News on Monday, rejecting calls from lawmakers that she step down following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. "I do plan to stay on," Cheatle said in the interview, which aired Monday evening on ABC News's "World News Tonight." The Secret Service is under growing pressure to explain what went wrong in the hours and minutes before a gunman opened fire in an attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump at his Pennsylvania rally on Saturday. One attendee was killed and two were critically injured before a sniper fatally shot 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks on the roof of a building about 400 feet from the rally stage. "The buck stops with me," she said. "I am the director of the Secret Service, and I need to make sure that we are performing a review and that we are giving resources to our personnel as necessary." Cheatle told ABC that "a very short period of time" passed between when Crooks was identified as potentially suspicious and when he fired his gun. She also said local police "were responsible for the outer perimeter of the building" on top of which Crook's opened fire. While some, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former Attorney General Bill Barr, have called for Cheatle's resignation, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Monday that he has "100% confidence" in the director of the Secret Service. Cheatle said in a statement Monday that "the Secret Service is working with all involved federal, state and local agencies to understand what happened, how it happened, and how we can prevent an incident like this from ever taking place again." Joe Kiani, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Masimo; on Startup University Stage on day three of Collision 2024 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, Canada. Proxy advisor Institutional Shareholder Services said boardroom change at medical technology company Masimo was "absolutely necessary" in a Monday report, and took particular aim at CEO Joe Kiani, saying he wanted to "have his cake and eat it" in running a publicly traded company as though it was a privately held one. The unusually sharp report, a copy of which was viewed by CNBC, said shareholders should vote for activist Politan Capital Management's board nominees, Bill Jellison and Darlene Solomon. The ISS news comes on the heels of an equally trenchant report from advisory peer Glass Lewis, which issued an identical recommendation last week. Masimo under Kiani's leadership "has continued to display a dangerous lack of accountability to shareholders that will require additional board change to rectify," ISS wrote. Kiani, a close confidant of President Biden and the co-founder of the device company, "has demonstrated that he has no regard for public shareholders," ISS wrote in its report, and has overseen a governance track record at Masimo "that is firmly among the most troubling of any modern public company." "He has been at the center of so many corporate governance scandals and abuses that no credible argument exists to the contrary," the proxy advisor continued, referring to Kiani's outsize pay package, the unusually venomous attacks by Masimo management in both this year and last year's proxy fight, and his oversight of both Masimo's spinoff process and board refreshment. By contrast, ISS wrote, Politan "has presented a logical plan" and nominees which "appear to be appropriate." Kiani has threatened to leave the company if he is not reelected at this year's shareholder meeting, which is scheduled for later this month. ISS wrote that such threats were unacceptable. "Under no circumstances should shareholders ever abide ultimatums or threats from a CEO, at MASI or anywhere else," the proxy advisor wrote, referring to Masimo's stock ticker. Representatives for Politan and Masimo did not immediately return requests for comment. watch now The leaders of Wall Street's most powerful firms are speaking out to condemn the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally over the weekend. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon told employees Sunday that he and his management team were "deeply saddened by the political violence" and attempt on Trump's life. The shooting killed one bystander and injured two more. "We must all stand firmly together against any acts of hate, intimidation or violence that seek to undermine our democracy or inflict harm," Dimon said in the memo. "It is only through constructive dialogue that we can tackle our nation's toughest challenges." Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon addressed the matter at the start of an earnings call Monday morning, calling the attempted assassination a "horrible act of violence." "We are grateful that he is safe and also want to extend my sincere condolences to the families of those who were tragically killed and severely injured," Solomon said. "It is a sad moment for our country. There's no place in our politics for violence." The shooting on Saturday shocked a nation gearing up for a contentious November election. Wall Street firms don't officially endorse political candidates since they have to deal with both Republican and Democrat officials, though their executives and employees often donate to campaigns. watch now Florida federal Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday in a stunning decision dismissed the criminal classified documents case against former President Donald Trump and two co-defendants, ruling that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith as prosecutor for the case violated the appointments clause of the U.S. Constitution. A spokesman for Smith said the Department of Justice later Monday had authorized the special counsel to appeal Cannon's decision tossing the case to the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. "The dismissal of the case deviates from the uniform conclusion of all previous courts to have considered the issue that the Attorney General is statutorily authorized to appoint a Special Counsel," said Smith's spokesman, Peter Carr. Trump was accused in the case of illegally retaining hundreds of classified government documents at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida after leaving the White House in January 2021, and trying to hide them from government officials seeking their return. The bombshell ruling by Cannon who was appointed to her judicial seat Trump comes two days after a would-be assassin narrowly missed killing Trump during a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania. Cannon's decision, which also tossed criminal charges faced by Trump's valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago worker Carlos De Oliveira, was issued hours before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. That convention will formally confirm Trump as the GOP presidential nominee for November's election. "The Clerk is directed to CLOSE this case," Cannon wrote in her ruling in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Special Prosecutor Jack Smith (L), and Former President Donald Trump. Getty Images | Reuters Smith's appeal of the ruling is likely to be resolved only after the presidential election, all but guaranteeing that Trump would not face trial until 2025 at the earliest. If Trump is elected president in November, he could order his attorney general to dismiss the case, and another pending federal criminal prosecution in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., where Smith also is prosecuting him as special counsel. Trump is charged in that second federal case with multiple felonies connected to his efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. Cannon's ruling on the legality of Smith's appointment is not binding on the judge in the D.C. case, Tanya Chutkan, but is certain to be cited by Trump's lawyers there in a renewed effort to get that election case tossed out. Chutkan also still needs to rule on issues in the case in light of a dramatic ruling on July 1 by the Supreme Court that found Trump had presumptive criminal immunity for official acts he performed as president. It is not clear yet how that ruling will affect the election case against him. The question of the legality of Smith's 2022 appointment by Attorney General Merrick Garland is likely to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Cannon in her ruling in the Florida case granting a dismissal motion by Trump's attorneys found that Smith's position violated the Constitution's appointments clause, which says "Officers of the United States" must be appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. She also ruled that Smith's use of "permanent indefinite appropriation" funding for his office violated that constitutional clause. "Both the Appointments and Appropriations challenges as framed in the Motion raise the following threshold question: is there a statute in the United States Code that authorizes the appointment of Special Counsel Smith to conduct this prosecution?" Cannon wrote. "After careful study of this seminal issue, the answer is no." "The bottom line is this: The Appointments Clause is a critical constitutional restriction stemming from the separation of powers, and it gives to Congress a considered role in determining the propriety of vesting appointment power for inferior officers," the judge wrote. "The Special Counsel's position effectively usurps that important legislative authority, transferring it to a Head of Department, and in the process threatening the structural liberty inherent in the separation of powers." The ruling is just the latest in a series of controversial decisions by Cannon that favored Trump. Aileen M. Cannon, United States District Judge, Southern District of Florida Courtesy: US Courts Trump in a social media post responding to the ruling, wrote, "As we move forward in Uniting our Nation after the horrific events on Saturday, this dismissal of the Lawless Indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL the Witch Hunts The January 6th Hoax in Washington, D.C., the Manhattan D.A.'s Zombie Case, the New York A.G. Scam, Fake Claims about a woman I never met (a decades old photo in a line with her then husband does not count), and the Georgia 'Perfect' Phone Call charges." "The Democrat Justice Department coordinated ALL of these Political Attacks, which are an Election Interference conspiracy against Joe Biden's Political Opponent, ME," Trump wrote in the Truth Social post. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Historic Greenbrier Farms in Chesapeake, Virginia, on July 28, 2024. Trump Media shares closed up more than 30% Monday, two days after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the company's majority shareholder. The stock's rise was accompanied by massive trading volume. More than 76 million shares of the Truth Social app owner changed hands Monday, ten times the stock's 30-day average. Trump, who was formally nominated as the Republican Party's presidential candidate Monday, said he was grazed by a bullet and treated at a local hospital in Pennsylvania on Saturday but was released late Saturday after the shooting. Shares in Trump Media were 50% higher in premarket trading at 6:29 a.m. ET, off earlier highs. Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes offered his "deepest sympathies" to those who were wounded in the attack in Pennsylvania and to the family of the person killed at the event. "The situation demands a fast, thorough federal investigation to determine all the circumstances of this cowardly attack and to identify if any additional persons were involved," Nunes said in a Saturday statement. "I also call for the federal government to provide any security resources requested by President Trump to guarantee his safety," he added. Analysts suggested the assassination attempt could make a Trump victory in the November election more likely. "The events on Saturday, if they do anything, they strengthen the case for President Donald Trump to win the election in November. I think that's what the markets have reacted to this evening," Rob Casey, partner at Signum Global Advisors told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Monday. Trump Media, the parent company of social media platform Truth Social, has seen volatile trading throughout the election race. The stock plummeted nearly 50% in the three weeks following the felony conviction of Trump, who is also the firm's majority shareholder. Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. World leaders have joined together to condemn the assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump over the weekend. Trump was hit in the ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. The suspected shooter, identified by the FBI as 20-year Thomas Matthew Crooks, was swiftly killed by Secret Service agents at the scene. A bystander was also killed, while two other spectators were critically injured. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was "sickened by the shooting" and sent his thoughts to Trump and his fellow Americans. European leaders from G-20 countries such as Germany, France, Italy, extended their concern and best wishes to Trump. The UK's newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "appalled by the shocking scenes" at the rally, adding that "political violence in any form has no place in our societies." French President Emmanuel Macron said on X that the assassination attempt was "a tragedy for our democracies" and his country "shares the indignation of the American people." In Asia, China's foreign ministry said in a statement that President Xi Jinping had expressed sympathies to Trump, while Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized on the importance of standing firm against violence that challenges democracy. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi who referred to Trump as "my friend" said he "strongly" condemned the incident and that "violence has no place in politics and democracies." Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated the same, and said the campaign event in Pennsylvania was "concerning and confronting." The Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "Russia has always condemned all manifestations of violence," according to Reuters, reportedly blaming the U.S. administration for creating an environment provoked the attack. In the U.S., both Republicans and Democrats alike came together to criticize the attack and expressed their well wishes to the former president. In an Oval Office address on Sunday evening, President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of lowering the temperature in U.S. politics and urged Americans to remember: "We are not enemies. We're neighbors, we're friends, co-workers, citizens and most importantly, we're fellow Americans." Apple Intelligence isnt entirely Apples intelligence; just like so many other artificial intelligence (AI) tools, it also leans into all the human experience shared on the internet because all that data informs the AI models the company builds. That said, the company explained where it gets the information it uses when it announced Apple Intelligence last month: We train our foundation models on licensed data, including data selected to enhance specific features, as well as publicly available data collected by our web-crawler, AppleBot, Apple explained. Your internet, their product Apple isnt alone in doing this. In using the public internet this way, it is following the same approach as others in the business. The problem: that approach is already generating arguments between copyright holders and AI firms, as both sides grapple with questions around copyright, fair use, and the extent to which data shared online is commodified to pour even more cash into the pockets of Big Tech firms. Sorry, Pepsi lovers Coca-Cola still accounts for 69 percent of U.S. cola sales (swell), dwarfing Pepsis mere 27 percent. Even Dr Pepper has caught up to you. Honestly, you should be embarrassed. But youre not alone in shunning Americas favorite spicy water, at least on a global scale. Despite its best efforts, there are places on Earth where Coke has failed to reign supreme. And you know what its best efforts look like (polar bears and murder). 5 Saudi Arabia Vimto, a Kool-Aid-like fruit-flavored sugar water, is actually produced in England, but it sells 35 million bottles in the Middle East, mostly in Saudi Arabia, every year. Thats mostly because Muslims figured out that downing a big bottle of it at sundown is a great way to get through fasting during Ramadan, to the point that stores have to limit customers to two bottles each during the observation like theyre Taylor Swift-branded Stanley cups. 4 North Korea If Coca-Cola traded with North Korea, theyd never hear the end of it, so while you can sometimes find Chinese Coke in fancy shops in the big cities, they mostly have to make do with cocoa-flavored sweet drinks. There seems to have been a disastrous error of translation, as Coca-Cola only bears the slightest linguistic resemblance to cocoa, but the most popular brand, Ryongjin, which is branded exactly like Coke, apparently does, in fact, taste like Coke and not cocoa. Like the rest of North Korea, its misleading and unsettling. Advertisement Advertisement 3 Inca Kola Having the good fortune of launching one year earlier, as well as an uncomfortably patriotic branding effort, Inca Kola shot to the top of the Peru soft drink charts by the 70s, and Coke never had a chance to compete. In fact, they had to add more sugar to even have a chance of appealing to devotees of Inca, which has been described as bubblegum-like and so sweet that Coke is almost subtle by comparison. By 1999, Coke gave up and just bought half of Inca. Advertisement Advertisement 2 India In 1977, India began requiring foreign corporations like Coke to share their formulas and their profits with Indian companies, so Coke was like, Cool, smell ya later. In the void left in their absence, Indian food giant Parle Agro released Thums Up, which they claimed was even fizzier and spicier than Coke. They must have been right, because they soon had 85 percent of the market share, and when Coke returned in 1993, they bought them. Advertisement Advertisement Your worst night of sleep is a dream compared to these folks. 14 The First Guy to Get Away With Murder Because He Was Asleep In 1846, Albert Tirrell brutally murdered a sex worker in Boston, burned down the brothel and ran away to New Orleans. His lawyers successfully argued that, as a chronically sleepy boy, perhaps he was asleep during his horrific attack. 13 This Dude Can Only Draw When Hes Asleep Lee Hadwin will spend 20 to 90 minutes in the middle of the night creating highly skilled charcoal pencil drawings, but he says, If I lift a pencil and try to draw when Im awake, Im unable to do even a simple sketch. 12 Yosemite Sam-Ass Crime In 1870, a hotel worker woke a man who had fallen asleep in the lobby. Upon waking, the guy started yelling hoo-wee!! while shooting the employee to death. He was convicted of manslaughter, but it was overturned when it was argued that he too was a sleepy boy. 11 A German Teenager Jumped Out of a Four-Story Window In 2007, a kid sleep-hurled himself from a fourth-floor window. Possibly because he was very relaxed during his free fall, he escaped with only a broken arm and leg. Advertisement Advertisement 10 A Good Guy With a Gun? In 1920, a paranoid guy put a pistol under his pillow while he was hanging out with his girlfriend. When some random noise woke him up, he freaked out and fired a bunch of shots into the night. He popped on a lamp to find that he had just shot his girlfriend. He was found guilty, but his conviction was reversed because the jury hadnt been properly notified that he was, like, super sleepy at the time. 9 Sexsomnia Is Just What It Says on the Tin People have been known to have sex while theyre asleep, but its not nearly as fun as you might believe at first glance. Its led to people cheating on their spouses, and opens up a pretty messy can of worms when it comes to consent. Advertisement Advertisement 8 A 14-Mile Murder Commute In 1987, a man was acquitted after driving 14 miles, brutally murdering his mother-in-law, and brutally attempted-murdering his father-in-law. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, he was so sleepy. 7 Sleep Binge-Eating NS-RED, or Nocturnal Sleep-Related Eating Disorder, causes people to prepare entire meals, or even just chow down on disgusting stuff like pure butter or mayonnaise, while completely zonked out. Advertisement Advertisement 6 He Snoozed, and He Lozed One guy was convicted after murdering his wife in the middle of the night in 1994, and as of this writing, it hasnt been overturned. This guy tried to blame his parasomnia on his debilitating sleep apnea, instead of simply pleading sleepy, which proved to be his downfall. 5 Dream Divorce In 2006, it was reported that a Muslim man said the word talaq three times in his sleep. Talaq means divorce, and saying it three times can be a legally binding declaration. It was decided that sleep divorce counts, and the couple were ordered to separate. Advertisement Advertisement 4 Another Conviction! In 1997, a man was convicted of stabbing and drowning his wife while, ostensibly, asleep. But he also managed to hide his clothes and the murder weapon in a Tupperware box under his car, and shout commands to his dog during the murder, causing some jurors to posit that perhaps he was awake. 3 An Orchestra Enthusiast Conducts in His Sleep Associated Press reporter Harry F. Rosenthal says his wife has discovered him sitting upright in bed, conducting an imaginary orchestra and humming along to the tune. Shell call in the kids to watch the show, and has recorded it on occasion. Advertisement Advertisement 2 A History of Waking Violence, But This One Was a Bad Dream In 2001, a man was convicted of the murder of his girlfriend while on vacation on Catalina Island. He said that he didnt remember the attack, but later had flashbacks in which he was doing all that murdering to a man, in his dreams. His previous threats of gutting someone like a fish he was a fisherman left the jury to conclude that he probably pulled off the whole crime in the waking world. What happens when you combine Australia's most famous site with a whole lot of liquor? If we tell you that Australia is a crazy place to live because its at the bottom of the world and everyone has to walk on the ceiling, you might think were very ignorant. But then you hear the tale of Billy Hunt, who fled Port Arthur Penitentiary in Tasmania disguised as a kangaroo. His escape failed (so the story goes) because guards saw the kangaroo and aimed their guns at it, thinking a little kangaroo meat sounded delicious. On second thought, you might say, Australia fully lives up to its reputation. Don't Miss That becomes even more clear when you learn of the time that... 5 Aliens Turned Out to Be Wallabies on Drugs Crop circles are that thing where a bunch of plants in a field are flattened, making some pattern thats viewable from directly above. Theyre evidence of aliens, say people who believe that sort of thing, since such a design can only be etched from some object hovering in the sky. Exactly why someone in the sky would want to draw a pattern only visible from the sky itself is unclear, and crop circles are, in reality, always made by humans, often humans deliberately trying to bait UFO fans. Jabberocky/Wiki Commons And to bait actual UFOs, maybe. Well, they are almost always made by humans. They can also be made by animals walking repetitively in a circle, which is something animals generally do not do. Case in point: In Tasmania in 2009, farmers noticed a bunch of circles that popped up because wallabies kept walking around in circles. They kept walking around in circles because they were high. They were high because this wasnt a wheat field or a cornfield. It was a poppy field, used for making opium, and the wallabies who lunched on those poppies became intoxicated. You might associate opium farming with places like Afghanistan, but when were talking about legal opium, half the worlds supply comes from Australia. You cant have codeine without Australia, and you cant have Australia without wallabies. 4 The Bugs Got So Thick, a Train Crashed In Australia, the bugs are deadly and want to kill you. Usually, that comes in the form of them simply biting you, but some critters are more devious than that. Train tracks in different parts of the country have repeatedly had trouble with a species of millipede called Ommatoiulus moreleti. The millipedes are attracted to train tracks, for reasons we can only theorize about, and when a train crushes enough of them, the tracks become too slippery for the trains to properly brake. Advertisement Melbourne had big problems with millipedes holding trains up in 2002 and 2009, and the biggest incident happened in 2013 outside Perth. A train rolled over hundreds of millipedes, and the wheels got too slick to slow down. The engine plowed into a parked train in front of it, sending a handful of passengers to the hospital with neck injuries. J. Coelho These arent just terrorists. Theyre suicide bombers. Ommatoiulus moreleti didnt exist in Australia a century ago. Its native to Portugal and was accidentally introduced to the continent in the 1950s. Still, by attacking humans, its proven itself to be as Australian as any native species. 3 The Time a Detective Got Down on All Fours and Played a Dingo Advertisement Advertisement If you want to talk about Australia exclusively in terms of cultural stereotypes, you should practice your delivery of one line: A dingo ate my baby! But you should also know that that line came from an actual legal case, in which a dingo killed a baby and prosecutors refused to believe that happened, instead accusing the mother of murder. It was a serious case, with all sorts of strange details you should read about. But it did come with its funnier moments, moments funnier than youd expect from any story that begins with a baby was mauled to death. Early on in the case, detectives gathered in a bar to debate the parents credibility. Sergeant John Lincoln was the chief skeptic. And to prove his position, he left the bar and came back with one of these in his mouth: Tracy Hunter Useful for putting out fires, or building castles It was a bucket of sand, weighing 10 pounds. Lincoln walked on the floor on all fours with this bucket (presumably grabbed from a nearby construction site) held up via the handle clamped between his jaws. He wanted to test out how long he could support it. Within one minute, he had to let go and drop it, which he figured proved a dingo couldnt hold a baby for too long. Advertisement It would later turn out that a dingo really had run off with the Chamberlains baby, so this experiment had been flawed. Lincoln was different from the dingo in many ways. For one thing, the dingo had been sober. 2 An Autonomous Lethal Robot Guards the Great Barrier Reef Advertisement We dont know for certain if the worlds changing climate will leave Australia a wasteland, where everyone straps metal to their body for combat. But we do know that the changing climate has had a visible effect on one part of the Australia its led to bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef. We also know that the reef has another threat, a more animalistic one. Its called the crown-of-thorns starfish, and it eats coral. Bleaching is a disease, but getting eaten is death, so we need to deal with these sea stars if we want the reef to stick around. The answer? Metal combat, of course. We send down a robot that can hunt and kill the starfish. Advertisement Queensland University of Technology This story was loosely adapted into the movie Pacific Rim. The robot, called RangerBot, doesnt kill starfish by such prosaic methods as lasers or bullets. Instead, it injects the stars with a derivative of bile that triggers a fatal immune response. RangerBot is also designed to identify stars on its own, working fully autonomously. We arent hearing much outcry about the possible dangers of this bot going rogue, and we assume its because everyone who voiced such concerns was already strategically biled to death. At least this time, Bill Everyone Can Be Canceled! Maher was talking to an entertainer who was actually canceled. On the latest edition of his Club Random podcast, Armie Hammer discussed the real-world consequences of his sex kink/cannibalism/alleged assault scandal. In its aftermath in 2022, Variety reported that Hammer was totally broke and selling time-shares in the Cayman Islands. I loved it, Hammer told Maher. It is so fun. Maher couldnt believe Hammer, whose father Armond was an oil tycoon who eventually bought into the Arm and Hammer baking soda dynasty, needed the Cayman cash. Its so complicated, explained the actor, insisting that family members with money always attach strings. I would rather go get a job selling time-shares. I applied for a job to be a drama teacher. I applied for a job to be a landscaper. I applied for a job to be a building manager. Enough! declared Maher. There are real evils in the world, he said, but as far as Hammer is concerned, I dont think youre one of them. Don't Miss Despite doing some really gnarly things, disgraced celebrities like Hammer need a court for the canceled, according to Maher. The court would decide the severity of alleged bad behavior and determine when it was time to forgive the accused. And when you go in, you can present this as part of the request for a pardon: After six years, we are presenting as evidence that my client worked as a time-share salesman. Thats got to be time served. I mean, its not quite stabbing trash on the highway, but its closer to that than being the star of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Another reason we need a Court for the Canceled? Public shaming can happen to anyone even Maher! While some people tell him, Bill, I think youre one of the only people who are uncancelable, Maher claimed that I could get myself canceled in the next 10 seconds on this interview. (Its an assertion Maher makes on nearly every episode of Club Random.) Advertisement There are only three people who cant be canceled, Maher argued: Beyonce, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. But I know for a fact, and Im not gonna say which one, but I know one of them from a very close source is at least a potty mouth, he said. But Hammer, who has been on a Its great to be canceled! media tour, said he doesnt need the court. Being shunned by Hollywood has been incredibly liberating, he maintained, because now he doesnt have to care about what people think. Once everyone just decides that they hate you, you go, Oh, then I dont need anything from you people anyway. Guess I should just learn to be content with myself. And it feels fucking amazing, Hammer claimed. As amazing as Hammers alleged fantasy to barbecue and eat one of his partners ribs? Only the Court for the Canceled can say for sure. Shannen Doherty tragically passed away over the weekend, at the way-too-young age of 53. Doherty was obviously an absolute icon of the 1990s, mostly due to her work as Brenda Walsh on the long-running primetime teen soap Beverly Hills, 90210. Although the less said about the time the show forced her to protest the Vietnam War in 1960s cosplay, the better. In addition to 90210, those of us who grew up in the 90s also knew Doherty as the co-star of Kevin Smiths notorious flop Mallrats. But without her participation, the film may never have gotten made at all. Following Dohertys passing, Smith penned a lengthy Instagram post in tribute to the actress, who he noted was a true talent and single handedly shattered it in the early 90s. Smith also revealed that, prior to his Clerks success, he would routinely watch 90210 each week specifically for Doherty, aka the girl from Heathers. Don't Miss When it came time to make Mallrats, which he pitched as Clerks in a mall, a friend suggested casting Doherty, owing to the fact that shes an American icon! Smith also pointed out that, once Doherty was onboard, she was the only reason Mallrats got greenlit in 1995 because Shannen was one of the most famous people on the planet and the fact that she picked Mallrats as her first follow-up to 90210 made that movie happen. Despite the fact that her character Rene, Brodys ex-girlfriend, wasnt exactly the focal point of Mallrats, Dohertys involvement, coming just a year after she left Beverly Hills, 90210, was clearly a huge selling point of the movie, hence the reason why her face was so prominent on the VHS box art. Advertisement And Smith just couldnt help but insert a meta-90210 joke into the movie, which wasnt in the script. Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, Mallrats wasnt exactly a box-office success, both launching and derailing Dohertys movie stardom. As the actress revealed to Smith on her podcast Lets Be Clear, she didnt even want to audition for the comedy at first, but was forced to by the same representatives who later claimed that Mallrats killed your film career. When going through her filmography Smith remarked, God, I did kill your movie career Goddammit. Clearly, Doherty didnt blame Smith for the films failure, as she later agreed to cameo as herself in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, acting in a Scream movie opposite a knife-wielding monkey. Advertisement And Mallrats accrued a substantive cult following over the years, so much so that Smith has written a sequel. During their podcast chat, recorded earlier this year, Doherty and Smith discussed potentially re-teaming for Twilight of the Mallrats, and even performed a scene from the unproduced script, urging studios like Netflix to scoop up the project. Advertisement Advertisement Sadly, that version of the movie will never be made, meaning that well never get to see what happened to Brody and Rene after they became co-hosts of The Tonight Show. Like, did they screw over Conan, too? You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. On Saturday, someone bidding to be the oldest man ever to be elected President of the USA nearly met his maker. Fortunately the would-be assassin's bullet did no more than clip the ear of 78-year-old Donald J Trump. And the intended victim could be heard giving a clear order to the pack of Secret Service agents who were urging him: 'We've got to move, we've got to move'. 'Wait,' said Trump. He was determined to seize the moment. Getting to his feet, he began punching the air vigorously, creating an image bloodied but unbowed, with the Stars and Stripes in the background that might, on its own, guarantee that, this November, he is elected President (again). That means Trump would become, during his second spell in the White House, older than Biden now is (81). Yet no one expresses concern that he will be 'too old'. If anything, the fear of Trump's opponents is that he will be too dominating and act with demonic energy. This question of 'age' has overshadowed the race for the Presidency since Biden's performance in the first debate between the two candidates. The current occupant of the White House shocked viewers with his confusion, passages of complete gibberish and, at times, a glassy-eyed, slack-jawed appearance suggestive of senility. Determined to seize the moment, Trump began punching the air vigorously, creating an image that might, on its own, guarantee that, this November, he is elected President, writes DOMINIC LAWSON For Biden, this is absolutely not just about age, even though it is the word everyone uses. It is about infirmity and acute mental degeneration On the other side, Donald Trump said countless things which were completely untrue but he was lying with undiminished vigour. It was too much for Biden's champion in the Hollywood elite, George Clooney. Last week, he wrote a devastating article in the New York Times headlined: 'I love Joe Biden. But we need a new nominee.' Clooney described how, at a recent fundraising event he attended, 'He was not even the Joe Biden of 2020. He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate . . . Is it fair to point these things out? It has to be. This is about age. Nothing more.' Wrong. This is absolutely not just about age, even though it is the word everyone uses. It is about infirmity. It is about acute mental degeneration. There are, or have been, plenty at Biden's age still vigorous and intellectually focused, including in the political sphere. To take a personal example: I have just looked up footage of my late father, Nigel Lawson, speaking at an Oxford Union debate in 2013, when he was the same age Biden is now. First of all, my father did not have a single grey hair (I promise, this was entirely natural, unlike Trump's coiffure). And he delivered a flawless speech in the chamber, only occasionally looking down at his notes. My father had always been fortunate in his health I don't think he had spent a day in hospital before his ninth decade. This is very different from Joe Biden. In February 1988, the then senator for Delaware suffered a near-catastrophic cerebral aneurysm. He was given the Last Rites and underwent nine hours of surgery. It succeeded, against the odds; but three months later, Biden suffered a second aneurism (on the other side of his brain) requiring more major surgery. As a result, the President has metallic clips on his cerebral arteries, which mean he can't undergo an MRI scan, as the magnetic field could move the clips, with potentially fatal consequences. Although Trump would become older than Biden at the end of a second term in office, concerns are expressed not that he will be 'too old' but too dominating I wrote here about this medical history over two years ago. I was making the point, after Vladimir Putin sent his tanks towards Kyiv, that the fashionable commentary on the Russian president's alleged mental state or 'sickness' was absurd, when the real concern should be about Biden's capabilities. And I quoted remarks, from a year before that so, in 2021 by Dr Greg Ganske, a former Congressman who had contrasted Biden's mental state with the man he had sat next to at a lunch in 1997: 'Witty and charming, with no stuttering or incomplete thoughts. It pains me greatly to see a decline in President Biden and it worries me.' Dr Ganske quoted a neurosurgeon friend who referred to Biden's two cerebral incidents and surgery from 1988: 'It takes a toll and can show up later.' Of Trump, Dr Ganske observed: 'He is not senile and his brain is relatively sharp whether you like it or not.' That is still true of Donald Trump at 78. By the way, this obsession with 'age' rather than ability is behind Labour's manifesto pledge to make members of the House of Lords retire during the parliament in which they reach 80. Some of the most valuable members of the upper house are in their 80s. The fact that Sir Keir Starmer has just appointed the (very sharp) 81-year-old former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett a life peer shows how absurd this policy is. As events in the U.S. are now demonstrating, what counts is acuity, not age. Enjoy the honeymoon Sir Keir, while it lasts To read the reports from the Press accompanying Sir Keir Starmer on his trip to the Nato shindig in Washington DC, you'd think it was an undiluted triumph for the new PM. And they were also encouraged by President Zelensky's reaction after his meeting with Starmer: the Ukrainian leader posted on Twitter/X that he had 'learned about [Britain's] permission to use Storm Shadow missiles against military targets in Russian territory. We had the opportunity to discuss the practical implementation of this decision . . . I am grateful to the UK'.In his own comments, Starmer said the missiles were 'for Ukraine to decide how to deploy'. Despite reports that Starmer was strengthening our country's commitment to Ukraine, it turned out there was no change from the policy under Rishi Sunak Under our previous government Kyiv had been told they could be used only on Ukrainian territory (including Crimea). So, various pundits extolled Starmer's strengthening of our country's commitment to Ukraine's struggle. But then . . . a sudden reversal. It turned out there had been no change from the policy under Rishi Sunak: British defence officials briefed that Zelensky would have to 'seek assurances elsewhere' presumably including Washington before Ukraine could fire these missiles onto Russian territory, even for defensive purposes. It's not clear what went on here whether Starmer didn't understand what the true situation was, or Zelensky had misunderstood the British PM's words. But it was a debacle, in terms of clarity of message, on a critical issue. If something like this had happened in the dying days of the Sunak administration, there would have been a savaging from the media over 'confusion at the heart of government'.Now: nothing. This is the political honeymoon period for the new Prime Minister, so there is no appetite for criticism. That's normal in such circumstances. Sir Keir should enjoy it while it lasts. Stand on one leg, please, close your eyes and hum the Marseillaise. Now, without opening your eyes or falling over, your task is to invent a gameshow to sell to 120 countries worldwide. Your time starts . . . now. Ridiculous as it sounds, thats what comedian Alex Horne has achieved with Taskmaster, the TV format that began as a half-baked lark for the Edinburgh Fringe 15 years ago and is now set to enjoy its 18th series. Jack Dee and Rosie Jones are among the latest contestants, in a lineage of more than 100, including Noel Fielding, Shirley Ballas, Katherine Ryan, Bob Mortimer, Adrian Chiles, Mo Farah, Morgana Robinson and Dara O Briain . . . to name just a few of the winners. In the process, it has turned its creator into one of the richest men in the business. Last year Horne earned 7.5 million from his production company Shakey an increase of 2 million on the previous year. And thats before a virtual reality game launches later this year, with a live stage show also promised. Co-star Greg Davies has also made his fortune on the show, with his Wemboy Productions declaring earnings of 3.7 million earlier this year. Comedian Alex Home (right) has invented a game show that has been exported to 120 different countries worldwide Last year Horne earned 7.5 million from his production company Shakey, while co-star Greg Davies declared earnings of 3.7millione earlier this year The only thing more difficult to comprehend than the rules of the outlandish trials is the appeal of the show itself. Right to left: Johnny Vegas, Greg Davies, Richard Herring, Alex Horne, Katherine Parkinson Host Alex Horne in a silver dustbin holding the lid and toilet roll The biggest winners are Channel 4, as Taskmaster can draw primetime audiences of nearly four million while online, viewers streamed a mind-blowing 2.3 billion minutes of the show last year. It is C4s most popular programme with the 16-34 age group beloved of advertisers. I anticipate that well ultimately fully take over C4, Greg says, and itll be the only show on the channel that all of their daytime and evening programming will be us. He may not be being entirely serious but he has a point. Yet to those who havent seen Taskmaster, which first aired on the comedy cable channel Dave in 2015, the only thing more difficult to comprehend than the rules of the outlandish trials it puts contestants through is the appeal of the show itself. It hardly sounds like compelling viewing. Five contestants are given a catalogue of creatively silly challenges that mostly involve throwing, pushing, breaking, stacking, eating or hiding objects. All of that is done without a script the players have no idea what theyll face and they have to improvise. Then theyre brought back onto a theatre stage with a live audience to bicker and wheedle with chief judge Davies, as points are awarded. Horne, as the Taskmasters assistant and underling, keeps score. At the end of each series, whoever has the most points wins a gold-plated bust that vaguely resembles Gregs head. Given the madcap nature of the show, perhaps its no surprise that it took years for Horne to get any broadcaster to commission even a pilot. It began as a stage show at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010, when Horne sent a challenge to 20 chums on the comedy circuit: Put money into my bank account most money wins. Five contestants are given a catalogue of creatively silly challenges that mostly involve throwing, pushing, breaking, stacking, eating or hiding objects - all done without a script Julian Clary on Taskmaster. Given its madcap nature, it's no surprise it took five years to clinch a TV deal. A contestant receives a task. The challenges are wilfully low budget. Many episodes appear to have been staged for less than the cost of a childrens party No one deposited more than a fiver . . . except stand-up comic Mark Watson, who gave 200. When Horne revealed the results, the audience howled. That encapsulates the secret of Taskmaster: its hilarious to see how far people will go in order to win. Despite its Fringe success, it took five years to clinch a TV deal, with the Dave channel taking the plunge in 2015. It was an instant hit, the broadcasters biggest. Small wonder C4 muscled in and snatched it away from Dave four years later. For nine years, this chaotic gameshow has been bringing out the most savage will-to-win in its players goading them into degrading, embarrassing and humiliating displays for a worthless prize and the satisfaction of beating their peers. Yet the challenges are wilfully low budget. Many episodes appear to have been staged for less than the cost of a childrens party. One of the most obscenely funny featured people stuffing their faces with watermelon. The challenge was to eat as much as possible in four minutes. Richard Herring and Daisy May Cooper force-fed each other, ripping the melon into pieces and rubbing it into each others mouths. Another involved catapulting a shoe into a bath. Johnny Vegas managed to fall off a stepladder while attempting that. I was as bemused as anyone when I reviewed the first series in my daily TV column. The cast included Frank Skinner and Romesh Ranganathan, as well as Josh Widdicombe an ever-present on panel games and two contenders who were obviously friends of the presenters: Tim Key and Roisin Conaty. They were tasked with oddities such as filling an egg cup with their own tears. Key watched E.T. on video while peeling onions. I didnt fully appreciate the psychological appeal of the format until the second series, and a challenge that involved transporting shopping across a stream in a supermarket trolley, via a distant bridge. Richard Osman (then the boffin on Pointless, and not yet the mega-selling author) picked his trolley up and hurled it into the water in a fit of exasperation. Any show that can provoke the calmly charming Osman into behaving like a drunken yob in a shopping precinct on a Friday night must have invisible effects on its players shredding their nerves and straining their composure to breaking point. Anticipating the explosion is part of the enjoyment of watching. Another aspect of its appeal is that Taskmaster is as much a sitcom as a gameshow. The same faces return week after week, building up a rapport with the audience. It translates well into any language, too: in Sweden its called Best In Test; in Belgium its The Brightest Bulb; in Norway its The King Commands. It can be very funny hearing Greg calling his 6ft 2in co-host Alex (pictured) 'Little Alex Horne' A contestant moves red wellies attached to wires as part of a trial Taskmaster is as much a sitcom as a gameshow, with the same faces returning week after week During lockdown, Horne and Davies set 20 tasks for fans to attempt in their own homes. People sent in their own videos, with the funniest being uploaded to the Taskmaster YouTube channel. A constant in-joke on the show, the sadistic tormenting of Alex Horne, began with a game in the second episode. Contestants were asked to discover the contents of five pies without cutting, biting or otherwise breaking the pastry themselves. Conaty ordered Horne to eat the pies and report what he discovered. One contained molten hot toothpaste. Bullying Alex serves a variety of purposes. It can be very funny, especially when Greg (who is 6ft 8in) calls his 6ft 2in co-host Little Alex Horne. The disparity in their status is emphasised by their chairs one a giant throne, the other barely more than a stool. But it also gives the players a target when venting their frustration. As the competition heats up, some contestants fall behind despite trying their hardest. James Acaster revealed a furious temper, throwing weekly tantrums when he felt the judging was unfair or his rivals were cheating. After team-mate Rhod Gilbert let him down in a co-operative challenge, Acaster seemed in danger of bursting a blood vessel. I cant believe this s***! he snarled at Davies, accusing him of favouritism because Gilbert is another friend of the presenter. Gilbert achieved perhaps the most obsessive win of any episode. Challenged to do the creepiest thing possible, he went round to Gregs house for drinks one night and, instead of leaving, hid in a bedroom cupboard. During the small hours, he emerged and filmed Davies as he slept . . . then presented the video as a surprise during the shows live segment. Greg looked aghast, impressed and horrified in equal measure. All those telly execs who turned down Taskmaster must feel exactly the same way. Even an unsuccessful assassin can change the course of history, it seems. The shocking crime committed in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday demonstrated how the febrile world of US politics can shift dramatically in just a few seconds. Aided and abetted by Americas love of the gun, the course of the forthcoming race for the White House has transformed. Even the sworn political enemies of Donald Trump must have found themselves slightly in awe of the 78-year-old former presidents instantaneous response to his near-death experience, particularly his lightning calculation that this was, in fact, an opportunity to be seized. Little over 70 seconds after dropping to the floor of the stage, clutching his bleeding ear, he was brought back to his feet, then raised his fist and urged his followers to: Fight, fight, fight. Even the sworn political enemies of Donald Trump must have found themselves slightly in awe of the 78-year-old former presidents instantaneous response to his near-death experience The assassination attempt leaves the Democrats with an even more pressing decision to make about the future candidacy of Joe Biden (pictured) His resilience will play well with many Americans. Support is likely to solidify. What, then, for the US presidency? It leaves the Democrats with an even more pressing decision to make about the future candidacy of Joe Biden, who last week at the Nato summit introduced Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky as president Putin. Senior Republicans have suggested anti-Trump rhetoric from Mr Biden and other Democrats may have inspired Saturdays 20-year-old gunman. Indeed, there is already a disturbing trend on both sides of the Atlantic which sees the intolerant Left regard attacks on Right-wing politicians as a delicious type of joke. It is time for that puerile arrogance to end. A democracy decides by the ballot box and not by a snipers bullet. Many other grave questions are raised by the would-be assassins actions. The US Secret Service is again wallowing in disgrace, 60 years after John F Kennedy was driven along Dallass Dealey Plaza in that open-topped limousine. The US Secret Service is again wallowing in disgrace. Is its failure to search and secure a Pennsylvania barn rooftop 400ft from Trump's podium mean it's heading for reform? Trump is sure to play to the gallery as 'the man they tried to silence' at the Republican National convention in Milwaukee. He may have been handed the rhetorical ammunition to again become president Does the agencys failure to search and secure a Pennsylvania barn rooftop just 400ft from Trumps podium mean it is heading for root-and-branch reform? Furthermore, can American politicians continue to meet their public face-to-face, or must they pitifully withdraw solely to social media and the airwaves because the risk of violence is too great? Assassination, George Bernard Shaw wrote, is the extreme form of censorship. We can expect Donald Trump to pursue a similar rationale. He is sure to play to the gallery as the man they tried to silence at the Republican national convention in Milwaukee, which starts today, and throughout the coming campaign. The would-be assassin may, ironically, have handed Mr Trump the rhetorical ammunition he needs to once again become the worlds most powerful man. No need to rush: The Conservative Party should be mindful of the maxim act in haste, repent at leisure. There is no reason for an accelerated leadership election so soon after Labour secured its regrettable landslide. Conservatives should take their time to replace Rishi Sunak (pictured) as leader - now is the moment for reflection and reunification Now is a time for reflection, consolidation and reunification. Party members must put aside all damaging internecine rivalries of the kind that led to the jettisoning of their most valuable electoral asset, Boris Johnson. If an interim leader is necessary to focus minds on the future and to make the correct choice, then so be it. According to Triin, the more similar proportions, the better sex you will have It works to match couples using just snaps of their hands The creator of a dating app that predicts the size of a man's penis using images of his hands has opened up about how she created the risque program. Triin Randloo, 40, had always been curious about whether the age-old theory that the size of a man's hands could determine the length of his appendage - a curiosity that ultimately led her to launch new dating site, SizeHim. The handy tool works by scanning a photo of a woman's hand and matching it to a man who has similar proportions, with Triin explaining that experts suggest couples who have relative sizes will enjoy better sex together. While speaking to the New York Post, Triin revealed how SizeHim came to fruition. At the time, she had been working on a project alongside a group of anatomists and physiotherapists when she admitted that she always asks potential dates for a photo of their hands before agreeing to meet up with them. The mastermind behind a penis size-predicting app has lifted the lid on how the tool works to guarantee passionate sex based on a man's hands 'They explained to me that hand proportions can tell what is in the pants and that when your body proportions are similar with your partner's, there's a higher probability that you will have a really good sex life,' she told the outlet. She claimed that couples who had greater sex were also most likely to stay together longer. Triin and her team set out to prove their theory that similar proportions of the hands resulted in great sex, and soon enough, SizeHim was born. While speaking to The Sun, Triin explained that by asking to see a man's hands, you can 'speed up' the process of determining whether you have chemistry. However, she wanted to make it clear that it's just about the size of the hands. The founder noted that the proportions are what matter most to discover whether you will have passion underneath the sheets with someone. She also revealed that it was 'proven' with other body parts as well. The app uses finger length and 20 other measurements to create a profile that will leave you feeling like you just took a peek in your potential lover's pants. Triin Randloo, 40, had always been curious about whether the age-old theory that the size of a man's hands can determine how they perform under the sheets The handy tool works by scanning a photo of your hand and matching it to a man who has similar proportions to you (Triin seen with her partner) The site uses these calculations to tell you which one of seven penises you matched with. The options are curved up banana/C-shape, bender, cucumber, big shaft, big head, mushroom or pencil, while also sharing some sex advice. Kirki Kubri, a sex specialist who worked on SizeHim, spoke to the New York Post about how your hands could reveal more than you think. 'Our bodies vary inside and out, two partners are like a puzzle, so it helps a lot if body parts are clicking like they're made for each other,' Kirki said. According to the publication, one description of a penis who fell into the 'big head' category read: 'Get ready for earth-shattering sex!' It also suggested that these lovers try 'The Crab' position when getting tangled up in bed sheets. The app takes even your most salacious imaginations to the next level by dishing out tips for the bedroom The site uses these calculations to tell you which one of seven penises you matched with The website, which has subscriptions starting at $3 a month, allows women to unveil Pandora's box and step into a world where they know exactly what a man is packing in between his legs. Based on the proportions of your hands as well as his, you will receive a compatibility score and sexual suggestions. The app takes even your most risque imaginations to the next level by dishing out tips for the bedroom - including which positions will leave you and your partner deeply satisfied. SizeHim also poses two questions that are sure to get your heart racing. The site reads: 'There are two questions that unconsciously affect all of us: How much money? What is in the pants? 'It is challenging for us to determine the size of one's bank account, but what we can tell you is what is in the pants,' it quips. Even after all these years I can still remember his ginger freckles. I can see them as clear as day, the intensity of them, sprawling over his face. It gave me something to fixate on, I suppose. If I close my eyes, I can see his bald head with wisps of ginger hair. He was a complete stranger who was in my life for no more than a few minutes 39 years ago, and yet I can vividly see him like it was yesterday. And that's because this man, this monster, sexually assaulted me when I was seven years old. Seven. Afterwards, he pointed up to a block of flats in the distance. 'I'm going to go back there and get you a pound and an ice cream.' His voice echoes in my head as I write this. I had gone to the park with my mum and some friends, and there was a bush that formed part of a cut-through to get there a route I had taken countless times. It was the middle of the day and the park, near our home in Hove, East Sussex, was full of children's laughter and the sound of playing, but I was a world away in a nightmare of sexual exploitation. Katie Price revealed she was sexually assaulted when she was only seven years old Katie with her children, from left, Bunny, Princess, Jett and Junior It was from that moment on that I felt men were always looking at me. I suppose having your innocence shattered from a young age does that to you. The police never found the man with the ginger freckles. I have been a victim of sexual assault on two more occasions. The second was with a celebrity, but, though I want that acknowledged, I'm not going to be naming them here. My third time was in South Africa in 2018, when I was filming for an ITV1 reality show, My Crazy Life, with a crew and two of my five children: my son, Junior, then 13, and my daughter, Princess, then 11. This is what happened. Let me start from the very beginning. When I was 15 years old, I met my best friend, Neil Tawse. I really fancied him from the moment I first saw him he was the hunk of the gym. But nothing ever happened. All these years on, we've remained friends. Actually, more than friends. We are best friends. We've never had sex and never had a one-night stand. I've lost count of the number of people who have thought that we'd get together, but we remain absolute best friends and I owe him my life. He's from South Africa, which is why I agreed to do the reality show. I said he could come with us and show us a bit of his native country. I wanted to show Junior and Princess the country too, and we arranged a safari. Katie filmed ITV reality show My Crazy Life in South Africa in 2018 where she claims she was sexually assaulted for the third time Before we went, Neil and the director of the show discussed the route and what filming they would do to get all the best footage. It was all mapped out and everyone was happy. We did the safari and afterwards the director wanted to do a longer, different route home. It was just two cars: a car with the film crew and ours, which had Neil, Junior and Princess and me in it. Neil was driving. We had walkie-talkies with us and, after a while, I had to radio to the other car to say that Junior needed a wee. We were on a deserted road so we just stopped at the side. Junior got out of the car and stood on top of a bank as I got out too. Princess was behind me. I heard Junior shout, 'Oh, Mum, look over here! Imagine if I jumped down over that bit,' pointing to the edge of the bank he was on, and I think I said something like, 'Oh, Junior!' The next thing I knew there was shouting around me. It was loud and it sounded like they were saying 'Casa, casa, get in the f***ing car, car...' I couldn't quite understand but the shouts were so harsh and sudden. We all just stood in stunned silence. We could see six guys getting out of a car. It took a minute or two for my brain to process what the hell was happening, but I instinctively grabbed the kids and ran back to the car. My memory is a bit fuzzy with it all, if I'm honest. It happened so quickly, but at the time it seemed like it went on for ever. It was surreal. I kept thinking, 'Is this happening? Is this actually happening? Am I dreaming?' I could make out two men, who I now know to be hijackers, trying to get into the other car, where the film crew were, while the rest of them were around our car. I tried to shout to the film crew to come help us. But no one did. No one could. It was terrifying the kids were screaming and I kept saying to them, 'Don't worry, you're fine, you're fine. Everything will be OK.' But I was absolutely petrified. I genuinely thought we were all going to die. The next few minutes are all a horrible blur. They managed to get in my door. Their hands were all over me, and in me and down in my trousers. I just kept saying, 'Get off me, get off me! I've got nothing!' But they took everything, all the jewellery I had and my watch. The car Katie and her children were travelling in while filming My Crazy Life was hijacked Katie says the hijackers had their hands all over her and 'down her trousers' She later spoke about the ordeal of being carjacked in South Africa I saw some of the men try to go to the back of the car. Princess's door wasn't shut and I knew I wouldn't let these men near my kids. I screamed bloody murder. Next thing I remember is trying to find the keys to start the car and then I had the keys, but my hands were shaking so much I couldn't get them in the ignition. And then it was too late. The hijackers saw what I was doing and quickly snatched the keys off me. I always take a pillow with me and I put it up to my head thinking they were going to shoot me. I was waiting for them to shoot me through the pillow. I just wanted to protect my kids. I was saying to Neil, 'I haven't got them, I haven't got them, I haven't got them.' I must have meant the keys. I can remember the look on Neil's face. He got out of the car and said to the men, 'Right, come on then. If you f***ing want it, have it!' And he started trying to beat them up. But there were so many of them. They started beating Neil. It was horrible. He managed to wrestle the keys back off them and get in the car but then they whacked him, I think with the butt of a gun. It was brutal and suddenly there was blood everywhere. Neil was knocked out and the screaming from the rest of us was deafening. The look of complete fear on my kids' faces is something I won't ever forget; when you see your children living a horror story and you can't stop it, it haunts you. Then suddenly, as quickly as it all happened, it went completely silent. The men had gone, taking the keys to both cars. It was a bit like a zombie film after that. I wanted out of this life. I tried to kill myself. I tried to commit suicide. I ended up in the Priory, a rehab centre where I was treated for PTSD, writes Katie Price This is Me: The High Life. The Dark Days. The FULL Story by Katie Price will be published by John Blake on July 18. Katie Price 2024. To order a copy for 19.80 go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0203 176 2937. Offer valid until August 10, 2024, UK p&p We all got out of our cars in a state of shock. And then the realisation hit that we had been given a chance to flee and to get help, and so we ran along the road, trying to flag down a car. But no one stopped. They all knew not to stop on this road. It was too dangerous. I started moving more and more into the road, the rush of adrenaline spurring me on. In the end, a family stopped. They could see I had my kids with me and that I wasn't a hijacker. I begged them to help us. The family looked at us and told us to call the police, but I kept saying, 'We haven't got any phones. They've taken our phones. They've taken everything.' The family had seen the police just up the road, so they turned around to alert them. We were completely helpless, on our own at the side of the road, like sitting ducks. It felt like the police took ages to come. And we were terrified the hijackers were going to come back. But the police arrived and we were finally safe. We sat in the back of the police car and an ambulance arrived for Neil too. He had stitches in his eye and to this day he can't see properly and has a scar. Neil put his life on the line for us and it's made our friendship stronger than ever. The police told us that we were incredibly lucky to be alive. They explained that the hijackers would have taken our keys, gone away and dumped everything they had taken and then come back and finished off the job. So, basically, they'd come back to kill us and then nick our vehicles. Some of the film crew flew back to the UK straight after it happened they were so traumatised, but all I remember thinking is, 'Do we fly home or do we carry on filming? I need to work.' After a couple of days, I decided to carry on. Now, I would insist on flying home in an instant. Obviously, I was in shock. Why did I continue filming after the hijack and sexual assault? Why? Because I thought I would lose my contract and I needed to work. The next adventure we'd agreed to was swimming with sharks. I mean, looking back now, swimming with f***ing sharks? What was I thinking! We were out on the boat being told about the cage they'd put you in, and that we could 'freestyle' swim with sharks if we wanted. Neil and I decided to go straight in the water, with nothing between us and the sharks. Junior and Princess wanted to freestyle, too, but I made them go in a cage. I looked down into the water and there must have been about 30 sharks just swimming around us, some of them bigger than the boat. There is no way I would ever do that again. But having been in a situation where I was convinced I was going to die, maybe there was a part of me that wanted to test death again, wondering 'what on earth else can possibly happen to me? What else can I survive?' I have always had to prove myself to others. I have always been told that I won't be able to do this, or I can't do that, or that I'm not good enough. So, I kept working and kept trying to suppress everything that happened in South Africa, but, of course, that meant I never had time to draw a line under it. There was always another thing, and then another thing, and it got to the point where everything was building up on top of me and I just wanted out. I wanted out of this life. I tried to kill myself. I tried to commit suicide. I ended up in the Priory, a rehab centre where I was treated for PTSD. We've all been affected by the hijacking. It happened six years ago but I still find it hard to talk about. But, although it was horrifying, it also showed me that a mother's love knows no limit. I was ready to give my life for my children as I sat in the car in front of them with a cushion over my face, preparing myself to hear the shot from the gun before the bullet entered my body. That never came. I got a second chance at life and I'm not going to waste it. This is Me: The High Life. The Dark Days. The FULL Story by Katie Price will be published by John Blake on July 18. Katie Price 2024. To order a copy for 19.80 go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0203 176 2937. Offer valid until August 10, 2024, UK p&p. The day bailiff bullies turned up at my home and said they'd arrest me It was surreal. Two bailiffs were standing in my kitchen, one of them drinking tea from an old mug that had a topless photo of me with the name 'Jordan' on it. This was 9.30am on a random Tuesday morning earlier this year. A few months earlier, this situation would have been the end of my world. I would have been inconsolable at the word 'bailiff'. The thought of strangers coming into my house would have triggered fear so deep, I would have found myself back in the Priory, where I had been treated for PTSD after the hijacking in South Africa. But it didn't. And I am not. The first time they came it took me a while to register who they were because they didn't look like policemen, but they wore the same blue body vests and had walkie-talkies and body cameras. They came into my home and suddenly it didn't feel like a safe space any more, because it was being invaded by an enemy. Only this enemy you can't fight back against. This enemy you have to surrender to. Katie says the bailiffs came into her home and it 'didn't feel like a safe space any more because it was being invaded by an enemy' Katie has spoken of her battles against PTSD... but says that, after rehab, she has been given a second chance at life and is determined not to waste it And the invasions continued. They come in and they exert a physical presence that makes your heart beat really fast and your hands shake. Then they come again. And again. Never the same ones, always a different company. The second or third time they came, one of them was a real bully. He presented me with an unpaid fine for using the Dartford Crossing. 'I don't have a car! I don't drive! I don't even have a driving licence!' I said. But then he became aggressive. Bullying. He tried to intimidate me and said, 'We aren't taking anything. We know you can pay it.' He didn't show me any paperwork or evidence. He just kept repeating that he wasn't leaving without payment. I was so confused and shocked. Not only was I being asked to pay for something I didn't do but I was being told he could take my stuff but he wouldn't. I think my anger had kicked in a little by that point as I said to him that I'd seen Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away! a documentary about bailiffs, and he could take whatever he likes. Then he said he would arrest me. I had no idea whether he had the power to do that. But I was so angry, I was shaking. Now I wonder how the stronger me would react? I would probably say something like, 'OK then, arrest me. That won't get you your money, but go ahead.' I'd call their bluff. But, instead, I paid the fine. Then there was another set of bailiffs who turned up, came into my house and told me I owed Council Tax. 'No,' I told them, 'I pay my Council Tax on a monthly basis, just like everyone else. I can show you.' And, of course, they didn't believe me. 'We wouldn't have been sent here if you paid it,' they snarled. 'I have absolutely no idea why you have turned up,' I repeated. 'I know she pays it. I'm her PA, I have all the statements,' piped in my wonderful personal assistant, Jess. 'We have no evidence of her paying it so we are going to take goods and put locks on the door,' said one. It was only after seeing all my bank statements that they left. No apology, just gone. But surely they would have had to check this sort of thing before they came? Which makes me paranoid and nervous. Were they really bailiffs? Did I ask for ID? I'm not an aggressive person. I don't do confrontations. I just need things explaining to me. Do bailiffs try their luck? Is there a secret WhatsApp group that they are part of, where they say to each other, 'Katie Price is worth a try, we got a truckload of goods from her last time we went,' followed by a laughing emoji or something? It turned out the Dartford Crossing charge had been run up by an ex in a car that was still registered to me. The bailiffs who came earlier this year and sat drinking tea in my kitchen explained it all to me properly. Not all bailiffs are bad. 'Thank you for being nice,' I said as they went. 'Yeah, we are nice bailiffs,' one of them replied. 'But don't tell people that because we have our reputation to think of.' Queen Camilla was left in hysterics this afternoon after two cows engaged in some very frisky behaviour at an exhibition she was viewing in Jersey. The Queen, who turns 77 this Wednesday, couldn't contain her laughter at an expo in St Helier when one of the Jersey cows mounted the other in a pen just as she was viewing them. She was with the King as they were being officially presented with the herd of seven milking heifers as a gift. Camilla was leaning over to stroke one of the iconic cream-coloured animals when another one mounted it. The exhibition was part of a welcome ceremony for Their Majesties, who are carrying out a two-day visit to the Channel Islands for the first time since 2012. However, Camilla's cheeky sense of humour got the better of her as she was shown Jersey's finest cattle - and she erupted in laughter along with the crowd as the cows put on a frisky display for her. Meanwhile, King Charles looked a little more startled by the cows' antics - but he could also be seen cracking a smile. Queen Camilla was pictured in fits of laughter this afternoon in St Helier, Jersey, where she's undertaking a 2-day visit with King Charles, after two cows got frisky in front of her The Queen carried a lobster at the expo in St Helier, which took place after she and King Charles had been officially welcomed to Jersey in a ceremony in the Royal Square During the visit, the King didn't quite manage to avoid the rain as he was pictured in his water-soaked suit The herd was originally selected as a Platinum Jubilee gift for Queen Elizabeth in 2022 by the Jersey Milk Marketing Board and the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society. After her death and the king's accession arrangements were made to ship the heifers to Windsor when one of the leading herds on the island suffered the tragic loss of a large proportion of their milking herd. It meant a devastating loss of milk supply as the island does not allow live animals to be imported which means herds can only be replaced by existing breeding animals. When King Charles heard about the incident and efforts by the island's milk cooperative to replace the herd, he gifted back the heifers to assist with the restocking programme. Now that the islands herds are back to their full glory, a new herd is being given back to The King. Elsewhere in the visit King Charles shared a joke with a veteran Ernest Thorne, the last D-Day veteran from Jersey Windswept royals! King Charles and Queen Camilla braved the elements as the wind picked up Camilla appeared to anticipate the rain and had her umbrella at the ready Some ever-so-slightly damp Scouts appeared less prepared than the King and Queen Despite getting wet, Charles seemed not to be fussed by the rain; in fact, he beamed as he looked up at the sky Charles eventually managed to find an umbrella and shielded himself from the wet weather The King and Queen carried their umbrellas - with Camilla holding her cover over her face King Charles looked a little windswept as he battled the elements upon arrival at the King's Parade Whereas the King and Queen were swiftly handed umbrellas, the Scouts who had gathered to meet the royals were uncharacteristically unprepared As the Jersey Herd at Windsor is now complete they will be taken to Home Farm, part of his Highgrove Estate, which is run by tenant farmer Henry James Gay who has another herd of organic Ayrshires. The king looked delighted to meet Isis, Jordanne, Duchess, Oakley, Jemini, Blandish and Christell - although it is not clear which one became rather over-excited in front of the royal visitors. Following their funny engagements, King Charles met Jersey's oldest Normandy veteran like an old friend saying 'you're getting better with age'. Charles and Camila sat with Ernest Thorne, 100, at a tea party gathering to celebrate the royals' visit to Jersey. The monarch told the war hero 'it's a joy to see you' as the pair reunited after first meeting in Portsmouth at the D-Day commemorations earlier this year. Charles said: 'It's a pleasure, you are remarkable. 'We have been welcomed incredibly and with such spirit, truly.' Sitting next to Ernest, the Queen said: 'I hope you have enjoyed the day, we found it marvellous.' Ernest Thorne is thought to be the last Jersey man to have been involved in the Normandy landings in 1944. The former driver in the Mechanical Engineers was in 2018 also presented with France's highest order of merit - the cross of the Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la LAgion d'Honneur - in recognition of his contribution during World War Two. Queen Camilla and King Charles arrived at the Royal Square in St Helier this afteroon, with the Queen donning a trench coat over her turquoise belted dress After meeting the royals, Mr Thorne said: 'It was a great pleasure, to not only meet the king and queen but to be invited among great company. 'We are very proud of our heritage and you can see that by all the people who came out today.' Charles and Camilla spent around 30 minutes moving between tables chatting animatedly to guests including representatives from the several local charities based on the island. The Queen spoke to Susie Richardson, the local prison governor, about schemes within the prison and probation service that are for the first time working with local domestic abuse charities. Ms Richardson said: 'The Queen was especially interested in how we are joining up local resources to focus on the causes of domestic violence rather than the reactive effect. 'We are having some really positive results around education which the Queen said was hugely welcome.' Terry Morel, the chair of the charity Freeda (Free From Domestic Abuse), said: 'To have the opportunity to discuss our work with the Queen was a huge honour. 'She is a fantastic ambassador for the type of work we do and she will continue to be a shining example of how we can break the stigma and taboos around the subject.' At the end of the tea party, the royals passed through a guard of honour out to Liberation Square in front of hundreds of cheering locals who braved the mixed weather throughout the day. Earlier in the afternoon, the King and Queen engaged in another comical moment when Camilla took part in a very swift wardrobe change. The Queen donned a turquoise belted dress upon arrival in the Channel Island - but added a waterproof trench coat and umbrella to her ensemble to take the rain into account. However, as the couple arrived via red carpet onto a stage in the Royal Square in St Helier, where an official welcoming ceremony was carried out before a sitting of the Royal Court and the State Assembly, Camilla realised she still had her waterproof layer on. In a comical clip as she stood with King Charles to be officially greeted by delegates, the Queen, in one swift move, jerked back her shoulders to shake off the coat. As the coat fell behind her in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, the Queen continued to stand to attention as if nothing has happened - and regained composure in an instant. However, her quick change was spotted by King Charles, 75, who couldn't help but smile as he watched her lose the coat. As the ceremony got underway, the King was presented with a handful of locally-laid ducks eggs as part of welcome ceremony on Jersey today. His late mother, Queen Elizabeth, was given two dead mallards when she visited in 2001 but it is understood that His Majesty asked for eggs instead. King Charles said he was 'delighted' to return to Jersey, a 'beautiful and unique' island that had held such 'high regard and affection' for his late mother. Beneath the trench coat, Queen Camilla, who celebrates her 77th birthday on Wednesday, donned the crisp blue dress As the heavens opened, they were greeted with huge cheers as they got out of the state Bentley and immediately sheltered under umbrellas. The King and the Queen, who wore a blue silk shirt dress by Anna Valentine, were led into the square by a Royal Mace, gifted to the island by Charles II in 1663 in recognition of the island's loyalty to the Crown. They walked down a red carpet lined with some 200 locals from the legal profession, Jurats, who act as judges, elected politicians and assorted guests. The guests stood to sing the national anthem as the King and Queen took their places on a dais. The Bailiff, president of the States Assembly, read out a Loyal Address welcoming the couple before Charles delivered his response. 'Mr Bailiff, I am most grateful to you and to the States for the warm welcome you have extended to both my wife and myself, and for the assurances of devotion, loyalty and allegiance to the Crown you have expressed on behalf of the people of Jersey,' he said. 'My wife and I have such happy recollections of the welcome we received when we were last here in 2012, to mark the Diamond Jubilee of my late mother. 'During that visit we met so many Islanders and learned of the high regard and affection in which she was held, and also a great deal about your beautiful and unique island. We look forward to doing so again today during our time here in St Helier.' As the ceremony got underway in the Royal Square, the King was gifted duck eggs in a gesture once offered to the Queen Mother Queen Camilla's blue dress was bright and summery amid the grey skies and rainy showers When the sitting transitioned to a Royal Court, the King was gifted locally laid duck eggs as a symbol of sustenance, replacing an 800-year tradition of presenting the monarch with two dead ducks. The ritual formed part of a homage paid by five senior seigneurs, or lords of the manor, each of whom stepped up and clasped hands with the monarch, one by one. When Elizabeth II visited Jersey in 2001, she was presented with two mallards on a silver tray as part of an ancient tradition dating back to the Middle Ages when six seigneurs, or lords of the manor, would pay homage to the sovereign as the Duke of Normandy. Just as the late Queen did not take the dead ducks home, the King will not be packing the duck eggs in his suitcase. Instead, he was shown the bowl of white mallard eggs by seigneur Pamela Bell, before they were accepted on his behalf by the Receiver General, the King's representative on the islands. The heavens opened as the King and Queen arrived in Jersey this afternoon for their two-day visit to the Channel Islands Umbrella up! The King, 74, looked cool in his suit and tie as he arrived while carrying an umbrella Despite the rain, King Charles couldn't help but smile as he sported another jazzy tie - this time featuring a zebra print As they continued to be shown around an exhibition following their visit, there was a brief security scare which saw the royal couple whisked away to a nearby hotel for a short time. Thankfully, the scare was a false alarm and the King and Queen were able to return to their programme of engagements, including a public walkabout. Buckingham Palace did not comment officially but it is understood there was a 'small issue of concern'. An investigation was initiated but it turned out to be a false alarm. Eamon Fenlon, managing director of Jersey Dairy, had just served the Queen an ice cream from a van before she was ushered out of the Expo. Mr Fenlon said: 'I had just given the Queen an ice cream and I turned back to get one myself before we had a chat. But when I turned back round she had been whisked off.' The couple understood several impromptu walkabouts with the road lined with cheering and flag-waving crowds. Sophie Paul, 16, was shaking with excitement after she was able to give Camilla a posy of flowers handpicked from her garden that morning. 'She said they were lovely and thanked me. I can't believe it. She was just lovely,' she said Cries of 'welcome, welcome' rang out from the crowds. Another well-wisher added: 'it's the best thing ever. We are so excited.' Inside the Expo Camilla tried locally-grown honey - which she declared 'absolutely delicious'. The king enquired about what flowers the bees liked. 'We have everything, there's no mon-culture here,' he was told . 'That's absolutely the best way!' He declared excitedly. Camilla was entranced by the Jersey cows as she stroked them: 'Aren't they beautiful and so soft.' On the last engagement of the day the couple watched a parade from an awning when the heavens opened. The rain was so heavy that even under their shelter the couple were getting soaked. The Queen was forced to put on raincoat and put up an umbrella, while an official tried to shield the King with his cloak. Charles laughingly told him Not to bother and stood with his suit getting soaked, smiling and waving to the troops and drenched children on parade. As he returns to the Channel Islands for the first time since 2012, the King, who is known as the Duke of Normandy in the islands, will highlight the relationship between the Islands and the Crown, which stretches back centuries. It comes as Charles returns to some public duties, despite his continued treatment for cancer. He attended the busy D-Day commemorations in Normandy, France, at the beginning of June, followed by Trooping the Colour, the Garter Day ceremony and the Royal Ascot. The trip will end the day before the planned State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday, which is also Camilla's 77th birthday. She is said to have urged him to take it easy, but told author Lee Child he 'won't slow down and won't do what he's told'. Later this week, as the King and Queen visit Guernsey, Their Majesties will attend a special sitting of the States of Deliberation and ancient ceremony of homage to the monarch, held outdoors on the St Peter Port seafront where islanders can watch the events. At official functions, islanders raise the loyal toast to 'The Duke of Normandy, our King'. Charles and Camilla will also head to the Crown Pier to learn about the island's heritage and traditions, biodiversity initiatives, local food, and the work to promote the language of Guernesiais - also known as Guernsey French. Both Jersey and Guernsey have announced special public holidays to mark the royal visits on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. When the visit was announced in June, Bailiff of Guernsey Sir Richard McMahon said: 'It will be a great privilege to welcome Their Majesties to the Bailiwick for the first time as King and Queen, the year after their coronation. 'Their visit this summer shows just how special the relationship between the Crown and the Islands is.' Deputy Lyndon Trott, Chief Cinister of Guernsey, said: 'As is well known, His Majesty also has a special interest in global efforts to combat climate change. 'We are looking forward to showcasing our initiatives to support those efforts and promote sustainability across a range of sectors. 'That includes the pioneering green finance initiatives of our main economic sector, which have a global impact.' Both islands are forecast to see temperatures between 15C and 19C across both days, though the couple's visit to Jersey may get off to a wet start as the Met Office forecasts rain in the morning before a drier afternoon. Time constraints mean the couple will not be able to travel to the islands of Alderney and Sark, which are part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd, had previously said Charles and Camilla were 'looking forward greatly' to the trip. 'The binding benefits of this special relationship remain as strong as ever and I know Their Majesties are looking forward greatly to their visit next month,' Vice Admiral Kyd said in June. The Crown Dependencies are not part of the UK but are self-governing possessions of the British Crown. When the late Queen Elizabeth II visited Jersey in 2001, she was presented with two dead ducks on a silver tray - part of an ancient tradition dating back to the Middle Ages when six seigneurs - lords of the manor - would pay homage to the sovereign as the Duke of Normandy with the mallards. Pregnant heiress Jennifer Gates proudly showed off her baby bump as she attended a wedding alongside her younger sister, Phoebe Gates, and her billionaire dad, Bill Gates. The aspiring doctor, 28, announced that she was expecting her second child with her equestrian husband, Nayel Nassar, last month. Now, she has showcased her growing stomach while celebrating the nuptials of some friends. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, Jennifer shared some snaps from the wedding - and one showed her cradling her baby bump alongside her partner, 33. Dressed in a light pink patterned maxi dress, Jennifer placed one hand on her belly and the other around Nayel as they smiled towards the camera. Jennifer Gates proudly showed off her baby bump as she attended a wedding alongside her younger sister, Phoebe Gates, and her billionaire dad, Bill Gates Jennifer (seen with husband Nayel Nassar), 28, announced that she was expecting last month. And now, she showcased her growing stomach while celebrating the nuptials of some friends Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, Jennifer shared some snaps from the wedding Another featured her looking lovingly at the Olympic showjumper, who donned a gray suit. A third image saw the expecting mother posing with her dad and younger sister. 68-year-old Microsoft founder Bill, whose net worth is estimated at $135 billion, opted for a navy suit while aspiring designer Phoebe, 21, donned a haltered pink mini gown. Jennifer kept her long, red hair in loose waves while Phoebe chose to pull her dark brown locks into a slicked back ponytail. Jennifer revealed that she was pregnant in late June - just 16 months after she and Nayel welcomed daughter Leila. She shared the news via Instagram, posting a photo that showed her holding hands with the toddler and showcasing her baby bump in a blue ensemble. 'Leila, being promoted to big sister,' she wrote in the caption. Jennifer's mom, Melinda Gates, was quick to show her support as she shared the post to her own Instagram alongside a caption that read: 'I am so excited for Jennifer, Nayel, and Leila.' Jennifer revealed that she was pregnant in late June with this shot - just 16 months after she and Nayel welcomed daughter Leila Jennifer was seen enjoying a wholesome day out with their one-year-old at Westchester County's Old Salem Farm weeks earlier It's been a busy 2024 for Jennifer already, as she graduated from medical school earlier this year - and the ceremony brought her estranged parents together for the first time in months It's certainly been a busy 2024 for Jennifer already, as she graduated from medical school earlier this year - and the ceremony brought her estranged parents together for the first time in months. 'Dr. Gates, MD, MPH. Can't believe we've reached this moment, a little girl's childhood aspiration come true,' she wrote on Instagram in May alongside a snap of her in her cap and gown alongside her parents and husband. 'It's been a whirlwind of learning, exams, late nights, tears, discipline, and many moments of self-doubt, but the highs certainly outweighed the lows these past five years. 'I am deeply grateful for this experience and so indebted and thankful to my professors, mentors, friends, and family for their endless support along the way.' Jennifer and her husband, Nayel, met while competing internationally on the equestrian horse circuit, and their friendship eventually evolved into romance. The Egyptian-American equestrian was born in Chicago and raised in Kuwait. His millionaire parents, Fouad Nassar and Iman Harby, are the owners of the architectural firm Diwan Interiors International in Kuwait. Jennifer and her husband, Nayel, started dating in 2017 and wed in 2021. They're seen during her first pregnancy They announced the birth of their daughter in March 2023 with an adorable family photo The couple, both Stanford graduates, officially started dating in January 2017, and they wed in October 2021 during a private religious Muslim ceremony at the family's 142-acre estate in Westchester County. The next day, they threw a huge celebration at Jennifer's $15.8 million home in North Salem, New York - a 124-acre horse farm that was a college graduation gift from her billionaire parents. Jennifer also owns a $51 million Manhattan penthouse, another present from her parents. The 8,900-square-foot, three-level apartment was previously owned by Lewis Hamilton and is the largest in a starry luxury apartment building at 443 Greenwich Street. It boasts six bedrooms, six baths, two powder rooms, 20-foot-high ceilings, multiple terraces resulting in 3,400-square-feet of outdoor space, and two parking spaces. The Tennessee native has been offered millions of dollars in deals since Haliey Welch, the Hawk Tuak girl, went viral in June for a video giving sex tips 'Hawk Tuah' girl Haliey Welch gained global fame offering up some salacious sex tips on the streets of Nashville in a now-viral video - but according to her new management team, the 23 year old has proven that she's got more than 15 minutes of fame. That off-the-cuff interview has spurred a lucrative career for the Tennessee native, who has since signed with management company The Penthouse - which is now helping her to book appearances that are earning her a staggering $20,000 each, according to The Hollywood Reporter. According to Jonnie Forster, the founder of The Penthouse, the management team have been working 'around the clock' to align Haliey with the right projects for her blossoming career - and it's all carefully thought out. 'Weve been offered millions of dollars in deals that would be for adult-themed appearances, sponsorships, obviously OnlyFans, and thats not who she is,' Jonnie told THR. 'She was just featured on Rolling Stone's website, and they basically call her Gen Zs Dolly Parton,' he added. Haliey Welch, known as the 'Hawk Tuah' girl, gained global fame after a video of her giving sex tips on the streets of Nashville went viral While Hawk Tuah girl Haliey Welch is poised to cash in, it appears shes finding fame some might say notoriety challenging to handle The famed Tennessee woman has even been asked to appear on American Idol after singing at a Zach Bryan show - although Jonnie says he was quick to shut that down. 'They saw her sing on the Zach Bryan stage. In the email was, We saw her sing at the Zach Bryan show, and she had such an amazing voice. Wed love to see how we can get her on the show,"' he recalled. 'I emailed back, She cant sing at all. Did you even watch the performance? Because she couldnt carry a tune in a bag,"' he continued. 'But shes not singing, and she doesnt want to take jobs away from people who are talented in those regards,' he said. Jonnie's management team traveled to her hometown of Belfast, Tennessee after they signed Haliey and immediately sprung to action. They licensed merchandise for her iconic catchphrase, flagged fake accounts that had popped up after she went viral, and sifting through the lucrative deals. 'I think shes different than anyone else thats come before her is, she didnt seek this out,' Jonnie gushed. 'She was off social media for six months for mental health reasons. She would never be back on social media if it wasnt for that night on Broadway,' the talent manager added. 'She had to go back on there and say, Hey, those people are impersonating me.' Even her freshly-minted deal with a local hat maker for caps emblazoned with her sex-advice catchphrase is shrouded in an element of secrecy She has done several interviews with publications, an onstage at a Zach Bryan concert and even given career advice from Shaquille ONeal Haliey has been offered a variety of career opportunities, including a reality TV series, podcast, book and even a tour of Europe - however, Jonnie says they've been selective with what they're moving forward with. 'Shes not an actress. Weve turned down a number of movie offers, including several horror movies,' Jonnie explained. 'Shes not a professional actress. Shes funny. Her lanes going to be doing comedic things and potentially doing something down the road in that way,' he said. Jonnie continued: 'We are looking at launching a podcast with her, which is going to be in her comedic tone, but also very relatable and very authentic to who she is as a small-town girl.' There's even a possibility of seeing Hawk Tuah on a world tour, with Haliey never having flown on a plane before finding virality. 'There are a couple different ideas. Well be sitting down with a couple of the showrunners that have already had calls with us and flesh that out,' he said. Haliey was reportedly paid $20,000 for her first paid live appearance at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, although TMZ reported he was paid closer to $30,000. She has done several interviews with publications, an onstage at a Zach Bryan concert and even given career advice from Shaquille ONeal. 'Her 15 minutes are up. Shes already on 16,' Jonnie said passionately. This is the panicked moment Queen Camilla was whisked away from her engagements in St Helier this afternoon amid a security scare. Queen Camilla, who will turn 77 on Wednesday, had to make a quick exit from an ice cream van in Weighbridge Place where she was sampling the local delights when a member of her security team rushed over and told her the visit was being cut short. Thankfully, the scare turned out to be a false alarm and Their Majesties were soon able to continue with their planned programme of engagements. However it turned out to be a false alarm and Charles and Camilla soon continued with their programme of engagements. They were immediately taken to the nearby Pomme d'Or hotel where they were due to go for a brief break after the engagement had ended anyway. After a few minutes they resumed with their visit and undertook a public walkabout. Queen Camilla was enjoying an ice cream on Weighbridge Place in St Helier, Jersey when she and King Charles were whisked away The Queen was swiftly led away from the public space amid the scare - although thankfully it was a false alarm Pictured: A member of Queen Camilla's security team steps in to whisk her away to a nearby hotel King Charles was pictured chatting to officials in uniform during his engagement today Queen Camilla was snapped chatting to well-wishers that had waited to see the royal couple Buckingham Palace did not comment officially but it is understood there was a 'small issue of concern'. An investigation was initiated but it turned out to be a false alarm. Sources said every precaution was taken and the programme resumed shortly afterwards. It does not appear anyone was arrested. Members of the public including children who had been due to meet them were taken to the hotel so they could meet Their Majesties personally instead. Queen Camilla, who will celebrate her 77th birthday on Wednesday, donned a turquoise belted dress upon arrival in the Channel Island - but added a waterproof trench coat and umbrella to her ensemble to take the rain into account. However, as the couple arrived via red carpet onto a stage in the Royal Square in St Helier, where an official welcoming ceremony was carried out before a sitting of the Royal Court and the State Assembly, Camilla realised she still had her waterproof layer on. The scare turned out to be a false alarm and Charles and Camilla soon continued with their programme of engagements Beneath the trench coat, Queen Camilla, who celebrates her 77th birthday on Wednesday, donned the crisp blue dress In a comical clip as she stood with King Charles to be officially greeted by delegates, the Queen, in one swift move, jerked back her shoulders to shake off the coat. As the coat fell behind her in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, the Queen continued to stand to attention as if nothing has happened - and regained composure in an instant. However, her quick change was spotted by King Charles, 75, who couldn't help but smile as he watched her lose the coat. As the ceremony got underway, the King was presented with a handful of locally-laid ducks eggs as part of welcome ceremony on Jersey today. His late mother, Queen Elizabeth, was given two dead mallards when she visited in 2001 but it is understood that His Majesty asked for eggs instead. King Charles said he was 'delighted' to return to Jersey, a 'beautiful and unique' island that had held such 'high regard and affection' for his late mother. As the heavens opened, they were greeted with huge cheers as they got out of the state Bentley and immediately sheltered under umbrellas. The King and the Queen, who wore a blue silk shirt dress by Anna Valentine, were led into the square by a Royal Mace, gifted to the island by Charles II in 1663 in recognition of the island's loyalty to the Crown. They walked down a red carpet lined with some 200 locals from the legal profession, Jurats, who act as judges, elected politicians and assorted guests. As the ceremony got underway in the Royal Square, the King was gifted duck eggs in a gesture once offered to the Queen Mother The guests stood to sing the national anthem as the King and Queen took their places on a dais. The Bailiff, president of the States Assembly, read out a Loyal Address welcoming the couple before Charles delivered his response. 'Mr Bailiff, I am most grateful to you and to the States for the warm welcome you have extended to both my wife and myself, and for the assurances of devotion, loyalty and allegiance to the Crown you have expressed on behalf of the people of Jersey,' he said. 'My wife and I have such happy recollections of the welcome we received when we were last here in 2012, to mark the Diamond Jubilee of my late mother. 'During that visit we met so many Islanders and learned of the high regard and affection in which she was held, and also a great deal about your beautiful and unique island. We look forward to doing so again today during our time here in St Helier.' Queen Camilla's blue dress was bright and summery amid the grey skies and rainy showers When the sitting transitioned to a Royal Court, the King was gifted locally laid duck eggs as a symbol of sustenance, replacing an 800-year tradition of presenting the monarch with two dead ducks. The ritual formed part of a homage paid by five senior seigneurs, or lords of the manor, each of whom stepped up and clasped hands with the monarch, one by one. When Elizabeth II visited Jersey in 2001, she was presented with two mallards on a silver tray as part of an ancient tradition dating back to the Middle Ages when six seigneurs, or lords of the manor, would pay homage to the sovereign as the Duke of Normandy. Just as the late Queen did not take the dead ducks home, the King will not be packing the duck eggs in his suitcase. Instead, he was shown the bowl of white mallard eggs by seigneur Pamela Bell, before they were accepted on his behalf by the Receiver General, the King's representative on the islands. The heavens opened as the King and Queen arrived in Jersey this afternoon for their two-day visit to the Channel Islands Umbrella up! The King, 74, looked cool in his suit and tie as he arrived while carrying an umbrella Despite the rain, King Charles couldn't help but smile as he sported another jazzy tie - this time featuring a zebra print Later on in the visit, the King and Queen were presented with heffer cows; that is, cows who have not yet given birth - and the Queen was left red-faced when two of the animals mounted each other in front of her. As they continued to be shown around an exhibition following their visit, there was a brief security scare which saw the royal couple whisked away to a nearby hotel for a short time. Thankfully, the scare was a false alarm and the King and Queen were able to return to their programme of engagements, including a public walkabout. Buckingham Palace did not comment officially but it is understood there was a 'small issue of concern'. An investigation was initiated but it turned out to be a false alarm. As he returns to the Channel Islands for the first time since 2012, the King, who is known as the Duke of Normandy in the islands, will highlight the relationship between the Islands and the Crown, which stretches back centuries. It comes as Charles returns to some public duties, despite his continued treatment for cancer. He attended the busy D-Day commemorations in Normandy, France, at the beginning of June, followed by Trooping the Colour, the Garter Day ceremony and the Royal Ascot. The trip will end the day before the planned State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday, which is also Camilla's 77th birthday. She is said to have urged him to take it easy, but told author Lee Child he 'won't slow down and won't do what he's told'. Later this week, as the King and Queen visit Guernsey, Their Majesties will attend a special sitting of the States of Deliberation and ancient ceremony of homage to the monarch, held outdoors on the St Peter Port seafront where islanders can watch the events. At official functions, islanders raise the loyal toast to 'The Duke of Normandy, our King'. Charles and Camilla will also head to the Crown Pier to learn about the island's heritage and traditions, biodiversity initiatives, local food, and the work to promote the language of Guernesiais - also known as Guernsey French. Both Jersey and Guernsey have announced special public holidays to mark the royal visits on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. When the visit was announced in June, Bailiff of Guernsey Sir Richard McMahon said: 'It will be a great privilege to welcome Their Majesties to the Bailiwick for the first time as King and Queen, the year after their coronation. 'Their visit this summer shows just how special the relationship between the Crown and the Islands is.' Deputy Lyndon Trott, Chief Cinister of Guernsey, said: 'As is well known, His Majesty also has a special interest in global efforts to combat climate change. 'We are looking forward to showcasing our initiatives to support those efforts and promote sustainability across a range of sectors. 'That includes the pioneering green finance initiatives of our main economic sector, which have a global impact.' Both islands are forecast to see temperatures between 15C and 19C across both days, though the couple's visit to Jersey may get off to a wet start as the Met Office forecasts rain in the morning before a drier afternoon. Time constraints mean the couple will not be able to travel to the islands of Alderney and Sark, which are part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd, had previously said Charles and Camilla were 'looking forward greatly' to the trip. 'The binding benefits of this special relationship remain as strong as ever and I know Their Majesties are looking forward greatly to their visit next month,' Vice Admiral Kyd said in June. The Crown Dependencies are not part of the UK but are self-governing possessions of the British Crown. When the late Queen Elizabeth II visited Jersey in 2001, she was presented with two dead ducks on a silver tray - part of an ancient tradition dating back to the Middle Ages when six seigneurs - lords of the manor - would pay homage to the sovereign as the Duke of Normandy with the mallards. The King and Queen were greeted with grey skies and a downpour as they arrived in Jersey this afternoon. King Charles, 75, and Queen Camilla, who will celebrate her 77th birthday on Wednesday, smiled nonetheless on their tour of the Channel Island and Australians are obsessed with a $6 'hidden gem' nail polish that makes your hands look manicure-ready at home in just 20 minutes. As the country struggles to pull itself out of the cost of living crisis, women are giving up 'luxuries' like nail appointments. The Kmart OXX gel nail polish ($6) has been dubbed the ultimate solution to keep more money in the bank. Gel nail appointments typically cost $65 for the first set and at least $50 per infill after. A mum-of-two recently shared her at-home manicure using her brand new Kmart nail polish - and women around the country are flocking to their nearest stores to mimic her stellar results. 'This beautiful gel polish cost me $6 from Kmart. 6 BUCKS! I am NEVER paying $50 to get my nails done ever again. Entering my DIY era. It's not perfect, but for someone who is very pedantic about her nails, I'm happier with my work than what I've ever gotten at a salon,' she said in a Facebook post. The mum revealed she usually has issues with her polish not being applied close enough to the edges or the layers being too thick. 'I hate my nails being cut and filed by someone else, I've always done this myself. So even better now, I can get the whole job done on my own now,' she added. Australian women are obsessed with a $6 'hidden gem' nail polish that makes your hands look manicure-ready at home in just 20 minutes The mum shared that she was skeptical of how long the polish would last because she's 'constantly washing [her] hands and picking at things' - but it had been 24 hours with no chips. As the product is gel, you need to use a UV light to cure your nails. 'I gently buffed the top of my nails first to remove the smoothness. Then I applied one coat of base coat, cured, two coats of colour, cured in between each layer, then top coat and cured again,' the mum shared. Many others shared their experience with the budget nail polish. 'I've used a few colours now and love how pigmented they are! The bright red is my favourite,' a mum said. 'Two coats is more than enough, mine lasts about a week on my fingernails (also mum-of-two) and two weeks on my toes.' 'I purchased the clear nails, painted them myself with the $2 Kmart polish and they have been on for two weeks. No chips, no colour fade. Very happy,' another said. A few urged customers to be careful of allergies. 'Be careful you could end up with a gel allergy,' one warned. 'These polishes aren't exactly safe and have high amount of dangerous ingredients in them.' Another shared: 'My daughter started doing her own nails and ended up with a gel polish allergy. Even doing one fingernail now and she breaks out in really bad itching rash on her hands and up on her face which can take a week to go away. 'Trained nail technicians get taught what not to do, but there's nothing to warn you of the risks on the polish.' What started out as a fun and catchy video filmed by Aussie office workers has turned into what some social media users have described as 'the most hated clip of 2024'. Gen Z boss Rachael Wilde, the founder of Aussie brand Tbh Skincare, and her group of young employees last week jumped on a TikTok trend in the hope it would go viral. It did go viral - perhaps too viral - ending up on what the business describes as the 'wrong side of the internet', with the women involved copping vile abuse from mostly American men and even a blast from controversial influencer Andrew Tate. The light-hearted clip depicts six women standing in a circle at the office each pointing out aspects of themselves and their accessories. One sings they are 'Gen Z boss and a mini', another points out they have 'fake tan hands and a hoop (earring)' in the 20-second video - which spread like wildfire across several social media platforms on the weekend. The team has since been inundated with thousands of tweets, comments and messages from 'creepy' American men. The backlash left Rachael and the rest of the office flabbergasted about how a fun video could cause such controversy. 'It's been a weird 48 hours. The interest is definitely a scary place. Mind blowing that a silly little TikTok turned into this.. nothing should ever warrant this amount of hatred online,' Rachael wrote. Speaking to FEMAIL, Rachael said more than 2.8million people have started following the Tbh TikTok to watch the drama unfold. Gen Z boss Rachael Wilde, the founder of Aussie brand Tbh Skincare, (left) and her entourage of young employees (right) jumped on a TikTok trend in hope to go viral. But they quickly received hate for all the wrong reasons 'We've been on the receiving end of so many disgusting comments and even threats to our safety. And now I've just opened my Twitter to this,' she added. Rachael was talking about how dozens jokingly claimed the 'Gen Z boss and a mini' has the 'same vibes' as the rally shooter over the weekend. Tate also commented and said the video proved men need to 'get rich fast' to avoid having a Gen Z woman as a boss. 'If you do not escape The Matrix, women like this will be your boss,' he tweeted. 'Zog corp loves emasculating men by forcing them to listen to semi-sentient females. If that doesn't motivate you to get rich, nothing will.' Shocked by the comment, Rachael took a screenshot and shared it to her Instagram story. 'It's fascinating to watch how upset the men across Twitter have become over a fun little video? Honestly, it's not that deep,' she wrote. It also struck a chord with controversial speaker Andrew Tate who encouraged men to 'get rich fast' to avoid having a Gen Z woman as a boss. 'If you do not escape The Matrix, women like this will be your boss,' Tate tweeted Shocked by the comment, Rachael took a screenshot and shared it to her Instagram story. 'It's fascinating to watch how upset the men across Twitter have become over a fun little video? Honestly, it's not that deep,' she wrote The video was continuously ridiculed by Americans on X - formerly known as Twitter - who unleashed on the video. 'Some women never outgrow 7th grade,' one American wrote. 'Zoomer women on their way to pretend Millennials are more cringe than them (they are exactly the same),' another wrote. 'The reason this video bothers people so much is that a lot of men in white collar work have to suffer the dreadful, stressful corporate jobs to make a living, which in turn subsidizes the non-productive roles like whatever these women do,' a third wrote. However, others rallied to support the brand and said they can't get the song out of their head. The video was continuously ridiculed by Americans on X - formally known as Twitter - who slammed the video Rachael told FEMAIL: 'Essentially, we just ended up finding ourselves on the wrong side of the internet' 'Men are so sensitive omg how many of your feelings are hurt over 'Gen Z boss and a mini?' one wrote. 'The men in these comments are such sad individuals,' another wrote. A third said: 'You know you're doing when your comment section is flooded by the incels. Excellent work ladies, keep it up.' Despite the hate, Rachael revealed she and her team aren't letting the negative comments get to them. 'We don't pay much attention, we just have so much fun as a team doing these types of things,' she said. 'At the heart of what we do we are marketers. We jumped on a trend, something that took us only a few minutes of fun. It started going viral on TikTok and Instagram... but then it pretty quickly exploded into a worldwide meme after it was posted by another account on X (Twitter). 'We have never gone this viral before - I don't know if any brand has! We are known for our viral marketing but I've never seen anything to this extent. The original video was created by @maisieisobel_. 'We decided to jump on the trend and it pretty quickly went viral ... There was a mix of feedback, as there always is on these kinds of videos when you go viral, but it really took a turn when we were reposted onto X (Twitter). 'Essentially, we just ended up finding ourselves on the wrong side of the internet.' At 16, Spike Ray should be embarking on his first steps to adulthood and independence. But he won't be learning how to drive next year, going to university at 18, or living independently in his twenties. This is because Spike was left brain-damaged after catching whooping cough at just 11 days old. He was too young to receive a vaccine. Now, his mother Susan is urging all pregnant women to get vaccinated amid an ongoing outbreak which has, so far, killed nine babies in England. MailOnline revealed this week that whooping cough cases have surged by almost 2,600 in a single month. More than 7,500 cases have already been recorded in 2024 almost nine times the level seen across the entirety of 2023. The NHS scheme to roll out the jab to mothers-to-be wasn't introduced until 2012, two years after Spike was born. Spike was left brain-damaged after catching whooping cough at just 11 days old. He was too young to receive a vaccine. Now, his mother Susan is urging all pregnant women to get vaccinated amid an ongoing outbreak which has killed nine babies in England. Here is standing with his parents Susan and Nicholas The NHS scheme to roll out the jab to mothers-to-be wasn't introduced until 2012, two years after Spike was born. Ms Ray, 59, from Henfield in West Sussex, said his condition was so bad she was told he only had a 16 per cent chance of survival Despite making a miraculous recovery as a baby, Spike's life was forever altered by the bacterial infection, medically called pertussis Ms Ray, 59, from Henfield in West Sussex, said his condition was so life-threatening she was told he only had a 16 per cent chance of survival. Despite making a miraculous recovery as a baby, Spike's life was forever altered by the bacterial infection, medically called pertussis. Ms Ray, who has been a midwife for 24 years, said: 'Every time I hear someone say they or their child doesn't need the vaccine because whooping cough is "only a cough" I want to pull out a picture of my son hooked up to machines and covered in wires, fighting for his life in intensive care, when he was tiny and say, "Does this look like just a cough to you?". 'The vaccine wasn't given to babies as young as Spike was when he fell ill only at six weeks old. 'Now it is given to pregnant women, before their child is even born to protect the child in the first few months of life, but there is a real lack of awareness about it, which makes me so angry. What is whooping cough? Whooping cough is caused by the pertussis bacteria and is spread by coughing and sneezing. The infection is initially difficult to tell apart from a cold, as the first signs are a runny nose and sore throat. But around a week later, sufferers may develop coughing bouts that last minutes, struggle to breathe after coughing and make a 'whoop' sound between coughs. Other signs of whooping cough include bringing up a thick mucus that can cause vomiting and becoming red in the face. Sufferers are infectious from around six days after cold-like symptoms develop to three weeks after their cough starts. Doctors dish out antibiotics as treatment if the whooping cough is detected within three weeks. However, if a person has been infected for longer, antibiotics will not speed up their recovery. The infection can be fatal, with up to 3 per cent of newborns dying from it, according to Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases from the University of East Anglia. Additionally, most babies under six months with whooping cough are hospitalised with complications, such as dehydration, breathing difficulties and pneumonia. It is less severe in older children and adults but can still cause sore ribs, a hernias, ear infections and urinary incontinence among these groups. The 6-in-1 vaccine, given to babies at eight, 12 and 16 weeks, and the 4-in-1 pre-school booster, administered to children aged three years and four months, is vital for protecting against catching whooping cough. Pregnant women are also encouraged to get the vaccine to protect their baby from catching the infection in the first few weeks of their life. Advertisement 'Had Spike been vaccinated he would never have become so ill and been left brain damaged. 'Babies are still dying from whooping cough, and it needs to be taken seriously.' At just 11 days old Spike was rushed by Ms Ray to hospital after she noticed he was struggling to breathe and making grunting noises. But she claims she was told it was nothing to worry about and was sent home. However, after Spike's symptoms failed to subside, she returned two days later where medics told her son had Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). She attended hospital again that evening after suspecting he may have whooping cough, as the family 'all had a cough'. Tests later showed Spike had a very high white blood cell count an indicator of the infection. But it was only once he was transferred to Evelina hospital in London three days later, doctors confirmed he was suffering from pertussis. Ms Ray was asked to bring him back to hospital where he was admitted and put into a special humidifier box to help him breathe. But it didn't help. Recalling Spike's horrifying ordeal, she said: 'When Spike was being transferred to the Evelina, we had to stop in the ambulance twice on the way to stabilise him. 'By the time we got there his poor body was so bloated from the fluid they had to give him to support his heart that I wouldn't have even recognised him as my baby. 'We were greeted at the door, and they rushed Spike past me into this glass cubicle where there were twenty people plus waiting. 'It was like something out of a science fiction movie. A consultant came up to me and asked, "Where's your husband?" I said he was at work, and she told me "Your baby is probably going to die. There are decisions that are going to have to be made so you need him here". 'Nicholas is a farmer so was in the middle of a field when I phoned him in tears. 'They said at best he's got a 16 per cent chance of survival, I sobbed.' She was told Spike's best chance of survival was to transfer him to Great Ormond Street Hospital and put him on Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) a special machine used to replace some of the functions of a patient's lungs and heart and also filter his blood. 'ECMO was end of the line for Spike. Watching the process was beyond horrific and as a nurse of 14 years and midwife of 24, I have never seen anything else like it,' Ms Ray said. 'They sedated Spike, then put two plastic tubes into his neck into an artery and effectively allowed his heart and lungs to rest. 'All his blood was then filtered outside of his body via a machine. It looked barbaric, but it was the only chance we had to keep him alive. 'I was convinced he was going to die as I didn't think a baby that young could survive something like that.' She added: 'He ended up having a stroke and a heart attack despite the treatments and did pull through, but after coming off ECMO he was still on ventilation for four weeks, then in hospital for another three weeks.' 'I am very grateful that Spike is alive, but he has been left with brain damage and I grieve for the child that I lost because he's profoundly deaf, he's got mild cerebral palsy affecting his left side. At 11 days old, Ms Ray rushed Spike to hospital after noticing he was struggling to breathe and making grunting noises. But she was told it was nothing to worry about and was sent home, she claimed However, after his symptoms failed to subside she returned two days later where medics told her Spike had Respiratory Syncytial Virus ( RSV ). She returned that evening after suspecting he may have whooping cough, as the family 'all had a cough'. Tests later showed Spike had a very high white blood cell count an indicator of the infection Whooping cough cases have surged by almost 2,600 in a single month, amid a spiralling outbreak which has terrified parents. Health chiefs say Covid lockdowns have fuelled England's unprecedented epidemic of pertussis, nicknamed the '100-day cough' because it's notoriously hard to shake off 'He's got very limited understanding, he has ADHD, his speech is very delayed, and he will need care for the rest of his life. 'Whooping cough has also damaged his lungs permanently and he must have antibiotics three times a week to protect him from chest infections.' The whooping cough vaccination is routinely by the NHS for all pregnant women, ideally between 16 and 32 weeks pregnant, though it can be given up to the point of labour. Doing so serves two purposes. Firstly, antibodies that can protect the baby from the infection pass through the placenta offering the newborn protection from whooping cough from birth and until they are old enough for their own vaccine. Secondly, it reduces the chances of the mother catching whooping cough herself, and inadvertently passing it to her newborn baby. The NHS states that babies whose mothers were vaccinated against whooping cough have a 91 per cent reduced chance of catching the infection compared to those born to unvaccinated mothers. The whooping cough jab is considered incredibly safe and routinely offered to pregnant women throughout the world. It comes amid fears the UK's current whooping cough outbreak could be the worst in 40 years. Nine babies have died since November, making it the deadliest outbreak in a decade. All were under the age of three months. UK Health Security Agency bosses (UKHSA) have blamed the current outbreak on a steady decline in the uptake of vaccines among expectant mothers. More than 7,500 cases have already been recorded in 2024 almost nine times the level seen across the entirety of 2023. Nine babies have died since November. All were under the age of three months Health officials warned that the infection is initially difficult to tell apart from a cold, as the first signs are a runny nose and sore throat. But around a week later, sufferers may develop coughing bouts that last minutes, struggle to breathe after coughing and make a 'whoop' sound between coughs. Other signs of whooping cough include bringing up a thick mucus that can cause vomiting and becoming red in the face Experts say this is due to a mixture of vaccine hesitancy in the wake of Covid as well as a lack of awareness. The cancellation of many 'non-essential' services during the pandemic and the consequence of lockdowns on immunity are also thought to have played a role. Just a quarter of expectant mothers have had the pertussis jab in some boroughs of London. Rates are below half in other parts of the capital and Birmingham. Uptake of the six-in-one jab offered to babies in the first four months of life are also at an all-time low. The one lesson Ms Ray wants other parents to learn from her experience is that whooping cough is not 'just a cough' and needs to be taken seriously. She said: 'Spike needs lots of care and he's never going to do what normal teenagers do. 'His level of understanding is poor, and he can't even write his name. He may never have a family or get married. 'Looking after him is very hard work and I can't lie - it's had quite a big impact on the whole family. But we all love him so much and would never be without him.' She added: 'Even though I'm a nurse, I could never have imagined whooping cough could have left my son like this. 'I stopped doing parent education classes, because the number of times I'd ask the girls, "Have you had your whooping cough vaccinations yet?" and they'd reply, "No, I'm not bothering as it's only a cough" was shocking. 'I'd have to stand there and bite my lip and think to myself "Dear God if you only knew. If you only knew." 'There's not a day that goes by when I don't wonder what Spike would be like now if he'd never had whooping cough or the vaccine had been available to him earlier. 'Whooping cough nearly killed him, and he has been left disabled because of it. Whooping cough is not "just a cough". It's a dangerous bacterial infection.' Dr Andrew Whittamore, clinical lead at Asthma + Lung UK and practising GP, added: 'Babies under 12 months old who catch whooping cough also have an increased chance of developing pneumonia or experiencing seizures, dehydration or breathing difficulties, so parents need to be vigilant. 'If a baby or child gets coughing bouts that last for a few minutes or are worse at night, they may have whooping cough. 'If your baby is under six months old and has symptoms of whooping cough, or you are pregnant and have been in contact with someone who has it, make an urgent appointment to see your GP or dial 111. Surveillance statistics show there were 2,591 cases confirmed in England in May, up almost 500 on the 2,106 in April. By comparison, 555 cases were logged in January, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSA) said Your browser does not support iframes. 'If your child's lips, tongue, face, or skin suddenly turn blue or grey and they are finding it hard to breathe properly, are having seizures, experiencing chest pain, or have a bad cough that is getting worse, dial 999 or go to A&E.' Whooping cough, spread through coughs and sneezes, can initially be difficult to tell apart from a cold, with the first signs typically being a runny nose and sore throat. But around a week later, sufferers may develop coughing bouts which last minutes, struggle to breathe after coughing and make a 'whoop' sound between coughs. Other signs of pertussis include bringing up a thick mucus that can cause vomiting and becoming red in the face. Sufferers are infectious from around six days after cold-like symptoms begin to three weeks after their cough starts. Doctors dish out antibiotics as treatment if the whooping cough is detected within three weeks. However, if a person has been infected for longer, antibiotics will not speed up their recovery. Whooping cough is less severe in older children and adults but can still cause sore ribs, hernias, ear infections and urinary incontinence among these groups. African babies are set to receive a 3 malaria vaccine that could potentially eradicate the disease within a decade. The first doses of the R21 jab, developed by a team at the University of Oxford, will be given to babies under the age of two in the Ivory Coast today and South Sudan tomorrow (Tuesday). It marks the culmination of 30 years of research into a vaccine against malaria, which kills more than 600,000 people a year - most of them in Africa and 80 per cent under the age of five. The Serum Institute, who manufacture the vaccine, have already made 25 million doses and has the capacity to increase production to 100 million a year. The only other malaria vaccine, a jab called RTS,S, was introduced earlier this year but is twice as expensive and limited by manufacturing constraints. African babies will receive a 3 malaria vaccine that could eradicate malaria within a decade The first doses of the R21 jab, developed by a team at the University of Oxford, will be given to babies under the age of two in the Ivory Coast today and South Sudan tomorrow (Tuesday) 'A malaria-free world is finally in sight,' Adar Poonawalle, chief executive of the Serum Institute in India, told the Sunday Times. 'Cost is absolutely the key question. If this was a $10 (7.90) vaccine, just forget it - you wouldn't be able to reach the kind of countries we have because the budgets just wouldn't allow it.' Fifteen countries in Africa including the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Ghana, Mozambique, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Nigeria are expected to introduce the vaccine by the end of the year. Another 15 nations are due to follow. The new vaccine - funded by Gavi, a global vaccination alliance of charities, the World Health Organisation and governments including the UK's - is approved for children up to the age of three. Sir Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford, was involved in developing both the Astra-Zeneca Covid vaccine and the new malaria jab. He said: 'I've been doing work on malaria vaccines since 1994. It's been long awaited, but here we finally are. 'For the first time, really in the last couple of years, eradication is beginning to look really credible. The malaria vaccine arrives in South Sudan, as 15 countries across Africa including the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Ghana, Mozambique, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Nigeria are expected to introduce it by the end of the year 'I think the whole thing is doable, not in the next five years, but maybe in the next 10.' In trials, the vaccine has been shown to be up to 79 per cent effective at preventing the most deadly strain of malaria - and the most common in Africa - in young children. It works by targeting the parasite that causes the disease. Trials to see if it is effective for pregnant women are expected to begin in the coming weeks. Children and young people risk becoming a forgotten generation due to crippling waits for NHS care, health leaders have warned. A report from NHS Providers found that 82 per cent of trusts it surveyed were unable to meet the demand for under-18s' support. Mental health services, for example, were in contact with 5.3million children and young people in 2023/24 up 8.1 per cent on 2022/23 and 25.7 per cent on 2021/22. Most long-term health conditions develop during childhood for example, 75 per cent of mental health problems occur before the age of 24. 'Intervening during this period is therefore critical to improving young people's health outcomes,' the study said. Alongside mental health support, trusts provide services such as health visiting, speech and language therapy, neurodevelopmental services and autism assessment. Health leaders have warned that crippling waits for NHS care threaten to create a 'forgotten generation' of children and young people (file photo) 82 per cent of trusts it surveyed were unable to meet the demand for under-18s' support, a report for NHS providers found (file photo of a hospital in London) Leaders at almost all of the 95 trusts surveyed said the demand for children and young people's services had increased compared with before the Covid pandemic. Initial autism assessment waiting times were found to have risen at 86 per cent of trusts, with one saying that the waiting time had increased to 38 months, up from around 14 months pre-pandemic. The main challenges were found to be increased complexity of patients and severity of their condition, as well as insufficient services being commissioned. Staff shortages were also highlighted as a barrier to providing timely services. And trusts reported that not being able to provide adequate care affected staff morale and contributed to health inequalities. Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: 'We're in danger of seeing a forgotten generation of young people. 'Too many young lives are being blighted by delays to accessing NHS care. Long waits have far-reaching implications for a child's social development, school readiness and educational attainment.' NHS Providers chief executive Sir Julian Hartley (pictured) said that long waits had 'far-reaching implications' for a child's social development and educational attainment Staff shortages were also highlighted as a barrier to providing timely services, with 95 per cent of trusts reporting an increase in demand for children's services since the pandemic (file photo) A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'It's unacceptable young people are not receiving the care they deserve and we know waits are too long. 'We will provide mental health support in every school and walk-in hubs in every community.' A 28-year-old man who had never orgasmed in his life finally managed to climax thanks to 'female Viagra' after a number of other medications didn't work. American doctors who treated the patient, who wasn't named, said it showed the drug, called flibanserin, could potentially be used to treat such rare cases. Being unable to climax during sex or masturbation is medically called anorgasmia and the ongoing version of the condition the male patient had is thought to occur in only about one in 1,000 men. However, experts suspect think rates are actually higher as some men won't seek help out of embarrassment and it can be a side effect of some medication. Reacting to the case report British experts said the results could warrant launching a clinical trial using flibanserin to help men with rare but potentially 'devastating' anorgasmia. A 28-year-old man who had never orgasmed in his life finally managed to climax thanks to 'female Viagra' after a number of other medications didn't work (stock image) Anorgasmia is different from erectile dysfunction as men suffering the former can still have an erection, whereas the latter struggle to do so. In this case, detailed in the journal Sexual Medicine, urologists from the Baylor College of Medicine Texas managed to successfully treat a 28-year-old heterosexual man who had never experienced an orgasm in his life. Their patient had no medical reason why he shouldn't be able to orgasm, reporting good libido, no problems urinating and didn't have depression. Analysis of his penis also found no physical dysfunction which would give him problems ejaculating. Finally, a check on his medical history also found he wasn't taking any medications that could dampen his ability to climax as a side effect such as some high blood pressure medications like thiazide diuretics and methyldopa or antidepressants. As such the medics prescribed him two drugs, one to boost hormones and chemicals related to arousal in the brain and another increase blood flow to the genitals. However, neither worked, with one even causing him 'penile pain' before medics discontinued it. He was also, concurrently, undertaking sexual therapy to see if there was a mental health reason for his inability to orgasm. But, despite almost half-a-dozen sessions over three months, this too proved ineffective. Medics then tried prescribing him a course of flibanserin, a drug normally given to women experiencing low sexual desire, and often colloquially called 'Female Viagra' or the 'Little Pink Pill'. This was successful and after around 30 doses over four weeks, he achieved his first ever orgasm. Flibanserin works in women by boosting levels of neurotransmitters in the brain relating to pleasure while also reducing hormones related to happiness and mood regulation. Writing in the case report, medics said studies have shown the parts of the brain responsible for orgasm are 'similar' in men and women and therefore flibanserin was likely working in a similar way for their male patient. American doctors who treated the patient, who wasn't named, said it showed the drug, called flibanserin and sold under the brand Addyi, could potentially be used to treat such rare cases They called for further studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of flibanserin, sold under the brand name Addyi, in men with anorgasmia. While available for women in the US, flibanserin is not approved for use in Britain. Commonly reported side effects of taking flibanserin include dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, nausea, fatigue. The male patient did report suffering notable side effects while on the drug, including insomnia, drowsiness and a 'depressive and aggressive mood'. However, he decided that the side effects were worth it for the time being and told medics he would continue to take the mediation on a 'trial' basis. Reacting to the study Professor Roger Kirby, a urologist and president of the Royal College of Medicine, said currently anorgasmia in men was challenging to treat. Anorgasmia is quite unusual in men, but can occur, and it can be quite sexually and psychologically devastating, he said, At the moment theres no evidence based treatment for it.' He added that a clinical trial examining the effect of flibanserin for up to 12 months on men could now be a good idea because right now, theres not very much we can do, for patients. We need a good evidence base, and we need safety checks before we advocate for them he said. Professor Kirby encouraged any men suffering from sustained sexual dysfunction to seek help from a medical professional and not suffer in silence. While dubbed 'Female Viagra', flibanserin has a number of notable differences compared to the little blue pill which is now readily available over the counter. Firstly, it works on a different mechanism with Viagra, also known by its generic name sildenafil, boosting blood flow to the male genitals helping them maintain an erection, rather than boosting sexual arousal itself. Secondly, sildenafil is taken on an 'as needed' basis before a sexual liaison whereas patients on flibanserin need to take the drug daily for it to work. Medics who wrote the case report also highlighted how their patient showed a lack of specific treatment options for men suffering from the condition without an obvious cause. They said most cases of anorgasmia are usually caused by a side effect of another medication, meaning the majority of patients can be treated by changing or adapting the drugs or dosage to avoid the unwanted side effect. Fitness trackers are as good as hospital tests for monitoring heart health and giving the devices to patients could spare them from time-consuming clinic visits, new research suggests. Experts at the University of Birmingham tested out the devices on patients with two common heart problems, atrial fibrillation and heart failure, which affect millions of patients in the UK. The aim was to see if the trackers could keep tabs on how well they were responding to medication something that normally involves being tested in a hospital clinic. The majority of patients involved in the research were in their 70s, leading the researchers to suggest age was not a barrier to using the tech to boost health. Researchers found devices like Fitbits that monitor your heart rate and physical activity have clinical value for comparing the response to two treatments for atrial fibrillation and heart failure The trackers were assess during a clinical trial testing two common heart medications, digoxin and beta-blockers. Instead of giving the 160 patients involved, who all had either heart failure or atrial fibrillation, regular hospital check-ups they provided them with a Fitbit Charge 2 which constantly monitored their heart rate. Fitbit did not provide the the devices, which were paid for by a research body, nor did the firm who make them have any input into the study. This information gathered by the devices indicated how well the the drugs were working. The team then used artificial intelligence to analyse the data collected. It concluded the trackers were as good as standard tests often used in clinics that require staff time and resources. Heart failure affects one million Britons. Unlike a heart attack, which is a sudden event that occurs when part of the heart muscle dies, due to a blockage in the circulation, heart failure is a long term condition. It often occurs due to a heart attack and it means the muscle is not as effective at pumping blood around the body as it should be. Although medications can ease symptoms, it is incurable and patients struggle with debilitating symptoms including breathlessness and fatigue. Atrial fibrillation, which causes the heart to beat erratically, affects 1.4million people in the UK and increases the risk of stroke. In both cases, being able to check that medication is adequately controlling symptoms is a key part of keeping patients well and out of hospital. Professor Dipak Kotecha from the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Birmingham and the lead author of the study said: 'This study shows the potential to use this new technology to assess the response to treatment and make a positive contribution to the routine care of patients.' Professor Kotecha added: 'Heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure are expected to double in prevalence over the next few decades, leading to a large burden on patients as well as substantial healthcare cost. 'This study is an exciting showcase for how artificial intelligence can support new ways to help treat patients better.' As another heat wave hits the US, several drugs in your medicine cabinet could make the high temperatures even more unbearable. In the past few weeks, more than 100million Americans have been under a brutal heat wave, with temperatures throughout the east coast reaching 100F, while southwestern states have braced for 120F weather. While prescription and over-the-counter medications come with a long list of side effects as is, several have been shown to lead to symptoms that could turn deadly during severe heat. Pharmacists and emergency physicians have revealed to DailyMail.com the commonly taken drugs that could leave you sweating and overheating even more in extreme heat, putting you at risk of dehydration, kidney injuries, and heat stroke. Pharmacists and emergency physicians revealed to DailyMail.com which medications can lead to excessive sweating, overheating, and other potentially dangerous effects Antidepressants Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are an older class of drug than the more common selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Some of the most common examples of TCAs include amitriptyline and nortriptyline. The CDC estimates one in 10 Americans over 12 take antidepressants, adding up to around 37million people. TCAs are prescribed less often than newer SSRIs due to more intense side effects, including insomnia, bed-wetting, and chronic pain conditions such as fibromylagia. TCAs disrupt the production of neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, which prevents sweating - a process called anhidrosis or hyperhidrosis. Sweating helps the body cool down, but when it can't, it can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Meanwhile, Dr HaVy Ngo-Hamilton, clinical consultant at BuzzRx and pharmacist at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, told DailyMail.com that SSRIs like sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil), as well as the dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) Wellbutrin, have been shown to cause excessive sweating. A recent review found that this occurs in one in 10 patients on SSRIs. OTC pain medications Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), which include Advil and Aleve, are some of the most common over-the-counter pain medications. However, Dr Ross warned that the drugs carry the risk of kidney injury, which can be exacerbated by high temperatures. This is due to NSAIDs inhibiting production of prostaglandins, which regulate blood flow to the kidneys. High heat can increase kidney damage further by causing fluid loss and dehydration. These medications have also been shown to cause excessive sweating. However, NSAID-related kidney disease is rare, occurring just one percent of the time, according to a 2019 study in JAMA Network Open. Research from Florida Atlantic University found that 29million adults take some form of NSAID for pain. Parkinson's medications Drugs for Parkinson's disease, a progressive condition that attacks the nervous system, can help control symptoms like tremors and a stiff gait. An estimated 1million Americans live with the condition, and about 80 percent take medications like these. Dr Jared L Ross, emergency medicine physician and associate professor at the University of Missouri Medical School, told DailyMail.com that these medications could 'impair sweating as well as inhibit the brains ability to thermoregulate.' A 2023 study from the National University of Singapore, for example, found that Parkinson's medications, which increase production of dopamine, may hinder sweating and temperature regulation. This can be particularly dangerous for elderly patients, who are most often affected by Parkinson's, as older people have issues regulating temperature anyway because they have less fat under the skin and sweat glands do not produce as much as they used to. Heart medications Several different cardiac medications have been shown to cause heat-related side effects. Beta blockers, for instance, are medications meant to lower blood pressure and block the effects of the hormone epinephrine, or adrenaline. This helps improve blood flow and lower heart rate. However, a 2022 study from Yale University found that the drugs may be tied to a greater risk of heart attack during hot weather. The researchers looked at almost 2,500 adults who experienced a non-fatal heart attack in Germany during the summer from 2001 to 2014. The team found that those using beta blockers were 65 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack during the summer than those not taking them. Patients not on the medications had no increased risk. Additionally, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which treat high blood pressure and heart failure, have been shown to cause excessive sweating and hot flashes, which could lead to heat intolerance during high temperatures. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy estimates that 117million prescriptions for beta blockers have been doled out to 26million Americans. Roughly 41million have been prescribed an ACE inhibitor. ADHD medications 'Stimulant medications used for ADHD have significant heat-related effects,' Dr Ross said. These include triggering the hypothalamus, the brain's control center, to raise core body temperature, making you feel hotter overall. They also have been shown to increase sensitivity to the sun. Dr Ross also noted that drugs like Adderall can lead to reduced blood flow to the skin, caused by blood vessels constricting. This inhibits sweating. Dr Katy Dubinsky, pharmacist and founder and CEO of 'pharmaceutical savings company Vitalize, told DailyMail.com: 'Amphetamines, which are used to treat ADHD, may raise body temperature and increase the risk of heat-related diseases due to their impact on the central nervous system.' Just under one in 10 Americans under 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to CDC data, and about 41million prescriptions have been doled out. Antipsychotics Dr Ross noted that several antipsychotic medications, like clozapine, risperidone, and olanzapine, have been shown to increase dehydration in the summer heat. According to the Cleveland Clinic, roughly 4million Americans take some form of antipsychotic medication. This is because several of these medications are also classified as anticholinergic, meaning they block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Doing so reduces the body's ability to sweat, leading to overheating or heat stroke. According to Yale University, common antipsychotics that can cause these effects include Risperidone (Risperdal), Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Quetiapine (Seroquel), and Haloperidol (Haldol Decanoate). Dr Dubinsky pointed to Haloperidol, Olanzapine, and Risperidone in particular as the most likely culprits. Erectile dysfunction medications Gold standard erectile dysfunction pill Viagra has been shown to cause excessive sweating in some patients. Dr Ngo-Hamilton said this is because the medication is meant to widen blood vessels and increase blood flow near the penis so erections can form. However, the medication can also improve blood flow to the skin, leading to sweating. Additionally, about 20 percent of patients have reported hot flashes. Other similar medications like Cialis have also been shown to cause flushing. Dr Ngo-Hamilton noted, however, that while these symptoms can be uncomfortable, they are unlikely to contribute to heat stroke or any detrimental concerns. 'I would not be extremely worried about it,' she said. Erectile dysfunction is also more common in men over age 70, which could cause increased heat-related complications, as older people have more trouble regulating their body temperature. There were about 3million Viagra prescriptions filled in the US in 2021, the latest available data found. GOT A HEALTH-RELATED STORY? EMAIL: Health@dailymail.com Advertisement Migraine medications Certain classes of migraine medications have also been shown to make extreme heat even less tolerable. 'Triptans can cause flushing and increased sweating, though the mechanism is unknown,' Dr Ngo-Hamilton said. Triptans are abortive migraine medications, meaning they treat pain after it has started by alleviating inflammation and blocking neurotransmitters that produce pain. These drugs also mimic the effects of serotonin. Dr Ngo-Hamilton warned that in addition to heat-related effects, taking triptans along with SSRIs could increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, or too much of the hormone. In severe cases, serotonin syndrome can cause high fever, seizures, irregular heartbeat, and loss of consciousness. According to Cleveland Clinic, 1.7million Americans fill a prescription for sumatriptan each year, along with nearly 1million on rizatriptan. Parkinson's medications Drugs for Parkinson's disease, a progressive condition that attacks the nervous system, can help control symptoms like tremors and a stiff gait. An estimated 1million Americans live with the condition, and about 80 percent take medications like these. Dr Jared L Ross, emergency medicine physician and associate professor at the University of Missouri Medical School, told DailyMail.com that these medications could 'impair sweating as well as inhibit the brains ability to thermoregulate.' A 2023 study from the National University of Singapore, for example, found that Parkinson's medications, which increase production of dopamine, may hinder sweating and temperature regulation. This can be particularly dangerous for elderly patients, who are most often affected by Parkinson's, as older people have issues regulating temperature anyway because they have less fat under the skin and sweat glands do not produce as much as they used to. A nurse who implied she was disappointed that Donald Trump wasn't assassinated is 'no longer an employee' at the taxpayer-funded New York City hospital where she worked. Janiece Binns, who works at New York Presbyterian, a medical center used by Columbia and Cornell universities, said in an online post just hours after the attack occurred: 'Like, bro. Work on your skills.' Binns, who is pictured on social media wearing an LGBT face mask and has shared pro-Palestine content, shared a post on her Instagram Story that called Trump's would-be assassin 'the most hated c*** on the planet' for missing. A spokesman for New York Presbyterian told DailyMail.com that Binns was now no longer employed by the hospital and her employment had been 'terminated'. Earlier today, she was suspended. Her comments were first revealed online by Libs of TikTok, and sparked furious backlash with people saying it violated healthcare workers' oath to 'do no harm'. It comes as several college staff, healthcare workers and other professionals are investigated over similar comments mocking Trump or endorsing the shooting. The above shows the post from Janiece Binns on Instagram Stories. She has since deactivated her social media accounts Binns had also posted online calling for a free Palestine and was pictured wearing an LGBT mask A spokesperson for New York Presbyterian told this website: 'This individual is no longer an employee. 'Our values are centered around respect and caring for all of our patients, colleagues and communities. 'Words, images or actions that advocate, celebrate or amplify violence are in violation of our policies, and will not be tolerated.' They added that her employment had been 'terminated'. Her comments had sparked a furious backlash online against the hospital, with many demanding she be removed from her post. One user said: 'Imagine receiving care from a woman who wishes you were dead if you vote differently than she does. That blows my mind after working with so many great nurses.' And a second said: 'Can you imagine what she would do to a patient if she found out they were a Trump supporter? She should not be in a position to care for people when a human life means so little to her. Do better.' Nurses are required to be impartial in their profession and to treat all patients equally. The American Nurses Association, which upholds standards for the profession, says online as part of their ethical code: 'Justice in nursing relates to impartiality regarding a patient's age, ethnicity, economic status, religion, or sexual orientation.' Thomas works as a respiratory therapist in Florida, helping patients to breathe properly O'Donoghue deleted his social media accounts following the comments online Anthony D'Esposito, Republican congressman for New York's Fourth congressional district on Long Island, said: 'Promoting violence in the aftermath of the assassination attempt against President Trump is horrific. 'We must send a clear message that this will not be tolerated, especially from those employed in the healthcare field who take an oath to aid and support all people.' New York Presbyterian is one of the biggest hospital systems in New York City, with 2,600 beds and treating an estimated 300,000 patients every year. It also has a midwife unit, which delivers an estimated 15,000 babies every year. Binns shared her comments on Instagram, which were then re-shared online by Libs of TikTok with her employer tagged in them sparking immediate backlash. She has since deactivated her social media accounts and could not be reached by DailyMail.com for comment. In another case, a community manager in Pennsylvania has been suspended after also saying he was disappointed that the Trump shooter missed. Rick Notari, who works for a county in Pennsylvania, said it was a shame the Trump shooter missed. He has now been suspended by his employer Notari, pictured above, was suspended from his role following the post online Rick Notari works for Lackawanna County which covers Scranton in the state, and wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that it was 'a shame the guy missed'. Announcing his suspension, local commissioner Bill Gaughan said: 'Political violence is unacceptable and must be condemned. 'The attempt on President Trump's life is a tragedy for the country, and we join President Biden and millions of other Americans in wishing President Trump a speedy and full recovery.' Notari has protected his posts on X and deleted his LinkedIn account. A lab assistant at a hospital in central Illinois is also being investigated after posting online in the hours after the shooting: 'It's a shame they missed.' Ryne Arnett made the comments online but later shared a second post claiming he had been hacked. He has now deactivated his Instagram account. He works at OSF HealthCare which has 16 hospitals and 2,100 beds in the state. A spokeswoman for the hospital said: 'We're aware of a statement that was shared on the social media account of an individual employed by OSF HealthCare. An investigation is underway. 'We condemn any words or actions that seek to marginalize or harm others. this includes online activity. It is our priority to make sure every Mission Partner, patient and family is met with an environment of safety, justice and equality.' In another case, Thomas O'Donoghue, who works at Lee Health in south-west Florida, posted on X after the shooting saying: 'It's a shame he missed'. It was in response to a post from Donald Trump Jr., who posted a clip from CNN calling the news provider a disgrace. O'Donoghue who is a respiratory therapist, or someone who helps people to breathe faced immediate backlash for the comments. One individual wrote online in response: 'He's in a position to determine whether people live or die and that makes me very, very angry that he's this willing to air this view.' O'Donoghue has since deleted his social media accounts. DailyMail.com has contacted Lee Health for comment. NHS prescriptions for the erection boosting medications have risen to a record level in England, official data suggests. A total of 4.57million prescriptions for sildenafil, more commonly known by the brand name Viagra, and other types of impotency drugs sold under the brand names Cialis and Levitra, were dished out by the health service in 2023. This is an increase of 130,000 prescriptions compared to the previous year from 4.44million and an extra 20,000 compared to 2019's figures. Experts said the increase was likely due to tumbling drug prices thanks to the proliferation of generic sildenafil brands as well as patients being less embarrassed about seeking help for problems in the bedroom. NHS chiefs spent a total of 16.4million providing drugs to treat erectile dysfunction in 2023, about 3.60 per script, though pack sizes can vary. A total of 4.57million prescriptions for sildenafil, more commonly known by the brand name Viagra, and other types of impotency drugs sold under the brand names Cialis and Levitra, were dished out by the health service in 2023 NHS chiefs spent a total of 16.4million providing drugs to treat erectile dysfunction in 2023, about 3.60 per script Despite the record number of prescriptions issued the cost to the taxpayer was actually lower than that recorded in 2014 when the NHS spent 50.9million on 2.86million scripts, about 18 each. Numerous online and physical pharmacies also sell generic versions of sildenafil for mere pennies per tablet. TV pharmacist Thorrun Govind told The Sun newspaper that the rise in prescriptions in general was likely a result of men being more open about problems with their sex lives. 'When Viagra first came out it was a bit sensational but, now there are cheaper alternatives, it is more accessible and there is less stigma,' she said. The data, sourced from the NHS Business Service Authority only covers prescriptions, not the number of patients actually taking the drugs. This means individual men seeking help with impotency could effectively be counted multiple times in the data if they got more than one prescription a year. It also doesn't cover the many men who got drugs like sildenafil from a non-NHS source such as over the counter from a high street pharmacy or an online outlet. While the new figure is national, separate data released earlier this year suggested use of sildenafil specifically varies across the country. That data suggested men in Yorkshire were the most likely in England to need a bit of assistance in the bedroom with 3.5 per cent of men in the East Riding being prescribed sildenafil last year, This was followed by men in Northumberland and Dorset who each came second and third for prescription rates of the erectile dysfunction drug at around 3.2 per cent each. This map shows the areas where people were most and least likely to be prescribed sildenafil the key ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra on the NHS Your browser does not support iframes. The Yorkshire region appeared to be particularly hard-hit by impotency with its cities and towns Rotherham, Barnsley, Harrogate, Scarborough and Whitby, featuring in the top 10 areas for Viagra prescriptions. On the opposite end of the spectrum, men in Leicester City appeared to be the least likely to need help from the little blue pill to maintain an erection, with a prescription rate of only 1.6 per cent. Erectile dysfunction, also called impotency, is thought to effect about half of men over 40. While most cases of erectile dysfunction are isolated and nothing to worry about, repeated or sustained impotency should be checked out by a GP. It can be an indicator of serious health problems like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, diabetes, hormone problems and mental issues like depression and anxiety. However, not all men are advised to take drugs like sildenafil, for example those with heart problems are warned against taking it. Additionally, about one in 100 people taking sildenafil will experience common side effects from taking the medication which works by boosting blood flow across the body including to the penis making it easier to get and maintain erections. These include headaches, nausea, hot flushes, indigestion, a stuffy nose and dizziness, according to the NHS. More serious side effects requiring urgent medical care are estimated to affect less than one in 1,000 people. These include seizures, suffering a prolonged and potentially painful erection especially for over two hours, chest pain, and in very rare cases a life-threatening allergic reaction to the medication called anaphylaxis. Earlier this year MailOnline revealed that popular erection pills such as Viagra have been linked to more than 200 deaths in Britain. None of the fatalities all of which have occurred since 1998 are proven to have been caused directly by the drugs. Pauline Brewer, 77, was ill. So ill she'd been admitted to hospital for urgent investigations after developing chest pain. She'd been waiting two days for an angiogram a type of heart scan and, feeling tired and uncomfortable in the stuffy women's ward, decided to freshen up. Pauline, a retired administrator from Birmingham, slowly made her way to the washroom for a shower. As she recalls: 'I locked the door, took off my clothes and was about to step into the shower when there was a thud at the door. 'I thought perhaps someone had knocked, realised that it was occupied and gone away but seconds later a man burst through the door. He'd broken the lock and was lunging towards me. Sarah Johnson, 41, an education consultant from Meopham, Kent, has bravely told her story of being sexually assaulted by physiotherapist Purnoor Bawa, who was jailed last month 'I was horrified. I'm less than 5ft tall and it felt like he was towering over me. He was much younger than me I'd say in his early 30s and came straight at me, saying something very sexual about what he wanted to do to me. 'It all happened so fast, but as he reached forward to grab me, I put my hands up to protect myself. He grabbed hold of my arm. 'Somehow and I'll never know where I got the strength from because he was so much bigger than me I punched him, which startled him and I was able to make a run for it. 'I ran down the corridor completely naked to the nurses' station, with him chasing me. 'One of the female nurses jumped up, put herself between him and me and another nurse covered me up, while two male nurses grabbed him and took him down the corridor to what I suppose was the men's ward. 'I couldn't stop shaking. No man has ever seen me naked apart from my husband, and I've been married to him for over 50 years. It was very upsetting.' Recounting her experience at a hospital in the East Midlands four years ago, in September 2020, Pauline (who's asked to use a pseudonym) says: 'The nurses encouraged me to complain, with one saying: 'This sort of thing happens all the time, so you must try to report it.' 'But while my husband and I did speak to PALS [the patient advice and liaison service], nothing much came of that. 'The whole thing shook me up for a very long time. For months after I couldn't sleep, and had to take sleeping tablets. 'The incident makes me very wary and frightened of going into hospital again.' Upsetting and distressing, but far from unusual: figures show there are thousands of sexual attacks and violations so called 'sexual safety incidents' in UK healthcare settings every year. In an examination of UK NHS hospitals published last year, Jo Phoenix, a professor of criminology at Reading University, found shockingly high levels of sexual abuse, with 33 rapes and sexual assaults committed in hospitals in England and Wales every week, according to data extracted from police records over a 46-month period. The vast majority of victims were female. Jo Phoenix, a professor of criminology at Reading University, says the attacks show a systemic failure in safeguarding 'One attack of this kind in what is assumed to be a place of safety should be of concern, but the fact that sexual assaults and rapes are occurring with such alarming frequency shows a systemic failure in safeguarding,' Professor Phoenix concluded in the report, commissioned by the campaign group Women's Rights Network. Her findings were echoed in a separate analysis, also published last year, by the BMJ, which found more than 35,000 such incidents ranging from verbal abuse and harassment to rape in NHS Trusts in England alone, in the five years up to 2022. At least 20 per cent involved rape, sexual assault, or kissing or touching that a person did not consent to though not all trusts provided a breakdown of incidents they record. The data, from police reports collected over this time-frame, included 180 cases of rape of children (under 16) and four cases of child gang rape. The BMJ investigation found that patients are the main perpetrators of sexual crimes in hospitals (58 per cent of incidents involved patients abusing staff, 20 per cent were patients abusing other patients so-called patient-on-patient attacks and staff-on-patient abuse accounted for 9 per cent). figures show there are thousands of sexual attacks and violations so called 'sexual safety incidents' in UK healthcare settings every year In fact, all these figures are likely to be a gross underestimate of the extent of the threat, Professor Phoenix warned, due to poor reporting rates and mechanisms. Indeed, the BMJ discovered that just one in ten trusts had dedicated policies that set out how to safeguard patients, staff and visitors from sexual harm and what processes to follow when incidents are reported. Last year, NHS England recommended that all trusts adopt such policies. But as Professor Phoenix told Good Health, there is little sign things have changed: 'Since writing the report, I see that NHS Trusts are declaring zero tolerance of sexual safety incidents. That's great, but what does that mean exactly? I have yet to see any new set of mechanisms put in place to tackle this issue. 'It's blindingly simple: the first obligation for a hospital is the safety of its patients and staff and if sexual safety incidents are occurring, they are failing in their duty of care. Having the right data can help them identify the circumstances around that failure and put it right.' As well as better reporting mechanisms for sexual safety incidents, and surveillance of healthcare settings through CCTV, in her report Professor Phoenix recommended the provision of single-sex wards. Mixed-sex wards were banned in 2010 except in limited circumstances, such as urgent admissions for critical care. The NHS Constitution, which sets out the values which underpin the work of the NHS, already pledges that no patient should have an overnight bed on a ward with patients of the opposite sex. And under new proposals set out by the Conservative government in April, patients would be able to request same-sex wards and ask that any intimate care is carried out where reasonably possible by someone of the same biological sex. The consultation document is now sitting with the new Health Secretary. Yet it was reported in April that there were a shocking 44,000 breaches of the mixed-sex wards rules in the last year. A separate but worrying issue is when such incidents are reported, how rigorously regulators then pursue staff accused of abusing patients or other staff. Last week, a damning review of the nursing regulator, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), revealed how patients were being put at risk because of a huge backlog of fitness to practise (ie disciplinary) cases. This meant nurses who posed a danger to the public were allowed to continue to practise. In one case, a nurse had been accused of sexually assaulting patients and raping a colleague after spiking their drinks. The case was closed on the basis that the rape was outside of work and the sexual assault on a patient was outside of a hospital, as the nurse had instigated a meeting. The nurse had also been accused of asking patients to go on dates and requesting their phone number. Seven years after the NMC first received complaints, the nurse was finally struck off in 2024. Last month, a slew of judgements in high-profile cases highlighted the appalling extent of sexual attacks on women in healthcare settings in both NHS and private sectors. One woman was raped by a healthcare assistant while she lay in her hospital bed at Whiston Hospital, an NHS hospital near Liverpool, in January. On June 19, the perpetrator 29-year-old Sidharth Nair was jailed for 13 years for sexual assault and rape. As well as better reporting mechanisms and surveillance of healthcare settings through CCTV, Professor Phoenix recommended the provision of single-sex wards. Liverpool Crown Court heard how he took advantage of staff changeovers to carry out his abuse when other staff were busy. In another recent case, 37-year-old Ella Janneh sued her former therapist, Michael Lousada, for rape and sexual assault. He abused her in August 2016 at his private clinic in Belsize Park in London, but the Crown Prosecution Service refused to pursue the case due to the likelihood of success (there is a higher burden of proof in criminal cases), so she had pursued a civil claim. The High Court awarded her more than 200,000 in damages. Also last month, physiotherapist Purnoor Bawa, who had a private clinic, Riverview Therapies in Gravesend, Kent, was jailed for six years for the abuse of multiple women between 2013 and 2018. Sarah Johnson, 41, an education consultant from Meopham, Kent, was sexually assaulted by Bawa, after she was referred to him for painful back and sternum injuries she'd sustained in a road traffic accident. Speaking to Good Health, Sarah recalled how she'd gone to the first three sessions with her husband and nine-year-old daughter. 'Bawa took a full history, examined me and gave me exercises to do. Everything was fine. 'On the fourth session, I had to go on my own and it was very different. 'He asked me to take off my top and he asked me if it was OK for him to work on my breast tissue. 'I said yes, if it would help the pain. He didn't reply but started to massage my breasts. 'I remember thinking it was a bit weird, but I was in so much pain I just wanted it to go away. I thought he must know what he was doing. 'I went back for a fifth appointment and the same thing happened only this time he used massage oil. 'Also when he asked me to remove my top, he didn't leave the room. 'Normally, you go behind a curtain and you are given a towel for decency, but he just watched me change and I used my white T-shirt to cover myself. 'After he'd massaged both breasts, he abruptly ended the session.' Sarah says it took her a few weeks to realise she had been sexually assaulted. 'I think there is a bit of disassociation when something like that happens,' she says. 'You doubt yourself and think, well maybe I'm making a fuss. But it came as a shock one day when I realised. 'After reporting it to the police in 2018, it has taken all this time to see him convicted, and in between he continued to abuse women until his professional regulator had struck him off in November 2019.' Looking back, she says it was clear some of the victims were confused about how to complain and to whom. 'There are so many regulators,' says Sarah. 'One woman complained to the doctors' regulator the General Medical Council instead of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which regulates physiotherapists.' After Bawa was reported to the HCPC, it imposed restrictions on his practice until the date of his hearing. First, he was required to have a chaperone with him and, when he ignored that, he was subjected to an interim suspension order. He was found to ignore that, too, and went on to abuse again, until he was finally removed from the register. Sarah's lawyer, Alison Millar, a partner at Leigh Day, says in terms of the profile of sexual predators and where they work, her caseload reflects all settings, the private sector and the NHS, and typically where the lack of compulsory regulation of some healthcare practitioners (such as psychotherapists) and poor enforcement by regulators means that there are gaps in the protection of the public. She adds that many cases involve women and girls who have been targeted because they have been identified as more vulnerable, due to pre-existing health issues, and less likely to be able to effectively to raise complaints. Patients in psychiatric units are also vulnerable to assaults, says Elizabeth Duncan, partner at legal firm Slee Blackwell, a specialist in sexual assault cases on behalf of patients and staff. 'They tend to be there for longer, there is more opportunity for grooming, there is more opportunity for offences. 'Plus, of course, those patients are particularly vulnerable in a way that someone in A&E with a broken leg is not,' she says. Another vulnerable group are older female patients. Researcher Amanda Warburton-Wynn, who works for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Partnership, has investigated sexual violence and assault against older people in hospitals in England for the charity Hourglass. She says because sexual assault is not about desire, it's about having power over someone, elderly female patients are particularly at risk. 'An older person who is in hospital, taking medication and possibly with dementia or other issues affecting memory and perception, is a "perfect victim",' she says. 'Will they speak out at all because of the shame? Or maybe they won't remember it, and if they do tell someone, it can be easily blamed on the effects of medication or illness.' As with the other investigations above, her research has revealed a lack of consistency in the way sexual safety incidents are recorded so one NHS trust might log an incident as a 'patient safety issue' and another as a 'safeguarding incident', which would trigger different actions. She says that in most cases, because the victim is often regarded as unreliable either due to mental capacity or ill health, this can mean incidents are not formally investigated by hospitals or the police. The Office for National Statistics recognises that under-reporting is particularly problematic for sexual assaults, with many more offences committed than are reported to and recorded by the police. This is no less true for assaults that take place in a medical context, says Leigh Day's Alison Millar. She adds: 'A criminal prosecution may not be possible but the incident still leaves the victims and survivors having to cope with the after-effects of the sexual assault. 'The process of bringing the perpetrator to justice can also be traumatising. One of the women assaulted by Bawa told me that she would not have gone through with the court case had she known how bad it would be.' Too often when victims do report an assault, getting the authorities hospital staff or police to act is difficult, say the victims who spoke to Good Health. Pauline reported the attack on her while she was still in hospital and even though the police told her they would investigate, they did not take a statement, saying they had already got one from the hospital. 'When something like that happens, you feel as though you shrink somehow into an even smaller person. I felt utterly ashamed,' says Sue Evans, 75 'That's the last we ever heard from the police,' she says. 'There was no follow-up from the police or the hospital. I've no idea if anything ever happened to the man who attacked me.' A spokesperson for NHS England told Good Health: 'Any form of sexual harassment, abuse or violence is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the NHS. 'Everyone deserves to work and receive care in a safe environment where they are treated with dignity and respect, and we are rolling out better reporting mechanisms, training and support as part of the NHS Sexual Safety Charter.' Signatories to the charter have committed to a zero-tolerance approach to any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours towards their workforce. But while more than 90 per cent of NHS trusts have signed up so far, charities and lawyers insist that healthcare providers must do better. The charity Sex Matters insists that single-sex wards and spaces are key, while Alison Millar says there needs to be a 'zero tolerance' approach to misogynistic behaviour, so-called 'low-level' harassment, 'because it can lead to a more serious threat, and all levels of sexual violence'. 'The reporting systems must be easy to use,' she says. Some of the patients treated by Bawa had been referred to him by health insurance companies. 'Insurance companies and others who arrange treatment need to make sure that their systems properly audit those to whom they send patients and seek regular patient feedback,' she adds. While campaigners and experts demand urgent and systemic change, countless thousands of patients, mostly women, are living with the consequences of healthcare providers not doing better. Sue Evans, 75, a mother of five, was molested in the bathroom of a hospital in the North East two days after being admitted in the middle of the night following a severe stroke. She was wheeled to the bathroom by a male member of staff. 'I sat on the loo and suddenly this man leaned down and put his hand between my legs and roughly shoved his finger into my vagina,' she told Good Health. 'I yelped in shock and swore loudly at him to get off me, pushing him away as best I could but I was shaking. 'He grabbed my arm, dislocating my shoulder, wheeled me back, not saying a word before throwing me on the bed. 'Then he ran off. That was the last I saw of him.' It took two years before Sue, who asked to speak under a pseudonym, could even tell her husband and one of her daughters about the assault. 'I didn't want to upset my family by telling them that this man whoever he was had assaulted me,' she says, five years later. 'But I kick myself now for not reporting it officially. 'When something like that happens, you feel as though you shrink somehow into an even smaller person. I felt utterly ashamed for a long time after and I am sorry I didn't report it. 'And I still ask myself and worry whether he did this again to other women.' Zero-alcohol drinks could act as a 'gateway' to the real thing for youngsters, research suggests. Australian experts, who surveyed more than 600 teens, found over half thought zero alcohol products were appealing, and more than one in three had tried them. Some teens also told researchers they feared their peers could get 'hooked' on the taste of alcoholic beverages from alcohol-free alternatives and drink more once they turned 18 as a result. Researchers said the results highlighted a need to treat alcohol-free beers, wines and cocktails with caution, so they don't act as a 'Trojan horse' to young people picking up the real thing. It comes as zero-alcohol drinks have boomed in the UK in recent years, becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the alcohol among health-conscious consumers. Experts in Australia, who tracked the behaviours of over 600 alcohol free teens, discovered reports of paranoia and even fear of drinking such beverages. One claimed they could 'get younger people hooked on it' The British Beer and Pub Association, which represents the interests of pubs and breweries, said sales of low and no alcohol beer grew 15 per cent in 2022 and the sector had seen growth of 520 per cent over the last decade. Writing in the journal Appetite, the Australian researchers said the rise in popularity of such drinks needed to be matched with caution. 'The present findings highlight the need to treat zero alcohol products with a degree of caution and devise strategies to foster their potential as a harm-reduction tool while simultaneously ensuring that they do not adversely affect underage people by acting as a trojan horse for industry,' they said. 'Striking this balance will help to minimise the potential risks of these increasingly popular products.' Julia Stafford, deputy chair of Australia's Cancer Councils nutrition, alcohol and physical activity committee, who carried out the study, added: 'We already know that the more children and young people are exposed to alcohol marketing, the greater the likelihood that they will start to use alcohol earlier, and to drink at risky levels if they already use alcohol. 'Drinking alcohol at any level can increase the risk of cancer. 'Alcohol brands claim zero alcohol products are aimed at only adults, however the study found that young people often nominated their own age group as the one these products would most commonly appeal to. 'There are currently no standards limiting the ways they simulate alcoholic products, or restrictions on marketing or sales, meaning young people can purchase these products and are exposed to marketing in highly visible places such as supermarkets. 'This environment creates a public health risk to young Australians.' In the study, researchers held five online focus groups with 44 Australian teens aged 15-17 to provide insights into their experiences with zero alcohol products. They then surveyed 679 adolescents of the same age online for their opinions on the zero alcohol products. Experts found over a third (37 per cent) of the teens surveyed had tried zero alcohol products, with over half (56 per cent) saying they looked appealing. Four in five teens also recalled seeing the products for sale. One 15-to-16-year-old boy told researchers: 'I feel the zero alcohol beverages like non-alcoholic beers kind of get younger people hooked on it, and then when they turn 18, they might start drinking beer.' A 16-to-17-year-old girl added: 'You don't really want kids to start enjoying and drinking the taste of alcohol, because if it kind of encourages them when they're a little bit older to drink alcohol more because they really like it.' Another girl, also aged between 16 and 17, said: 'I feel like kids when they're around 14 and 15, they are really impressionable. And if they start drinking that at a younger age, they're going to want to start drinking actual alcohol. The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 'units' of alcohol around six glasses of wine, or pints of beer per week. This itself has been watered down over the past few decades in light of studies illustrating the health dangers of alcohol 'Doing non-alcoholic drinks just seems like a gateway to them drinking actual alcohol.' Researchers added that parents could also be encouraging setting their children up to drink more in the future by sharing such drinks with them at home. 'Drinking zero alcohol products socially at home with parents could normalise the consumption of alcohol-branded products, create positive experiences around the use of alcohol-branded products,' they said. However, the authors acknowledged the study had 'several limitations' including using online surveys only which could 'limit the representativeness of the survey'. They added another limitation was their study was based on Australian teens and therefore might not be applicable to other groups. Additionally, the teens who participated in the survey, may not have told the truth in regarding aspects like their zero-or-alcohol-free consumption habits, which may have influenced the results. Zero-alcohol alternative drinks, like alcohol-free beers, wines and cocktails are often seen as a healthy alternative for adults. But a MailOnline audit last year found they aren't always as healthy as consumers may suspect with some low-alcohol and zero-alcohol drinks containing up to ten times the sugar of their full-bodied alternatives. In March, University of York researchers also said there is not yet enough data on consumer behaviour around no-and-low-alcohol drinks to state they are a healthy alternative to alcohol. Latest data, gathered by the World Health Organization and compiled by Oxford University's platform Our World in Data, shows the UK's wine consumption has soared to 3.3 litres of pure alcohol annually (2019), up on the 0.3 litres recorded almost 60 years earlier in 1961. It now accounts for over a third (33.7 per cent) of all alcohol consumed across the country and sits almost level with beer (36 per cent) which has plummeted from the 5.8 litres logged in 1961 to 3.5 litres today Leading experts have rowed about the harms of moderate drinking for decades. It came under the spotlight last year when WHO officials warned that no amount of alcohol is safe. However, scientists across the board, agree that excessive alcohol consumption can permanently damage the liver, cause an array of cancers and drive up blood pressure. The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 'units' of alcohol around six glasses of wine, or pints of beer per week. This itself has been watered down over the past few decades in light of studies illustrating the health dangers of alcohol. Meanwhile, the US says women should drink no more than seven standard drinks a week and men can have 14. These measures include a medium-sized glass of wine and 340ml of beer, close to a regular bottle size. A pharmacy worker in Texas has been fired after she implied she was disappointed Donald Trump's shooter missed. Christine DeShazo, who lives in Arlington, shared a post on Facebook just hours after the attack took place with the caption: 'Damn, they missed.' In another comment, she wrote 'half of America right now' above a cartoon with the caption: 'You missed. How could you miss?!' Guardian Pharmacy of Texas told DailyMail.com that she was now no longer working for the company. In a statement, a spokesman said: 'The employee has been terminated and her personal views are not reflective of our company's beliefs.' Christine DeShazo, who said she worked for Guardian Pharmacy of Texas online, made the above comment on social media Her employer, Guardian Pharmacy of Texas, is under mounting pressure to reconsider their employees opportunities at the company DeShazo's posts were first revealed by Libs of TikTok, sparking immediate backlash online. DailyMail.com then reached out to her pharmacy, which revealed that her position with them had been terminated. One user wrote on X: 'Who would want to get their medicine from a pharmacist who wants over half the US gone? Fire this woman.' A second said: 'Jeez. If you go in for a prescription with a red hat, will she give you the wrong medication? Crazy.' A third added: 'This person, packing up your lifesaving medication!' It comes as several healthcare workers, nurses and others are investigated or suspended from their roles over similar comments. DailyMail.com revealed this morning that a nurse at a major New York City hospital had been suspended after she implied she was upset that the Trump shooter missed. She also shared this image from the famous Disney movie Mulan DeShazo, from Arlington, Texas, could not be reached by DailyMail.com for comment And throughout the day Libs of TikTok has been revealing posts from people who said they were disappointed that the attack on the former President failed. DeShazo revealed her comments in posts on Facebook, which have since been set to private. She could not be reached by DailyMail.com for comment. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are expected to be impartial or to show no favor to patients based on political affiliation, sex, ethnicity or other characteristics. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, which trains pharmacy technicians in the US, says online: 'Pharmacy technicians shall provide services with impartiality and fairness. They shall not discriminate or show favoritism in the provision of pharmacy services.' Receptionists are also generally expected to be impartial towards those they serve, particularly in a healthcare setting. Anthony D'Esposito, Republican congressman for New York's Fourth congressional district on Long Island, said: 'Promoting violence in the aftermath of the assassination attempt against President Trump is horrific. 'We must send a clear message that this will not be tolerated, especially from those employed in the healthcare field who take an oath to aid and support all people.' Had he not shifted his head just a few inches to the right, former President Trump likely would not have survived the attempt on his life on Saturday. In his own words, he shouldnt be here. How such an event might change the former President remains to be seen, but the 78-year-old has already pivoted his messaging ahead of the RNC this week, toning down his typical lambasts of the Democrats and highlighting calls for unity and civility. Reverend Catherine Duncan is an ordained minister in Minnesota and chaplain at hospice and trauma centers. She has helped hundreds of patients pass to the other side. Based on her vast experience, Rev Duncan predicts a spiritual awakening in Trump that will lead him to become more centrist in his political views. Donald Trump was rushed by Secret Service in the seconds after shots were fired at his Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, with one bullet grazing his right ear Rev Duncan told DailyMail.com: There's a lot of chaos in the United States with the election. 'And I think that experience, I would sense, with Trump, it opens up your sense of being alive, your sense of feeling, your sense of experience, and how do you want to move forward? And there's already been some rumblings politically about unity, can there be unity, and I could see Trump leaning towards a more middle way and unity among everyone. She added: 'This could be a significant turning point for Trump for embracing the good, embracing how we can treat each other with love and kindness and how can we find a middle way in all the chaos right now. 'I think it's a very strong message. And I think it can definitely touch people's hearts. Many have accused Trump of leaning into religion to gain favor with Republican voters during his first presidential run, and questioned the sincerity of his faith. But Rev Duncan said close brushes with death can completely alter a persons worldview regardless of how devout they were, and every one of us can change and open and choose how we live our life. Mr Trumps senior campaign advisor Jason Miller told NBC the former president feels very fortunate to be alive. And Mr Trump said on his social media site Truth Social on Sunday that it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. Mr Trump, pictured with his grandchildren, has reportedly taken his survival as a 'gift from god' that Rev Duncan believes will alter his path on the campaign going forward Typically, the term near-death experience pertains to a persons experience when theyve fallen victim to severe trauma, have little to no brain activity, are in deep anesthesia, or are in cardiac arrest. Research into near-death experiences is expanding rapidly, and a recent review of the aftereffects of NDEs showed the most commonly reported effects to be a loss of fear of death, a belief of being favored by god, a reinvigorated sense of purpose, heightened self-esteem, and increased compassion for other people. Rev Duncan was herself face to face with death in a white water rafting incident when she was thrown overboard and pulled deep underwater. She said the ordeal cracked me open. It gave me clarity of what really mattered in life and clarity and a sense of why am I really here and purpose, a sense of the preciousness of life. It led her to leave a lucrative job with Time Inc. and go to divinity school to become an ordained minister. She said: A lens opens about life and your perspective opens up, it changes your perspective on life. 'Many people lean towards what do I really want to do with my life and what's really important? They feel more hope, they feel more kindness. That's what Ive witnessed a lot. Mr Trumps communications since the terrifying event Saturday suggest a renewed zeal for the divine that will likely mean more religious rhetoric on the campaign trail and potentially more support as people view this as a prime example of divine intervention. A person who spoke with the former President on Sunday said he was almost spiritual about his near-miss with death and felt he was handed a gift from God by surviving. Rev Catherine Duncan, an ordained minister and chaplain at both hospice and trauma centers, said '100 percent' that Mr Trump is 'leaning towards a more middle way and unity among everyone' after his brush with death All of this would bolster any candidates messaging strength. It might as well be rocket fuel for a candidate whose primary purpose is to dismantle the status quo and make as much noise as possible while doing it. That will likely be disquieting to Democrats, meanwhile, who have spent weeks highlighting the Heritage Foundation-authored and former Trump staffer-approved Project 2025 blueprint. The blueprint, among other things, calls for an overhaul of the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services and mass layoffs to install Trump loyalists in regulatory positions. Democrats are now increasingly fearful that Saturdays proceedings will catapult him to martyr status and turbocharge the persecuted victim narrative that he has placed at the center of his campaign. Rev Duncan said: There's going to be a range, I think, of opinions based on people's faith background There might be people that are more traditional Christians that will say God saved him. But the bottom line is, it was not his time. And he's been given the gift of life, I believe. Bangladesh PM calls her China visit "significant part" in Bangladesh's diplomatic activities Xinhua) 13:04, July 15, 2024 DHAKA, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has described her recent visit to China as a "significant part of Bangladesh's diplomatic activities" during a press conference on her recent trip to China in her official residence here Sunday. At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Hasina paid an official visit to China from July 8 to July 10. China and Bangladesh agreed to elevate their relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership during her visit. Meanwhile, a number of bilateral cooperation documents on policy exchange, economy, trade and investment, digital economy, inspection and quarantine, health care, education and media have been signed. "We have a long-standing relationship as Asian countries not only in the economic field, but also in the traditional aspect," Hasina said. "I think communication and cooperation in the fields of research, education, information and communications technology, technology, culture, etc. will take the bilateral relations of Bangladesh and China forward in building a Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and modern Smart Bangladesh," she said. "My visit will be marked as a significant part of Bangladesh's diplomatic activities," she said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) A healthcare worker who helps patients to breathe has come under fire after he said he was saddened that a shooter did not assassinate Donald Trump when he opened fire on him at a Pennsylvania rally over the weekend. Thomas O'Donoghue, who has worked as a respiratory therapist in Florida for three decades, wrote online after the shooting: 'It's a shame he missed.' It was uploaded in response to an X post from Donald Trump Jr., the former President's eldest child, which was branding coverage from CNN a 'disgrace.' O'Donoghue quickly faced backlash over his comments, with many saying he should no longer be employed. Thomas O'Donoghue posted the comment, revealed by Libs of TikTok, in response to a tweet from the former President's eldest son O'Donoghue quickly faced backlash over his comments, with many urging his employer to terminate his position. His LinkedIn lists his employer as Lee Health in South West Florida, but a spokeswoman for the system told DailyMail.com that he had not been employed by them 'for some time'. One individual wrote on X: 'He's in a position to determine whether people live or die and that makes me very, very angry that he's this willing to air this view.' Mr O'Donoghue's comment comes amid a wave of investigations into dozens of people from teachers to a nurse, a firefighter and a county worker who have made similar comments following the attack on the former president. The comments have been revealed by Libs of TikTok. DailyMail.com also revealed today a nurse in New York City and pharmacy worker in Texas had both been fired after their comments were revealed online. Nurse Janiece Binns lost her job earlier today after her posts online implying she was upset the shooter missed were revealed On his LinkedIn, Mr O'Donoghue says he has worked for Lee Memorial Health System for three decades providing patients with care. Respiratory therapists work under the direction of doctors to administer oxygen, manage ventilators and administer drugs for the lungs to a variety of patients. These can include premature infants whose lungs are not developed properly and elderly people with lung disease. There are about 130,000 respiratory therapists in the US, who are all required to treat patients impartially or with no difference based on sex, ethnicity or other factors. The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) which represents the industry says in its code of conduct that respiratory therapists must: 'Provide care without discrimination on any basis, with respect for the rights and dignity of all individuals.' Mr O'Donoghue's comments were first revealed by right-wing X account Libs of TikTok, which said his employer should take swift action. He has since deleted the comments and his X account. Mr O'Donoghue could not be reached for comment. A majority of people have seen a spike in fraud attempts over the past year Fraud victims more than double those who have experienced vehicle theft Fraud accounts for 40 per cent of all reported crimes, new data has revealed, as Britons report that they are seeing an increase in scam activity. Nearly 1.2billion was lost to fraud last year, according to figures from the National Crime Agency, with 3.5 million fraud offences having been committed in the year to March 2023. Over six per cent of people in England and Wales were the victim of fraud during the period, more than double the three per cent that experienced vehicle related theft, and three times those who were victims of criminal damage or bicycle theft. Prevalent: Fraud is by far the most common form of crime, with six per cent falling victim Meanwhile, more than half of people, 55 per cent, have seen an increase in scam attempts over the past year, research from fraud prevention firm Featurespace shows. Almost half (46 per cent) reported that there is even more scam activity during holiday periods such as Christmas. Worryingly, three in ten people have been victims of financial fraud, the data reveals. Martina King, Featurespace chief executive, said: 'The UK is in the midst of a fraud epidemic and millions of people across the country are having to think twice and become more cautious in their daily lives to try to avoid scams.' The biggest contributor to this was authorised push payment fraud, which sees victims making payments to scammers posing as legitimate businesses. In 2023, 459.7million was lost to these scams, with the number of APP cases having risen by 12 per cent. Other common types of fraud include payment diversion fraud, investment fraud, romance fraud and courier fraud. Prior to winning the election, the Labour Party committed to setting out a new fraud strategy, including plans to place liability for reimbursing victims on tech companies instead of banks. 'Britain's banks rightly believe it is both unfair and unsustainable that they should be expected to shoulder so much of the burden of trying to tackle APP fraud and reimburse victims, while the big tech companies on whose platforms this fraud takes place, contribute very little to either effort,' the Labour Party said. Even so, two thirds of fraud victims said they were happy with the support that their bank provided them, while 57 per cent were glad to have information on avoiding financial fraud provided by their bank, Featurespace's survey indicated. King said: 'While these criminals have a wide range of tools at their disposal, and access to our identities in many cases, the good news is that the industry has a wealth of behavioural data within our banks that can be used to spot signs of fraud before it happens. 'Banks across the UK have been harnessing this data and using AI and machine learning technology for good for over a decade.' How can you prevent yourself getting scammed? With the rising prevalence of fraud-based crime, it is wise to take precautions to avoid falling victim to scammers. As many as 80 per cent said they are now more cautious about potential scams on social media, with half of people avoiding accepting friend requests from people they don't know. Similarly, you should take unsolicited emails or phone calls with a pinch of salt, especially if their offers sound too good to be true. Even if you think something is legitimate, take the time to check website addresses, emails and to call back a company using an official number to make sure that you are talking to who you think you are. The National Crime Agency also recommends ensuring that you have a strong password for your email account, which should be different from all your other passwords. Where possible, it is best to use two-factor authentication to access your accounts, especially for your email. Instances of fraud can be reported to the authorities in a variety of ways, including by forwarding suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, reporting suspicious texts and calls to 7726 free of charge, and by contacting Action Fraud. The six or eight-week-long school summer holiday is bliss for children, but less so for parents who may have to fork out thousands of pounds to cover activities and childcare during the break. As many schools in the UK prepare to close their doors for the summer break, parents will turn to holiday clubs, nannies or childminders just so they can continue doing their job. Families will find themselves 900 out of pocket on average for the cost of childcare school summer holiday, according to the latest data from the children's charity Coram. Its Holiday Childcare Survey finds that there is a wide variation in prices across the UK. In London parents can expect to pay 966 over the summer holidays while in the West Midlands, the cheapest area, the cost is 810. The cost of the school summer holiday to families is likely to be well into the thousands of pounds once any trips away, food costs and activities have been factored in. A poll of 1,000 parents last summer by life insurance firm Reassured found parents spent on average over 1,050 a week extra during the school holidays, taking into account childcare, clubs, food shopping and eating out. How will you manage? The challenges for working parents are both from a financial and practical perspective. Six or eight weeks out of school is a long time to cover. In many families, it is common for one parent to work flexibly to reduce the pressure of the summer holidays. One parent may be part-time, not work over the summer holidays or work full-time from home, meaning they can get away with shorter hours for childcare or fewer holiday clubs. Annual leave is often used for some of the holidays perhaps with two working parents alternating annual leave. As many schools in the UK prepare to close their doors for the summer break, parents will turn to holiday clubs, nannies or childminders But not all families have the luxury of being able to work flexibly or from home. For these, the only options are clubs that offer extended hours, childminders, nannies or help from grandparents or other family members. Not all parents can even access clubs. Parents of children with special education needs or disabilities (SEND) often find their child cannot access these clubs and there are few options. One mother, who lives in London, told us she has to spend thousands on a nanny to cover the holidays because her child with SEND cannot access holiday clubs. 'I am forced to pay through the nose for childcare, which I am lucky enough to earn enough to cover. I can't bear to write down how much this costs,' she says. Kate Hesketh, mother to Dottie, seven, who has complex needs, agrees that there is a lack of provision for children with SEND. Dottie was brain damaged at birth, leaving her with cerebral palsy and significant learning difficulties. Because of this, she is still in nappies. Kate, 40, says this is a major hurdle for accessing holiday clubs. She found a local organisation that promised it was inclusive to all SEND children albeit for a higher cost at 60 a day, compared to an average of 25 in her local area of Greater Manchester. But when Kate applied and specified Dottie's needs, her booking was rejected, which Kate says was due to Dottie's personal care needs. Kate Hesketh, whose daughter Dottie has complex needs, agrees there is a lack of provision for children with SEND Kate has since managed to get a few days of care for Dottie over the summer holidays at a local club that is inclusive to all SEND children. Spaces are oversubscribed so she has been allocated only a few days, but Kate is grateful to have some days covered. She has given up her job as a PR manager because of the difficulties with childcare. Dottie needs someone engaging with her at all times, and the childcare means Kate can give her other daughter Penny, four, one-on-one time. 'Most parents with a SEND child dread the summer holidays. We just don't have the options open to other parents. More places should be inclusive,' says Kate. Cost of holiday clubs When we asked more than 50 parents about costs, we found the average cost of a holiday club is around 40 to 60 for a full day that runs from 8.30am to 5.30pm. For a shorter day, from 9am or 10am to 3pm, parents said the cost is closer to 20 to 30. Six weeks of clubs could therefore cost 600 to 1,800 per child, excluding food as parents typically have to provide a packed lunch. One mother in Wiltshire told us she uses a combination of childcare options. She and her husband pay for around four weeks of childcare over the summer, with a childminder doing extra hours if the holiday clubs finish mid-afternoon and there is no option for extended hours. In total, they'll spend 2,000 on childcare for their two children over the summer break. The cost and practicalities of managing the summer holidays can be harder for single parents taking on more of the load, particularly if there is no involvement from another parent. Victoria Benson, chief executive of Gingerbread, the charity for single parent families, says summer holiday childcare is a huge issue for parents because it is expensive, doesn't often cover the full working day and spaces can be hard to find. She says more than a quarter of single parents have been forced to reduce their hours over the long summer holidays and some have to leave their jobs ahead of the school holidays and then find new ones when children go back to school. 'More flexible working would go some way to improving things for single parents. But of course only working term time isn't an option for many single parents who already have significantly lower incomes than coupled parents and are twice as likely to be living in poverty,' she adds. Carly Newman, 38, is a single parent to a six-year-old boy in south London and works full-time for a charity. Carly can afford only a week of holiday clubs, which cost around 50 a day, so she has five more weeks to cover. She has 30 days of annual leave and plans to take 15 days' leave over the summer (the remaining days have to be spread across the year to cover other school holidays including a two-week half-term in October). Carly Newman, a single parent to a six-year-old son, can afford one week of summer club for him, so has five more weeks to cover. With limited annual leave it is a difficult task This still leaves Carly two weeks short on childcare during the six-week summer holidays. The plan is to work from home around her son Ezra, while her parents who still work part-time will also cover some days. Ezra's father is not around and does not see his son. 'It is hard. A lot of my friends are in two-parent families and there is often one non-working parent. They are able to cover the holidays better so I find there isn't really the need for them to do childcare swaps. There's obviously a financial burden to the summer holidays as well as the practicalities as I've only got 30 days annual leave across the year. If you can't afford lots of additional childcare, it's tough to juggle,' says Carly. Options to ease the strain To bring down the cost of the school summer holidays, make sure you are taking advantage of deals and tax breaks that could make a difference. Tax-free childcare Tax-free childcare is available to most working parents if your individual income is less than 100,000 a year. You can get up to 500 every three months towards childcare costs, including holiday clubs and activities. Sign up at gov.uk. However, not all holiday club providers accept tax-free childcare. Check their website or enquire by email. Help if on universal credit You may be able to claim back up to 85pc of your childcare costs if you're claiming universal credit. A maximum of 1,014.63 a month can be claimed for one child, or 1,739.37 for two or more children. Find out if you are entitled using the charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator at www.benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk Free clubs if on a low income There is some free holiday club provision through the government's holiday activities and food (HAF) programme There is some free holiday club provision through the government's holiday activities and food (HAF) programme. This is aimed at school-aged children from reception to year 11 in England who receive benefits-related free school meals. Check what is available in your area. Flexible working All UK employees have a right to ask for flexible working from the first day of employment. If your employer agrees, you could change your hours to start earlier or finish later, or work from home more to reduce the hours needed for childcare. Another option is to consider working term-time only. Take unpaid leave Another option is to ask for unpaid leave. While it's not ideal to earn less money, you may think the reduction is worth it if the cost of childcare is more than your earnings or if you are struggling to find suitable options. All eligible employees are entitled to unpaid parental leave totalling up to 18 weeks for each child until they turn 18. You don't have to take all 18 weeks in one go, but you must take them in weeks at a time rather than individual days. For example, you could take four weeks' parental leave over the summer holidays. Your employment rights are protected. Charity offerings Turn2Us has a list of charities that can help with holidays or activities. For example, the Family Holiday charity can pay for a holiday for families with a household income of less than 24,000 who have not had a family holiday for the past four years. Go to www.turn2us.org.uk The biggest oil producer in the North Sea has ditched plans to sell its Vietnamese arm to a local company for 65million. Harbour Energy announced the deal with Vietnamese group Big Energy last year and expected to complete it by this summer. But the FTSE 250-listed group has pulled out and The Mail on Sunday understands it is seeking a higher price. Ditched: Harbour Energy announced the deal with Vietnamese group Big Energy last year Harbour is keen to quit Vietnam and boss Linda Cook last year said it would like to focus on other countries. It also works in Norway, Indonesia and Mexico. It is the biggest oil and gas producer in the North Sea, but it began pinning its hopes on overseas projects after the last government imposed a windfall tax on UK energy company profits. The levy was brought in after Russias invasion of Ukraine sent oil and gas prices soaring, hitting households with higher bills. Labour said in its manifesto it would bring in a further crackdown on North Sea producers by raising the total tax burden from 75 to 78 per cent and removing investment allowances. Last year Harbour saw the bulk of its profit wiped out by taxes. On the Vietnam deal, in a prospectus for investors, Harbour said it exercised its right to terminate the initial sale deal on May 13, adding: Harbour intends to reassess its options with regards to realising the best value from its Vietnam business. Former Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust manager James Anderson A top tech investor has said chipmaker Nvidia could reach a nearly 40trillion valuation within a decade. That would make it worth more than the combined market value of the S&P 500, an index of the biggest US-listed firms. Shares in Nvidia have soared 162 per cent since the start of the year, giving it a valuation of more than 2trillion. The stock hit an all-time high last month as it cashes in on the AI craze which experts predict will continue. Investor James Anderson told the Financial Times: 'The potential scale of Nvidia in the most optimistic outcome is both way higher than I've ever seen before and could lead to a market cap of double-digit trillions.' An Nvidia share may be worth around 15,750 in ten years, which would mean a market cap of 39trillion, he said. Boom: Nvidia hit an all-time high last month as it cashes in on the AI craze which experts predict will continue Anderson is best known for running Baillie Gifford's Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust for more than two decades which first bought Nvidia in 2016. He was renowned for making a series of successful bets in the tech sector, including Tesla and Amazon, before leaving in 2022. Scottish Mortgage shares have fallen more than 40 per cent since their peak in late-2021, as higher interest rates triggered a sell-off in growth stocks but the trust then failed to fully benefit from the Magnificent Seven-driven bounce back. However, the trust has been boosted by its holding in Nvidia, which is its biggest allocation at 9.4 per cent of the portfolio. Nvidia became the first chipmaker with a market valuation of $1trillion (787billion) last May. Andersons thoughts chime with those of fund manager Stephen Yiu, whose Blue Whale Growth fund 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.' Royal Mail is facing a mounting backlash over its plan to stop transporting post by rail. This newspaper revealed last week the postal service will sell its last freight trains after nearly 200 years of delivering mail on the railways. The move sparked fierce opposition from unions, politicians and freight industry leaders over concerns about jobs. Postal bosses were last night facing calls to meet with MPs, as the railway workers union said the move must be reviewed. It comes as the Government prepares to scrutinise the takeover of the service by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. Backlash: Royal Mail will sell its last freight trains after nearly 200 years of delivering mail on the railways Post was first moved on to the tracks in 1830. Royal Mail is now under pressure to meet with MPs over the plans to axe its trains in October. Conservative MP for Daventry Stuart Andrew said it was a 'very worrying development'. Royal Mail's Midlands 'super hub' at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal opened in his constituency last year. 'I will be writing to Royal Mail to seek clarification of the potential impact for those jobs and to request to meet with them to discuss it,' he told the Mail. Train drivers union Aslef said the decision 'must be reviewed'. A spokesman said: 'There will also be implications for jobs on the railway.' Sarah Hall, the Labour MP for Warrington South, said she was 'concerned' by the plans. Her constituency houses the depot in Crewe where logistics giant DB Cargo maintains the trains. Hall said: 'Royal Mail should be bolstering its network to ensure regular mail deliveries can continue.' Ministers from the Department for Transport are expected to meet with industry leaders in the coming weeks after settling into their new roles. Royal Mail said it plans to use commercial rail services to transport some post but has not provided further details. It added it is difficult and expensive to maintain and run the 30-year-old trains. There are no postal service job losses expected, and affected staff will be redeployed. The move is also set to create 30 full-time driving jobs. The woman New York investment banker Jonathan Kaye was accused of punching when he was swarmed by a group of anti-Semitic protesters last month, was previously escorted out of an NYC Council hearing for having a small weapon, DailyMail.com can reveal. Micah Phillips, a BLM activist and anti-Israel protester, identified herself on social media as the woman at whom Kaye was seen throwing a punch in a viral video of the altercation following the Brooklyn Pride Parade in early June. The financier's attorneys have argued that he reacted in self-defense after he was attacked by a group of 'Queers for Palestine' supporters who had allegedly hurled anti-Semitic slurs at him before dousing him with liquids and shoving him to the ground. Kaye, who has since stepped down from his managing director role at Moelis & Company, was arraigned on second and third degree assault charges earlier this month in Brooklyn, where Phillips's supporters were once again seen heckling and throwing objects at him outside the court house. And now unearthed video obtained by DailyMail.com shows that just months earlier Phillips had been involved in another altercation after she brought a small weapon - believed to be pepper spray - to a council meeting in City Hall. Unearthed video obtained by DailyMail.com shows that just months earlier Phillips had been involved in another altercation after she brought a small weapon - believed to be pepper spray - to a council meeting in City Hall. New York investment banker Jonathan Kaye was arraigned on misdemeanor assault charges earlier this month after he was seen punching Phillips during an altercation in Brooklyn in June The clip of the March 22 incident begins with a hysterical Phillips, who is wearing a keffiyeh scarf, shouting at building officials and police after she was kicked out of the chambers. 'This is my f***ng right! This is my f***ing right! This is my right to testify! You're kicking me out even though I got through your security with this,' she says referring to the small weapon. 'I'm telling you I'll throw it out and you still won't let me in, I'm making a f***ing scene! I'm making a f***ing scene!' The video shows Phillips accompanied by fellow protester Alvin Dan, 32, who was identified as one of the hecklers filmed hurling insults at Kaye after his court hearing on July 1. 'They let her in the building the first time, she can throw it out,' Dan says in an attempt to negotiate with officials at the door. Phillips, still shouting, then tries to reason with them as well, offering to toss the weapon in exchange for going back inside. 'Let me throw it out! Let me throw it out! Let me throw it out! I got this because I'm a woman in New York!' she shouts. As she continues yelling, officials finally take action by clearing the area before ultimately shutting the chamber doors as the raucous protesters are escorted out. The clip of the March 22 incident begins with a hysterical Phillips, who is wearing a keffiyeh scarf, shouting at building officials and police after she was kicked out of the chambers Phillips can be seen accompanied by fellow protester Alvin Dan, 32, (right) who was also among the hecklers filmed hurling insults at Kaye after his court hearing on July 1 Phillips identified herself as the woman involved in the June 8 fracas and took to Instagram on July 1 to share photos of her injuries as well as her outrage over Kaye's downgraded charges in the wake of his court hearing According to social media, Phillips is part of the Crown Heights C.A.R.E. Collective, a social justice group advocating for 'abolition' and 'against policing.' Records show fellow activist Alvin Dan also has a history of brushes with the law, and currently has two criminal cases in New York, including a pending case in Kings County involving charges of obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, attempted assault, and harassment. In the wake of the June 8 incident involving Kaye, Phillips had shared Instagram posts containing the banker's employer's information and urging followers and supporters to call the firm to demand his termination. 'Moelis has still not fired Jonathan Kaye for his violent assault on myself and my friends at Pride. This is unacceptable for them to hope that we forget and move on while he keeps his position of power! Please please share and PLEASE keep calling!' she wrote in a June 13 post. Weeks later she took to Instagram again to slam prosecutors over Kaye's downgraded charges after his July 1 court appearance, while sharing photos of her injuries sustained in the incident. 'Just found out Jonathan Kaye was arrested today and his felony assault charges were taken down to misdemeanors, so he can beat us up and cause permanent, lifelong injuries and get away with it because he's a rich white man?' she captioned the post. 'The Brooklyn DA are cowards and I can't believe this man is going to be able to walk away with essentially no record of his terror,' she added. At the time DailyMail.com published video and photos showing Kaye being targeted by Alvin Dan and fellow supporters of Phillips as he left the courthouse after this hearing. Kaye was arraigned in Brooklyn on July 1, where he and his lawyer were later met by attackers, who threw a drink at his head while hurling anti-Semitic slurs as he left the courthouse Disturbing video footage showed one member of the group - believed to be Phillips's fellow activist and friend Alvin Dan - putting his keys between his fingers as he approached Kay Dan was seen hurling a drink at Kaye as he followed him on the street when he left court He was arrested on the morning of July 1 after he willingly turned himself in to police in Brooklyn and was arraigned hours later. Upon leaving court, Kaye and his lawyer were met by attackers, at least one of whom, believed to be Dan, went after Kaye with keys, according to eyewitnesses. The group was also heard hurling anti-Semitic slurs, with at least one member of the pro-Hamas group calling out 'Zionist pigs' and 'Jewish dogs', video showed. The man physically attacked the lawyer from behind and then tried to chase Kaye with his car keys between his fingers. A woman eventually told the attacker to run, which he did. DailyMail.com reached out to the NYPD for comment. It comes after sources close to the financier came forward with his side of the story in the wake of the controversy last month, claiming the fracas had unfolded after a group of four female 'Queers for Palestine' supporters allegedly started taunting the Jewish financier and throwing liquids at him as he left a nearby restaurant that night. Unseen footage obtained by DailyMail.com shed new light on the events leading up to scuffle, showing the moment the two parties cross paths on the street in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, before getting into a heated physical confrontation. In the wake of the June 8 incident involving Kaye, the radical activist had shared Instagram posts urging followers and supporters to call his employer to demand his termination Kaye was arrested on July 1 after turning himself in to police in Brooklyn Viral video had shown Kaye throwing a vicious overhand right at an unnamed woman in Brooklyn - where he also lives in a four bedroom townhouse in pricey Park Slope, valued at just over $4million The CCTV images, captured by a nearby restaurant, show Kaye emerging from the right side of the sidewalk, where the group of revelers appear to be hanging out on the corner. The two parties appear to exchange words as Kaye walks by, but he continues walking, before glancing back at the group after they allegedly begin hurling slurs and insults. As he continues up the sidewalk, he crosses paths with someone who appears to be returning to the same group of friends in the corner, and they exchange words as well. It is unknown exactly what was said, but it was apparently provocative enough to cause Kaye to stop and turn around and approach the group. The confrontation quickly turns chaotic and physical, with Kaye seen being surrounded and then shoved into the street, off screen, catching the attention of nearby onlookers. After the altercation unfolds off camera, he reappears in frame seconds later and continues on his way down the sidewalk. New footage obtained by DailyMail.com shows the moment millionaire investment banker Jonathan Kaye first encounters a group of Pride parade-goers as he walks by them on the corner of a Brooklyn street on June 8 The confrontation quickly turns aggressive and violent, as the group gangs up on Kaye and shoves him onto the street A source with knowledge of the incident said the viral clip does not tell the whole story, which they claim began when a group of Queers for Palestine supporters attacked Kaye as he left dinner. Pictured: Kaye's injuries Last month sources told DailyMail.com that Kaye, who is Jewish, had told the group they were 'on the wrong side', prompting the women to gang up on him Now, DailyMail.com understands Kaye had turned around and went back to confront the group after hearing the anti-Semitic slurs directed towards him. In a statement to DailyMail.com, Kaye's legal representative Danya Perry, Perry Law said: 'Mr. Kaye, a middle-aged Jewish man with no history of violence or aggression, was terrorized, assaulted, and surrounded by a group of unruly anti-Semitic protesters. 'What the previously released video clip does not show is what another video and other evidence we have shared with the DA does show: that these agitators formed a ring at him, doused him with two unknown liquids, shoved him to the ground, and hurled anti-Semitic slurs at him. 'Terrified and injured, Mr. Kaye managed to act in self-defense to escape the situation and return safely to his family. We are hopeful that the District Attorney will fully and fairly consider these facts, along with the surge of anti-Semitic acts, protests, and attacks that are ravaging our city. We will aggressively fight injustice, and we look forward to a full vindication for our client.' When Donald Trump named J.D. Vance as his pick for vice president it completed an extraordinary journey from former Marine and bestselling author with a neat line in Never Trump rhetoric to the ultimate MAGA loyalist. It could have been very different, were it not for his wife and her legal background. Vance met Usha Chilukuri, the child of Indian immigrants, at Yale Law School in 2013. While his career took him into venture capital before embarking on the manuscript that would become 'Hillbilly Elegy' and a culture phenomenon, making sense of a forgotten America that mystified the country's liberal elite, she was pursuing federal clerkships. First she worked in Kentucky but then she moved to a coveted place at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Washington, DC., where she clerked for Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh. Friends say it was Kavanaugh's stormy Supreme Court confirmation in 2018 when he had to ride out multiple accusations of sexual assault that pushed Vance into politics. J.D. Vance's evolution from author and Donald Trump basher runs through his wife Usha Vance and her relationship with Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh 'For him it was political,' said someone who knew Vance then. 'The guy was a family friend.' Vance has made the same point himself. 'My wife worked for Kavanaugh, loved the guykind of a dork,' he told the New York Times recently. 'Never believed these stories. 'You start looking around and say, "If they can do this to him, can they just do this to any of us?" An incredible campaign of character assassination.' Friends say they thought he was well set for a career as a writer and venture capitalist before then. The former Marine could write for high-minded newspapers on politics and people, appear on TV to talk Trump and the Mid West, while making a fortune with his financial firm all the while. His book had painted an evocative portrait of a tough upbringing in a forgotten American. He was perfectly placed to explain why those rust belt towns had turned to Trump even as he warned that the man himself was like an opioid, an 'easy escape from the pain.' It could have made him a fixture of the chattering pundit classes, called on to explain the appeal and meteoric political rise of a loud-mouthed New York property developer that had baffled the establishment on the left and the right. What changed, said a friend who knew the couple at Yale, was the way prestigious institutions railed against Kavanaugh during his confirmation and at Trump in office. A former student at Yale came forward to say that Kavanaugh had assaulted her when they were students in 1980s. A second allegation was soon reported. Kavanaugh denied the allegations and he was eventually confirmed, but not without bruising condemnation by Yale alumni and others. Justice Brett Kavanaugh shakes hands with President Donald Trump before the State of the Union Address in 2019. It was his stormy confirmation that helped push Vance into politics Christine Blasey Ford claimed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh tried to sexually assault her in high school after he was appointed last year Kavanaugh broke down in tears during his 2018 testimony and claimed that the allegations against him by Ford and other women were politically motivated 'Hillbilly Elegy' was published in 2016 The hearings were dramatic. They included the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, who said the future justice pinned her to a bed when they were teenagers followed by Kavanaugh's tearful flashes of anger as he fought the accusations. A friend who knew Vance and his future wife at law school said it was one of the factors that pushed him towards Trump and politics, after previously being highly critical. 'There were two things that I think were frustrating for JD' he said. 'One was seeing how Yale, like kind of our Yale communityprofessors, alumniwent after Brett Kavanaugh and the rank partisanship that was shown in that.' The other thing, he added, was the way the mainstream media, which raved about his book slated the movie when it came out in a way that felt like an attack on the America he had written about. Vance had always been a conservative but the partisanship, the story goes, led him to embrace Trump and his Republican movement. His second big break came in 2020 when he was running for the Republican senate nomination in Ohio. During one of the primary debates he pushed back on the idea of NATO-enforced no-fly zone over Ukraine. Don Jr. weighed in to back Vance in March 2022, paving the way for his father's endorsement Vance has become close to Donald Trump Jr. who is seen here campaigning with him in 2022 His military service, including a stint in Iraq, had left him skeptical of foreign interventions. And he was the only one of three Republicans on the debate stage to reject the no-fly zone idea. At the time he was being buffeted by attack ads picking over his past anti-Trump comments, such as ' I can't stomach Trump. I think that he's noxious.' But that didn't matter when the president's eldest son spotted his comments. Donald Trump Jr had read Hillbilly Elegy and was tickled that it's author was taking on interventionist neocon Republicans. He tweeted in support and weeks later his father weighed in with an endorsement, effectively ending the primary race, and catapulting Vance to the Senate. While strategists, donors and advisers have been lobbying Trump to pick their man or woman for running mate, it meant Vance had a voice right inside the family itself. Last week, Don Jr. spelled out why he was supporting the Ohio senator: 'You make a lot of acquaintances in politics, but J.D. is a great and loyal guy who has become a genuine friend. 'His entire life story is the embodiment of the American dream, but he never forgets where he came from. Former President Donald Trump campaigning with Sen. J.D. Vance in Vandalia, Ohio, in March. Trump has apparently taken note of a slimmed down Vance saying that 'he's got the look' Vance married Usha Chilukuri in 2014. They have three children together A straw poll of attendees at Turning Point Action's People's convention in Detroit last month found that Vance was the clear favorite to be Trump's VP 'He's also one of the few people I've seen in Washington who not only is a true believer in my fathers agenda, but also has the courage and intelligence to fight back against the Democrats and leftwing media effectively in defense of our commonsense American values.' He was also the runaway favorite of the MAGA base, benefiting from his frequent TV appearance to deliver punches for the former president. When attendees of a Turning Point Action event in Detroit, drawn from the grassroots of the Trump movement, were asked who should join the ticket, their overwhelming choice was Vance. He was 30 points ahead of runner up Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. It means Vance could be on the brink of becoming the first Marine veteran to take up the role of vice president, and the first bearded A young woman broke down in tears as she recalled the disgusting moment she was harassed and spat on by a man on a tram while bystanders did nothing to help her. Erin Batchelor posted a TikTok about the shocking incident that occurred on a weekday afternoon in Melbourne. Ms Batchelor revealed the man had boarded the tram before he took a seat no more than three metres away from her. She said she was wary of him from the start, but did not want 'to judge a book by its cover'. 'I was keeping my eye on him, but you could just tell he was so high on something, he was just speaking to himself,' Ms Batchelor said. 'He pulled out a full bottle of red wine and started sipping that and then spitting it out on the floor and making all these noises.' She said the man approached her and tried to grab her phone, which she was holding tightly. She recalled that she looked at him but did not say anything because she was terrified. Erin Batchelor spoke of her terrifying incident on a tram in Melbourne that happened in broad daylight. Pictured: stock image of a tram Ms Batchelor said the man sat in the seat in front of her and, when she attempted to move, he thrust his leg out to block her. She explained how she stepped over him and walked to the back of the tram with two other terrified female passengers - only for the man to follow them before accosting another woman. 'He started speaking very aggressively, and he was swearing and this is when I started shaking, and I was trying to hold it together,' Ms Batchelor said. She said the man followed her when she got off the tram before an even more shocking incident occurred. 'He spat on me, and I felt so disgusted,' she said. The other woman had also got off the tram and offered her serviettes and wet wipes to clean herself. However, she said there were plenty of other people on board who failed to offer any assistance. 'There were all these men sitting there that did nothing, which is so frustrating as well, especially seeing a young woman like me and another young woman who feels so uncomfortable,' Ms Batchelor said. Erin Batchelor (pictured) was left traumatised by the recent incident on a Melbourne tram when she was harassed and spat on by a male passenger Ms Batchelor said the ordeal left her feeling 'helpless'. 'You have no idea what this person might do, and the people around you are scared or not helping at all,' she said. 'I don't understand why people don't try and help people if they can. 'It's just so frustrating when these things happen, and especially when women don't feel safe, and it's literally on a random Wednesday at two o'clock in the afternoon, in daylight with so many people around.' Ms Batchelor ended her video by saying the incident could have been worse. 'I'm just sharing my frustrations and making people aware that you need to be vigilant, and just be aware of your surroundings,' she said. Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia the incident had not been reported. Daily Mail Australia contacted Ms Batchelor and Yarra Trams for comment. A heartbroken couple whose newbuild dream home has been valued at just 1 has blasted a developer for leaving them with a house riddled with more than 500 issues and 'not fit for human habitation.' Dayle Dixon, 53, and Mark Lee, 59, were first-time buyers when they bought the three-bed home in Ivybridge, Devon, for 274,995 in April 2018. Two days before they moved in Dayle said she reported a hairline crack in the floor, but was told by housebuilder David Wilson Homes, a subsidiary of Barratt Developments, the house was just drying out. Barratt put down a screed layer to cover the cracks, but it made little difference and now runs the length of the house. Last year an independent chartered surveyor commissioned by the couple found the property was practically worthless after a catalogue of major defects emerged. Dayle Dixon, 53, and Mark Lee, 59, claim their home in Ivybridge Devon, which they bought for 275,000 in 2018, is now worth just 1 The couple has blasted developer Barratt for leaving them with a house riddled with more than 500 issues and 'not fit for human habitation' Two days before they moved in, Dayle said she reported a hairline crack in the floor, but was told by housebuilder David Wilson Homes, a subsidiary of Barratt Developments, the house was just drying out There are cracks running throughout the ground floor, including within the bathroom Without the problems, it would have been worth 330,000, the surveyors said. Dayle, who has been forced to take time off work for stress, depression and anxiety, said: 'This was going to be our forever home, this was going to be it for us. But it has been chaos ever since we moved in. 'When we got the 1 valuation I was just numb, in a way I already knew the house we had put everything into was worthless. Nobody is going to want to buy this house. 'I would say after six years it's at the end of its life, but to tell you the truth it never had a life, it was never fit for human habitation.' Through hundreds of calls and letters, the couple have built up an extensive paper trail and are currently suing the developer in a small claims court. Lorry driver Mark said they had fallen in love with the smart cream-coloured three-bed house in a pretty town on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park believing it would be a stress-free option. He said: 'The whole idea of buying a newbuild is it would be stress free. 'We could've bought and done up an old house and been mortgage free, but this was supposed to be a fresh start. 'I hardly ever spend time here, if I'm not working I just sleep my life away. It's been tough on our relationship and it's taken us to very, very low places.' The house has more than 500 issues, the couple claim, including cracks above the doorframes An independent chartered surveyor highlighted there was inadequate damp proofing within the property The couple are now taking Barratt to court over the issues within their home. Pictured: Rubble is strewn across the exterior of the property Other problems identified in the couple's report include a damaged soil pipe, damaged and corroding structural floor beams, inadequate damp proofing, inadequate window design and poorly fitted fire doors. The report stated: 'The ground floor will have to be stripped back to shell stage, sections of structural walls and floors will have to be removed, and it is likely that further defects which will require repair will be identified as works progress.' It added: 'Numerous significant defects have been identified. There has been limited positive engagement from the developer in resolving these issues There is consequently an ongoing and costly dispute arising between the parties which only appears to be escalating.' Barratt has commissioned its own reports that took a more positive view, but conceded that there was damage to one of the floor beams and that cracks needed to be monitored. Another Barratt-commissioned report recommended remedial action for cracks across the floor. The couple - who are also suing Barratt in the small claims court over damage to items in their house during previous repairs - want the housebuilder to buy them out at market rate and cover the money tied up in the government's Help to Buy scheme which would allow them to move on. They say the latest offer would leave them with less than 50,000 to find a new home. Mark added: 'If we took their offer we would be homeless. We wouldn't even be able to buy a flat and what are my chances of getting a mortgage at 60?' Dayle and Mark say several other families on the estate have also had problems with their homes, but are unwilling to speak out because they are planning to sell. One neighbour Yvonne Challis, who has also had problems with her property, said: 'I just find their aftercare disgusting. I've never bought a new house before but I have built houses, I'm not stupid. 'But even if I was stupid I would still realise something is very wrong here.' A spokesman for Barratt said: 'As the UK's leading five star housebuilder, we are sorry that Ms Dixon is unhappy. While we try to get things right first time, occasionally mistakes happen which we try to rectify as quickly as possible. 'We paid for an independent surveyor's report of her choosing and have confirmed we will deal with any issues it finds offering to pay for an external contractor of her choosing to deliver the work. 'So far Ms Dixon has rejected our attempts to resolve the issue in line with her demands, but we continue to try and work towards a successful resolution.' Damaging winds, snow, and rain are heading for parts of Tasmania, Victoria, and NSW as an arctic blast continues to strike the country. Two low-pressure systems in the Tasman Sea have trapped freezing air across the three states as well as parts of South Australia. As a result, temperatures have plunged, with some areas of the country experiencing cold weather up to 8C below average. Meanwhile, The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for parts of Tasmania, Victoria and NSW this week, including winds strong enough to bring down trees or powerlines. 'The fierce winds that are predicted to hit southeastern Australia from this weekend have the potential to topple trees after a prolonged wet period has led to a soggy landscape,' Weatherzone said. 'While winds should continue to be strong across eastern Australia on Tuesday, they should ease below damaging strength as the low moves further east over the Tasman Sea.' It is already snowing throughout alpine NSW, and the weather bureau says that, combined with strong winds on Monday, there is a risk of blizzards for those living higher than 1900metres above sea level. The weather system has already generated dangerous surf and swell conditions along the coasts of Tasmania, Victoria and NSW. The weather systems will also see the mercury plummet, with some areas experiencing temperatures as much as eight degrees below average (pictured) Weatherzone predicts that heavy rain will also batter Tasmania and Victoria through to Wednesday. Sydney Sydneysiders are in for a cold but mostly sunny week as maximum temperatures remain around the mid-teens from Monday through to the weekend. Minimum temperatures are expected to drop below 10C, reaching a chilly 6C on Friday. Showers are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, with up to 1mm of rain predicted on Tuesday and 4mm on Wednesday. On Monday, large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous especially for those taking part in coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing. Melbourne Residents in Melbourne are in for a cold and wet week. Heavy falls of up to 20mm are expected on both Monday and Tuesday before easing to light showers from Wednesday through to the weekend. Maximum temperatures will struggle to climb over 14C on Tuesday and Sunday, with lows of just 5C on the weekend. Meanwhile, snow is expected to fall over elevated areas outside the Victorian Alps with the arrival of a prolonged outbreak of freezing air from Antarctica. Millions of Aussies living in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia are in a cold and wet week ahead Brisbane The Sunshine State capital can expect a cool and mostly sunny week ahead. Maximum temperatures will remain at 19C for the week before warming a few degrees to the low 20s from Friday and into the weekend. Meanwhile, minimum temperatures are set at 9C for everyday of the week expect for Saturday, which will see a drop to 8C. Canberra Temperatures will plummet in the nation's capital over the coming week with days to remain cloudy and cold as air is trapped by a low-pressure system. Possible showers are forecast for every day of the week, with the heaviest falls of up to 7mm of rain expected on Saturday. Minimum temperatures are set for 1C on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, -1C on Thursday and Sunday and dropping to -3C on Friday. Adelaide Adelaide is set for a cold and wet week as an extended burst of icy air from Antarctica spreads across the southeast. A high-pressure system is expected to follow and linger over southern parts of the country for the next five days, prolonging the cold weather. Maximum temperatures will remain in the mid-teens, while lows will alternate between 7C and 8C for the week. Rain is forecast for Adelaide from Monday through to the weekend, with the heaviest falls on Friday with up to 15mm. Perth Perth will begin the week with sunny conditions before the cold front moving through the state brings heavy showers. Up to 10mm of rain is expected to fall on Wednesday before increasing to 30mm on Thursday. Showers will continue into the weekend with up to 5mm of rain forecast for Friday and Saturday and 10mm of rain on Sunday. Temperatures will struggle to get higher than 20C in Perth with lows ranging between 7C and 11C for the week. Hobart Tasmanians will shiver through yet another cold and wet week as the low-pressure system moves from the east coast further down the country. Like Victoria and SA, Tasmania will receive cold, gusty wind and rain. Temperatures in Hobart are expected to drop as low as 3C on Friday and reach a high of just 13C for the week ahead. Monday and Tuesday are forecast to be the wettest days, with up to 30mm and 15mm of rain set to fall respectively. Darwin Meanwhile, residents in Darwin will escape the cold weather with sunny conditions and temperatures ranging between the high 20s and low 30s well into the weekend. Minimum conditions will see some mornings drop to 15C and 16C. Sacked ABC radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf has issued the broadcaster a three-pronged ultimatum in return for her dropping legal proceedings. Her legal team, led by Josh Bornstein of firm Maurice Blackburn, last week offered the ABC a 'modest' compromise settlement after mediation talks failed in June. Lattouf was dumped in December over her posts on the war in Gaza, just three days into a week-long stint as fill-in host on ABC Radio Sydney's morning show. She launched legal action against the ABC at the Fair Work Commission claiming the decision was political, based on her stance on Palestine and her Lebanese heritage. Lattouf has revealed she is willing to avoid a costly Federal Court trial if the ABC awards her $85,000, issues a public apology and reinstates her as a fill-in radio presenter. Mr Bornstein's letter to the ABC argued the settlement represented what Lattouf 'could be awarded at trial if she is successful', the Sydney Morning Herald reported. He added that, if the offer was rejected, the publicly-funded national broadcaster would have to spend hundreds of thousands in legal bills fighting his client. 'It is in the interests of both parties, and your client in particular, that a swift and pragmatic solution be reached to resolve the proceedings,' the letter reads. Former ABC fill-in radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf (pictured) has requested compensation of $85,000, a public apology and reinstatement in her role to drop legal proceedings 'A protracted legal dispute is not in the interests of either the ABC or Ms Lattouf.' Lattouf said she supported a public broadcaster using taxpayer funds to inform and entertain the public instead of paying for legal fees. 'I have done nothing wrong, yet I am still being punished,' she said. 'It's been a distressing seven months as I've fought for journalism without fear or favour, my career, reputation and mental health. 'But it's all worth fighting for. I look forward to moving on.' Lattouf was fired just after finishing a stint on the air and hours after a member of a Jewish WhatsApp group called for a day of action against her. The ABC said the source of the complaints was irrelevant to its procedures and maintained Lattouf was not removed solely because of her posts. 'The ABC has a transparent complaints process and responds accordingly, regardless of the source of the complaint,' a spokesman said at the time. Lattouf is suing the national broadcaster after claiming she was sacked in December over social media posts in support of Palestinians (pictured, ABC offices in Ultimo, Sydney) Lattouf sparked a media storm last month after using a now-deleted slur to describe ABC viewers. She referenced the broadcaster's older audience as the 'colostomy-bag crowd' in an opinion piece for Nine newspapers. Journalist Lucie Morris-Marr denounced it as 'one of the most hideous, offensive and nasty phrases I've ever heard as a young bowel cancer patient who had one for a year due to emergency surgery'. The words were later cut from the online version of the Sydney Morning Herald column - although it was too late for the printed product. What a Texas father saw when he decided to check in on his two-year-old son's daycare last year sent him running to the facility, and has now sparked a $1million lawsuit. The unidentified father logged into The Children's Courtyard's livestream on July 27, 2023 and watched in horror as a daycare worker smothered his son in an attempt to keep him quiet during nap time, a new Texas lawsuit claims, according to KVUE. The employee then allegedly pulled the covers off and repeatedly slapped the child in the face and head when he did not sleep. The father then rushed to the facility in Austin to confront staff members about what he had seen, but the daycare never reported the abuse to state officials or law enforcement, according to the suit. A daycare worker at The Children's Courtyard in Austin, Texas was allegedly caught on camera smothering a two-year-old in an attempt to keep him quiet during nap time and then repeatedly hitting him when he would not go to sleep Officials at the daycare also allegedly told the worried parents the employee in question would be suspended for one day for their actions. The child's mother, Alexis Dominguez, is now seeking $1million in damages for her son's physical and emotional injuries. She claims in the lawsuit that the video showed her son trying to cover his face and head with his hands to block the hits from the unidentified care worker. But the repeated slaps caused the boy to 'rock back and forth with each blow,' the lawsuit claims, according to the Idaho Statesman. Dominguez and the child's father ultimately decided to take their son out of the daycare, and reported the incident to state authorities themselves. 'Clearly The Children's Courtyard did not value my son's safety or express concern for his well-being,' she said. 'Anyone with basic common sense understands that smothering and hitting a child is completely unacceptable.' Alexis Dominguez, left, the mother of the child, has now filed a $1million lawsuit against the daycare center The Texas Health and Human Services Commission Child-Care Licensing Division and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services investigated the incident, and cited the daycare for five violations. They found that the daycare had abused the child, covered his head with a blanket, used prohibitive punishment to discipline the child and allowed the employee in question to stay around children for three hours after daycare officials learned of the abuse, according to state records. Additionally, the state found that the daycare officials did not report the abuse. But The Children's Courtyard - a chain of daycares throughout Texas - is no stranger to controversy. The daycare center has been cited 70 times since 2019, according to state records It has been cited 70 times since 2019, according to state records. Among the violations are children being left unsupervised, failure to report an incident, a lack of competency and a situation in which children were dancing on tables and taking off their clothes, according to KVUE. In 2017, Jazmine Torres - an employee of The Children's Courtyard in Plano, Texas - was caught on camera slamming an 18-month-old face down on the ground while trying to get him to sleep. She was later fired from the facility. 'The serious safety issues at The Children's Courtyard are full of alarm bells and red flags,' Dominguez's attorney, Russell Button, said. 'It is clear this daycare does not prioritize child safety based on the treatment of our client's child and the facility's track record.' A spokesperson for The Children's Courtyard, however, insisted: 'The health and safety of the children we serve is our highest priority. 'While we can confirm the employee(s) in question are no longer employed at The Children's Courtyard, and we consistently inform and partner with all relevant regulatory authorities, we cannot comment further on ongoing litigation,' the spokesperson continued. It remains unclear whether the unidentified employee ever faced criminal charges for the abuse, tough the Austin Police Department said they had no record of a report. An off-duty cop has won the praise of residents after incredible footage captured the moment he foiled an alleged shoplifter's attempt to steal meat from a supermarket. The off-duty detective sergeant stopped the man at a Woolworths on Lincoln Road at Henderson in Auckland's west, New Zealand, at 8.05am on July 9. The cop, who did not want to be named, was on his way to work at Henderson Police Station when he decided to grab a bag of chips for another officer. As he walked into the store, he spotted a man wearing a hoodie walking out of the wrong exit with a basket filled with hundreds of dollars worth of produce. The alleged thief was confronted by the cop and CCTV footage captured the moment the officer swiftly took the basket out of the man's hand. The alleged robber was left stunned as the officer, who was wearing a dark coat and beige coloured pants, calmly walked past him. New Zealand Police said they are conducting inquiries into the incident. 'Police have now identified the offender and we will be speaking to him about the theft shortly,' they said. The alleged thief was confronted by the cop and CCTV footage captured the moment the officer swiftly took the basket off the man (pictured) 'Police are continuing to hold shoplifters to account on multiple fronts'. Daily Mail Australia has contacted New Zealand Police for further comment. The footage of the cop's slick move was shared to Facebook and attracted hundreds of comments from viewers who praised the cop. 'Love how calm, swift and just simply matter of fact. Well done Detective!' one wrote. 'Oh love this. Cool policeman,' another added. 'So good! Didnt miss a beat,' a third wrote. The police officer spotted the man, who was wearing a hoodie and a pair of shorts, as he was walking out of the wrong exit of the store (pictured) Others said security should be increased across retails stores by providing security guards with more resources. 'Maybe there would be less supermarket theft if you actually gave security guards the power to actually do their job,' one person wrote. Retailers in New Zealand have lost around $1.3billion to retail crime according to a crime survey conducted by Retail New Zealand in 2023. The survey found 92 per cent of retailers across the country have been victims of retail crime, which costs businesses $2.56 billion every year. President Joe Biden called for a peaceful return to politics but his Oval Office address contained a few errors as he attempted to bring down the political temperature in the wake of an assassination attempt on Donald Trump. 'Politics must never be a little battlefield or, god forbid, a killing field,' Biden said in the Sunday evening speech. 'No matter how strong our convictions, we must never descend to violence.' He reminded Americans the place to take out their differences was at the ballot box and, as he prepares to restart his re-election campaign, he called on voters to 'cool it down.' But the president made a few glaring errors in his six-minute address, including calling the ballot box 'the battle box' and referring to former President Donald Trump as 'former Trump.' His overall message came through, however. 'Tonight I'm asking every American to recommit,' Biden noted. 'Hate must have no safe harbor.' President Joe Biden speaking from the Oval Office He spoke from the Resolute Desk, an American flag and the presidential seal behind him. Oval Office addresses are rare and used to give greater heft and sense of state to the occasion. Biden noted the Republican National Convention starts tomorrow and that he was going to return to the campaign trail. He said he expected Republicans to criticize his record while he planned to over his own vision for the country. 'The path forward through competing visions of the campaign should always be resolved peacefully not through acts of violence,' he said. 'A former president was shot and American citizen killed or simply for exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing,' he noted of Saturday's events, where one spectator died and another two were severely wounded. The president, who is running for a second term, reminded Americans of the stakes in November. 'This election is going to shape the for decades to come. I believe that with all my soul,' he noted. He has only used an Oval Office address on two other occasions: last June, to mark the passage of legislation averting a federal default, and in October, to discuss the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Biden leaves for Las Vegas on Monday. He'll address the 115th NAACP National Convention on Tuesday and hold a campaign event on Wednesday. Trump arrived in Milwaukee on Sunday night for the convention where he'll formally be named the Republican presidential nominee. The former president survived a horrific attempt on his life, coming away with only a wound on his right ear. Law enforcement officials said they were looking at Saturday's shooting as a possible domestic terrorism attack and assassination attempt. As the campaign prepares to continue, Biden pointed to the violence that has been seen across the political sphere in the past few years, including an attempt on the life of Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul, a kidnapping plan for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the January 6th insurrection. 'We can allow this violence to be normalized,' Biden warned in his Oval Office address. 'The political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated. Its time to cool it down,' he said. 'We all have a responsibility to do this.' It was the second time in one day that Biden addressed the country. Earlier Sunday Biden cautioned Americans about making assumptions into the motive behind the assassination trip and said he's ordered 'every resource' available to protect his Republican rival. 'We don't yet have any information about the motive of the shooter,' Biden said Sunday from the Roosevelt Room in the White House. 'Don't make assumptions about his motives,' the president pleaded. Some Republicans have already started blaming Biden and his campaign rhetoric for the attempted assassination of his Republican rival. Biden spent much of his remarks defending the Secret Service against criticism and pushing back on allegations not enough had been done to protect the former president. The Secret Service denied that Trump hasn't been given increased protection despite being the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. 'Mr. Trump as a former president and nominee Republican party already receives a heightened level of security. And I've consistent in my direction in the Secret Service to provide been him with every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety,' Biden said. Biden added he's ordered an independent review of what happened at Saturday night's rally. Biden said he spoke to Trump on Saturday night and was glad the former president was doing well in the wake of the assassination attempt. He also said he was praying for the family of Corey Comperatore, the spectator who was killed at Trump's rally. 'We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed. He was a father he was protecting his family from the bullets are being fired lost his life. God love him,' Biden said. Questions have been raised as to how Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin, was able to get on a building rooftop so close to Trump's rally site. Law enforcement officials said they do not believe Crooks was part of any larger plot and that their top priority was determining his motive. Crooks grazed Trump's ear, killed one spectator and injured two more before a Secret Service counter assault agent killed him. The rallygoer who was killed was identified as Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief from the area, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who added that Comperatore 'died a hero.' 'His wife shared with me that he dove on his family to protect them,' Shapiro said. Biden said the results of the investigation into the protective measures at Trump's rally would be made public. And he denounced the assassination attempt. 'There is no place in America for this kind of violence or any violence for that matter,' Biden said. 'The assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation. Everything it's not who we are as a nation. It's not American.' Biden was joined in the Roosevelt Room of the White House by Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. 'We must unite as one nation,' Biden said. 'We must unite as one nation to demonstrate who we are.' The president noted he ordered a review of security measures at the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to begin Monday in Milwaukee. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is taken from the stage Trump announced earlier Sunday he will head to Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon. 'Based on yesterday's terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a 'shooter,' or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else. Therefore, I will be leaving for Milwaukee, as scheduled, at 3:30 P.M. TODAY. Thank you!,' he wrote on Truth Social. Thomas Matthew Crooks He arrived there on Sunday evening, walking off his plane unaided. Trump was taken to his Bedminster, N.J., home after he was released from the hospital on Saturday night. His campaign said the convention will continue as planned. Biden's campaign, meanwhile, is grappling with how to compete against Trump in the wake of the assassination attempt. Biden postponed a planned trip to Texas on Monday, where he was to speak on the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the Lyndon B. Johnson presidential library. And Vice President Kamala Harris postponed a trip to Palm Beach County - where Trump's Mar-a-Lago home is located - where she was going to campaign against Republicans' record on reproductive rights. The Biden campaign did pull down all its television ads and suspend digital operations. It is expected to resume its campaign operations on Monday evening. A day after being grazed by an assassin's bullet, Donald Trump said he had decided to rewrite the speech he will deliver this week at his party convention and use it as a chance to bring the country together. He flew into Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Sunday evening in a display of defiance as he demonstrates that he is already back at work. He spent Sunday on calls to world leaders, journalists and allies before announcing that the attack would not knock him off a busy schedule. But at the same time, aides have quietly let it be known that the conventionexpected to be a rowdy, Democrat-baiting coronation for the nomineemust be a more muted affair. Starting with the president's own speech. 'Unite America!' Trump posted on Truth Social after revealing that he would be flying to Milwaukee as planned. He is expected to make his first public appearance on Monday when he may (or may not) announce his vice presidential pick before his big set-piece speech on the final night of the convention. 'The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger,' he told the Washington Examiner. 'Had this not happened, this wouldve been one of the most incredible speeches aimed mostly at the policies of President Joe Biden. 'Honestly, its going to be a whole different speech now,' he added. People who spoke to him said he was in good spirits throughout the day and was intent on showing that life goes on. 'Instead of going back to Florida, or instead of staying at Bedminster, he comes to Milwaukee, a little early, instead of late, which most all the prognosticator said he was going to do,' said Trump confidant and party committeeman for Maryland,' said Trump confidant David Bossie, who is on the convention's planning committee. 'it's what leaders do. They want to dispel the idea that anything's wrong.' A day earlier, a gunman came close to ending his life. The Fiserv Forum has been decked out in red, white and blue (with a bunch of gold balloons) ready for the start of the Republican National Convention on Monday Trump Force One arrives in Milwaukee from Newark Airport on Sunday evening Trump descends the steps from his plane after landing in Milwaukee Instead, Trump turned his head at the vital moment and ended up with a bloody ear. He was hustled off stage by his Secret Service detail, but not before give his supporters a clenched fist salute. Since then he has cut the figure of a leader intent on getting on with business. He has spoken by phone to President Joe Biden, the new British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. 'You would think he would be down,' said Fox News host Lawrence Jones, who spoke with the former president on Sunday. 'He's in the saddle. He's excited.' Trump himself said he was not going to let a gunman upend his campaign or his life. 'Based on yesterdays terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a "shooter," or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else,' he said in a post on Truth Social. Trump's plane landed at MIlwaukee at about 6pm local time. He raised a fist as he descended the steps. Trump announced on Sunday afternoon that he would push ahead with his plan to travel to Milawukee, Wisconsin, for the Republican National Comvention Rapper and influencer Amber Rose is seen onstage at the Fiserv Forum during preparations for the Republican National Convention People rally in support of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday Attendees will notice some changes to the party's four-yearly jamboree. Security was already tight, with a 10-ft barrier erected around the Fiserv Forum and dirty-bomb sniffing helicopters in the air. But a source told DailyMail.com that senior Trump aides had asked for a more sober tone to proceedings than in previous years. 'It won't be all kumbaya,' they said, standing on the convention floor beneath a ceiling already filled with red, white, blue, and gold balloons ready to be released. 'But there'll be more about unity and a bit less of the attacks.' Bossie said no one had told delegates to change their tone. Governors, senators or U.S. representatives knew what was expected of them. 'if you know how to read the nation, you're going to deliver remarks that are reflective of that,' he said. 'And I'm not saying ... what they may or may not have said was wrong. It's just maybe they say it in a different way. That's really what it is.' A Met detective who was sacked over accusations he made sexual advances on victims and offered cocaine to women at swingers' orgies has died. Former Detective Inspector Warren Arter was found unresponsive in his cell at HMP Wandsworth less than a week after being charged with misconduct. The 54-year-old was remanded in custody at Westminster magistrates' court on Wednesday and passed away on Friday, according to The Sun. He was due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court next month after he was charged with misconduct in public office after accusations he had inappropriate contact with a victim of crime. Former Detective Inspector Warren Arter was sacked over accusations he made sexual advances on victims and offered cocaine to women at swingers' orgies Photos from Arter's phone which were used in evidence against him in his misconduct tribunal Arter - who worked on a unit dealing with rape victims - was sacked for gross misconduct in May last year. This was after being suspended for six years on full pay due to taking drugs and offering to supply them at swingers' parties. It is estimated he earned around 400,000 since he was suspended by Scotland Yard in 2016 over allegations that he abused his position 'for a sexual purpose'. He was accused of pestering victims of sexual offences between 2006 and 2013 when he was a detective sergeant leading a rape investigation team which won an award in 2009 for having the best detection rate in the Metropolitan Police. The officer offered to supply Class A drugs to several women and photographed himself in front of a line of cocaine. Arter spent two years buying cocaine and MDMA and sent out text messages offering to supply drugs to others while he was working in the Met's Sapphire squad. Police found a photograph of the officer sitting on his sofa in front of a mirror with lines of white powder and a card on it resting on a coffee table in his living room. Another image showed plastic bags containing white powder resting on a set of digital scales. Yet he escaped criminal charges after the Crown Prosecution Services decided not to charge him with dealing drugs. He was found to have breached the police standards of professional behaviour for discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, duties and responsibilities, honesty and integrity. Above is an image on his phone used against him at tribunal Former Detective Inspector Warren Arter was found unresponsive in his cell at HMP Wandsworth (pictured) less than a week after being charged with misconduct He was barred from policing after his sordid role in cocaine-fuelled parties where he turned a blind eye to drug taking and suspected exploitation was revealed in a police misconduct hearing. When police arrested the father as he flew home from Jamaica in December 2016, officers found drugs paraphernalia more commonly associated with a drug dealer at his property, including metal straws and mini scales found to bear traces of cocaine along with a grip-seal bag that had traces of MDMA. The officer was taken into custody where he tested positive for cocaine. He was interviewed under caution on suspicion of offering to supply controlled drugs to others and the corrupt or improper use of police powers for failing to act when he became aware of other people possessing and consuming drugs. A three-day misconduct hearing was told that the disgraced officer had bought cocaine and MDMA on multiple occasions between 2016 and 2018 and regularly attended parties where cocaine and crack were openly consumed, which he turned a blind eye to. Arter also failed to take action when he was aware a man was providing drugs to a woman in exchange for sex. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) discovered text message exchanges in which he arranged to buy drugs, discussed taking them, and offered to supply cocaine to two women on two occasions. His phone and iPad were also found to bear traces of cocaine. He was found to have breached the police standards of professional behaviour for discreditable conduct, authority, respect and courtesy, duties and responsibilities, honesty and integrity. Despite the extraordinary length of time the case has taken, Arter was due to face a secondary disciplinary hearing over allegations he had abused his position for a sexual purpose. A Prison Service spokesperson confirmed Arter's death and told The Sun: 'As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.' A veteran whose team holds the world record for longest confirmed sniper kill claims Donald Trump's shooter 'had help' in his attempted assassination attempt. Dallas Alexander, who spent 14 years in a sniper team for the Canadian military doing close protection for major world leaders including the Canadian prime minister, suggested in a video Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who opened fire at the former president's rally Saturday night, may have had help from the inside. 'I'm very familiar with the layout of these types of things and what the job should be, and yesterday what happened,' he said. 'I have no doubts in my mind that the shooter had help from somewhere within an agency, an organization or the government,' Authorities are still investigating, but FBI has said it appears Crooks acted alone. Crooks laid down on the roof of a building just 130 yards from where Trump was speaking before firing his AR-style rifle towards the stage. Alexander says he should not have been able to get that close. Dallas Alexander worked close protection for major world leaders 'The second I saw that aerial photo of what they said happened - it immediately made no sense to me,' he said. 'You cannot, in broad daylight, get onto a rooftop within, what looked like a couple hundred yards if that [of the president]. You can't get in that position with a gun when there's a president speaking. 'It cannot be done,' Alexander insisted. 'Like, you don't even have to be a sniper - it's the most f****** obvious thing, most obvious place in the whole world. 'You could be like a seventh-grader - like "What do we have to do for security?" Well, let's look at these rooftops that are almost within zeroing range of a rifle,' he joked. 'So something happened, and I'm not pointing fingers at anyone. It's just too obvious that this guy had help getting there. 'So whether it's someone turned a blind eye or it was strategically planned, it had to be planned to a certain level, because events like that, security like that, it's not a small thing - and that is an obvious place to be.' A member of Alexander's JTF 2 sniper unit made the record shot in May 2017 using a McMillan TAC-50 rifle The bullet traveled 2.2 miles, speeding through the air for nearly 10 seconds, before striking and killing an Islamic State terrorist as he left a building to enter a vehicle Alexander suggested that gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks 'had help' in order to get within a few hundred feet of former President Donald Trump and set up his AR-style rifle Authorities have said the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, laid down on the roof of a building just 130 yards from where Trump was speaking - in full view of his supporters as he fired towards the stage. Alexander went on to say that he would find it 'very weird' that if 'someone is good enough to stalk within 200 yards of one of the hardest-to-stalk targets in the whole world,' they would not miss the shot. 'Like if you have the skill set to get in there, avoiding all these security, all different layers of security, then you will have the skillset to hit that first round,' he explained. 'It just doesn't make any sense.' The bullet apparently intended for Trump on Saturday night whizzed by his right cheek, and struck his right ear. 'So my opinion is - and whether this comes out now or way later - is that this guy had help from somewhere, and I think that's obviously concerning,' Alexander said. 'I think it's going to be a while, it's all your going to see for the next little while,' he added. 'Anyway, just because I keep getting asked, that's my two cents.' A member of Alexander's JTF 2 sniper unit made the record shot in May 2017 using a McMillan TAC-50 rifle. The bullet traveled 2.2 miles, speeding through the air for nearly 10 seconds, before striking and killing an Islamic State terrorist as he left a building to enter a vehicle. It is the longest recorded sniper kill in history, and the Canadian government revealed at the time that it had disrupted an imminent attack on Iraqi security forces. Alexander said the gunman should not have been able to get that close to the former president Both Democrats and Republicans are now demanding an investigation into the Secret Service's actions Alexander's video comes as both Republicans and Democrats demand an urgent investigation into the Secret Service's response to the shooting. Witnesses have said they warned cops about a man armed with an AR-style rifle climbing on top of a building. He was also spotted and then watched by law enforcement at the Trump rally site because they sensed something wasn't right, according to reports. But then they lost sight of them before the carnage unfolded. Some officials have since suggested that the Secret Service should have conducted routine checks to eliminate all potential threats. In a damning statement on Saturday night, FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek also said it was 'surprising' Crooks managed to fire off so many shots before he was shot dead by agents. Crooks was eventually shot down by the Secret Service There were also allegations that Trump's team asked for more protection on the campaign but was rebuffed. The Secret Service has since denied those claims, but are still under immense scrutiny for what has been called an 'absolute failure'. President Joe Biden, addressing Americans from the White House Sunday, promised an 'independent review' into what happened at the rally. 'I'm directing an independent review on national security [at] yesterday's rally to assess exactly what happened, and we'll share the results of that independent review with the American people as well,' Biden stated. Rally-goers ducked for cover as Crooks opened fire from the nearby roof on Saturday Former Secret Service agent Joseph LaSorsa also told DailyMail.com that protection needs to be upped for former presidents and Trump will now almost have the same protection as President Joe Biden. He also explained why agents from the under fire agency may not have been able to see the gunman. 'Remember theyre observing 360 and youre dealing with seconds. Theyre monitoring maybe in that case it might have been 240 degrees. 'Theyre looking at many areas and it only took seconds for that individual to get up there and luckily he was a 20 year old and not a superior marksman. 'Luckily for all of us as a country that he was only 20.' He added: 'Had he not been taken out he would have been able to continue reshooting. 'The fact that there was a counter sniper team that took him out is quite fortuitous and very lucky for the country, because this could have been a thousand times worse.' House Republicans now plan to bring Secret Service head Kimberly Cheatle for what is expected to be heated questioning on July 22, as lawmakers demand answers. Bruce Lehrmann was an unofficial advisor on as many as two episodes of Channel Seven's Spotlight program, while the TV network paid about $105,000 for his luxury rental home in Sydney. The TV station covered Lehrmann's rent for 12 months in Balgowlah, on the northern beaches, thanks to a lucrative arrangement with the network in exchange for exclusive interviews on the current affairs show, airing in June and August last year. Former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach then told a court last year the network paid thousands for Lehrmann's use of sex workers, Thai massages, cocaine, and dinners at expensive restaurants - all in a bid to entice him into the exclusive deal. Seven and the former Liberal staffer have fiercely denied those claims. However, Daily Mail Australia can reveal Lehrmann's involvement with the program didn't stop with his own interviews. Lehrmann advised Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn on an episode called 'Unmasking the vaping crisis', which aired last June, due to his experience working for British America Tobacco (BAT) in 2021. 'I was very happy to closely advise my friend Mark Llewellyn with the Spotlight production about the sinister and influential impact big tobacco still has on some medical and government sectors,' Lehrmann told Daily Mail Australia. It is understood he also provided advice on another episode about the transgender community called 'Breaking the Silence: The Reality of De-Transitioning' in September - but that was contested by Mr Llewellyn. Bruce Lehrmann is pictured being interviewed by Spotlight's Liam Bartlett in 2023 Bruce Lehrmann is pictured outside his Balgowlah rental with two mystery women earlier this year '[Lehrmann] had absolutely nothing to do with [the] trans [show],' Mr Llewellyn said, labelling that particular claim as a 'crazy conspiracy'. Referring to the vaping episode, he said: '[Lehrmann] knew the doctor [featured in the episode] from his time at BAT and knew of his links to big tobacco which we confirmed independently.' Lehrmann's vaping advice was the result of his position as regulatory affairs manager for BAT after he left Parliament House in 2019, which involved lobbying tobacco products to the government. His employment effectively came to an end in February 2021 when a journalist contacted the company asking about Brittany Higgins' rape allegations against him. He took personal leave, on full pay, until June that year before BAT let him go due to fears he would not be able to work with government officials in light of the rape claims. The non-disclosure agreement he signed before leaving BAT had expired by mid-2023, when Spotlight's episode on vaping was being produced. Lehrmann's involvement in the production of that episode extended to alerting them to the existence of Dr Colin Mendelsohn, a controversial medical doctor who advocates for vapes as an aid for quitting cigarettes. Bruce lehrmann is pictured outside Parliament House in Canberra, during a promotion for his tell-all interview on Spotlight Lehrmann told Spotlight about Colin Mendelsohn, a medical doctor who advocates for vapes as an aid for quitting cigarettes. He is pictured during an interview on Spotlight Dr Mendelsohn founded the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association and told Spotlight at the time that funding had been taken from e-cigarette companies. The ATHRA website now says two vaping business provided funding for initial costs associated with setting the association up, which is currently funded by public donations. 'We do not accept donations from tobacco companies or their subsidiaries or from the vape industry. All donations are untied and all spending is at the discretion of the ATHRA Board of Directors,' it said. It is further understood that Lehrmann provided material which helped the team formulate questions to ask the doctor. There is no suggestion that Lehrmann gave advice in a professional capacity, or that he was paid for his advice. When contacted for comment, Network Seven rubbished claims that Lehrmann advised the program. A spokesperson said: 'At no point was Bruce Lehrmann an adviser to Spotlight. To suggest otherwise is false and deliberately misleading.' The network has been under fire since the $105,000 rental deal with Lehrmann was exposed in the Federal Court during his defamation against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson last year. He launched the civil suit over an episode of The Project in February 2021, during which Ms Higgins alleged in an interview with Wilkinson that Lehrmann raped her when they were colleagues in Parliament House in 2019. Mark Llewellyn is pictured, left, with Taylor Auerbach, right, on a plane to see Lehrmann to entice him into an exclusive interview His two Spotlight episodes were his first tell-all interviews after his rape trial collapsed in late-2022, during which he talked about the trials and tribulations of being accused of rape on national television. However, Lehrmann lost the defamation trial in April when a Federal Court judge found, on a balance of probabilities, that he had raped Ms Higgins. He launched an appeal in May. The matter has not yet been heard in court. In the wake of the sex and drugs allegations that hit Spotlight, Seven has been struck with a wave of leadership turmoil and financial cuts. Among those to depart the network include then-director of news and current affairs Craig McPherson, managing director James Warburton, commercial director Bruce McWilliam, and Mr Llewellyn. Within the last couple of months, veteran journalist Robert Ovadia left the network after ABC Four Corners made inquiries about the alleged toxic culture in the Seven newsroom. Ovadia allegedly took images from a female producer's personal Instagram page and turned them into a 'caricature' before sharing them with her, Daily Mail Australia revealed last week. Meanwhile, Seven has swung the axe on major job cuts with Seven's chief executive Jeff Howard expected to announce 150 cuts across the television and print divisions, sales and marketing teams. Newsreader Sharyn Ghidella was reportedly axed from the network because she was on a much higher salary than her co-host Max Futcher. Australians have been warned their gas bills are set to increase by hundreds of dollars as prices rise next month. Major energy companies in Victoria have announced that household gas prices are expected to increase by up to 12 percent starting August 1. Victorian customers will face price increases of 11.8 per cent from Globird, 8.6 per cent from AGL, and 7.3 per cent from Origin. On average, this will result in an increase of about $200 for households and $700 for small businesses this year. The only company reducing gas bills is Alinta Energy, with a three per cent cut expected to save customers $50 on their annual bill. Experts said the price hikes were due to gas shortfalls as well as high production and network costs. Australian Industry Group energy director Tennant Reed told the Herald Sun that although wholesale gas prices have fallen from their peak in 2022, they are unlikely to decrease much further. Energy minister Chris Bowen said he knew Aussies were doing it tough amid the rising cost of living and expected retailers to pass on reduced costs to customers. Australians have been warned that their gas bills are set to increase by hundreds of dollars as prices rise next month But opposition energy spokesman Ted O'Brien said the government urgently needed to increase gas supplies to bring prices down. 'Federal and state Labor refuse to actively pursue policies to increase supply which, by extension, also drives down prices,' Mr O'Brien said. 'As a result of Labor's ideological hatred for gas, many Victorians are going cold this winter because they can't afford it, while others are left wondering if gas will even flow when they try and turn it on.' More than two million people in Victoria rely on gas, making it the state with the highest gas dependency in the country. Victorians' gas bills are already higher than those in other states. Anyone having trouble paying their gas bill has been urged to contact their network provider. A man has been arrested at a major airport after hundreds of thousands of dollars were allegedly found in his luggage. The 34-year-old was stopped at Gold Coast Airport, in Queensland, before he could travel to Mildura, in Victoria, in March 2024. Australian Federal Police allegedly found $830,000 in the man's carry-on and checked-in luggage after they were alerted by a sniffer dog. Police allege the money was the proceeds of crime and arrested the man. He was charged with dealing with cash suspected of being proceeds of crime. The 34-year-old is due to face Southport Magistrates Court on Monday and faces serious time behind bars with the maximum jail term 10 years. AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Mary Bolton said officers have been working hard to confiscate the profit from organised crime. 'Organised crime groups are driven by greed and try to hide their ill-gotten wealth from authorities,' she said. A thirty-four-year-old Mildura man allegedly had $830,000 in his luggage (pictured) which was discovered at Gold Coast Airport The man was hoping to travel from the Gold Coast (pictured Gold Coast Airport) to Mildura in Victoria in March this year 'Removing the profit from crime is key to disrupting organised criminal activity and delivering maximum damage to the criminal environment. 'The AFP has ensured this money will not be used to fund other criminal activities.' The evil killer of an Aussie couple and their daughter-in-law spent five hours in their Philippine hotel room after entering in the middle of the night using a swipe card. Police are now attempting to establish what happened inside the murder room during the mystery hours before the victims were found dead by hotel staff. Sydney businessman David Fisk, 57, his wife Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55, and their Filipino daughter-in-law Mary Jane Cortez, 30, were all killed. Now Ms Cortez's son has gone into hiding fearing for his own safety in the wake of the triple tragedy. The killer was caught on CCTV letting himself into Room 103 at the Lakes Hotel in Tagaytay, south of Manila, around 1am before sneaking away after the brutal attack around 6am on July 10. The three were found dead by staff later that day, with their hands and feet bound by electrical cords and shoelaces, and their mouths gagged with packaging tape. Philippines police said an autopsy report revealed the two women died of asphyxia, while Mr Fisk had a wound to his neck. Lucita's son, who has four children with wife Mary Jane Cortez and whose initials are RCJ, has retreated under an assumed name as police continue their investigations. Post mortems on David Fisk, 57, and his wife Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55, revealed he had suffered a wound to the neck whereas she has been asphyxiated with her daughter-in-law RCJ and his wife Mary Jane, who was found asphyxiated along with his mother and stepfather at the Lake Hotel in Tagatay City south of Manila last week The male suspect caught on CCTV is described as being 5'4 to 5'6 (162-167cm) tall and of medium build. It was later revealed a security guard saw the suspect enter the hotel and asked him where he was going, and the man replied that he was going to Room 103. He was wearing a black hoodie, maroon shorts, Adidas runners and carrying an Adidas brand backpack. The murder scene was discovered on Wednesday when hotel worker Allan Manza was sent up to the room at 12.30pm to remind the Aussies about their check-out time. He made the grisly find. RCJ, who lives in Calapan City, on Oriental Mindoro, four hours drive away, said David and Lucita had arrived at Tagaytay on July 8 at the end of their annual holiday to the Philippines. The Lake Hotel has spectacular views of the volcanic caldera Lake Taal, and the couple hired a minivan with a driver to tour the area with several Philippine family members. After taking photographs and finishing the drive, the other family members departed, leaving Mr Fisk, Ms Cortez and Mary Jane at the hotel for the evening. Police reported that some possessions may have been stolen, but it is believed other valuables and mobile phones were still in the room. RCJ, who has four children aged four to 12 years with Mary Jane, spoke with police before he signed morgue release forms for the three bodies of his relatives. He has now returned to Oriental Mindoro as police focus on identifying the 'person of interest' seen in the CCTV vision. The husband of Mary Jane Cortez, pictured with their children, has pleaded for the assailant of his wife, mother and stepfather to hand himself in after the brutal murders The husband RCJ had to sign release forms for the three bodies (above) once autopsies had been performed to establish the cause of the brutal murders David Fisk and Lucita Cortez were nearing the end of their annual Philippines holiday when they toured Taal Lake and then spent the night in the hotel (above) where they were murdered Police have formed a special task force and are now investigating the possibility that there could be two suspects in the murders. One of Lucita Cortez's relatives in Australia, Raquel Cortez posted on Facebook: 'Justice for you Lucy, David and Ejane. I will miss our wanderings'. The Philippine Embassy in Canberra condemned the brutal murders extended their deepest condolences to the families of the victims. 'The Philippine government condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly and senseless act that took the couple from their loved ones,' and embassy statement read. 'We stand in solidarity with the Australian government in our joint efforts to bring the perpetrator to justice.' . Donald Trump vowed he would 'not allow evil to win' after surviving a terrifying assassination attempt. The former president has been tipped for a 'landslide' election win after a gunman opened fire at a rally in Pennsylvania. America was left in uproar this weekend as dramatic photos of a blood-stained Mr Trump pumping his fist in the air circulated around the world. Last night he announced he would not postpone the Republican National Convention, which starts today, where he will officially become the party's presidential nominee. The would-be assassin was named yesterday as Thomas Crooks, 20, a registered Republican and high school 'outcast' who is believed to have acted alone. Donald Trump has vowed he would 'not allow evil to win' after surviving a terrifying assassination attempt on Saturday afternoon Secret Service agents raced to the stage to protect Trump mere seconds after shots were fired This is the moment the president turned his head as he realised he was injured as at least one stunned onlooker realized something had gone very wrong at the campaign rally Trump is seen surrounded by Secret Service agents moments after the shocking shooting In what is becoming the defining photograph of the US presidential election campaign so far, Trump pumped a fist at the crowd to signal that he was OK to his supporters Trump mouthed the word 'fight' at supporters as blood spattered across his face Moment by moment: How the events of yesterday unfolded as a shooter attempted to take the life of former US President Donald Trump Last night, the US authorities found explosive devices in his car. Armed with an AR-15 rifle, he crawled onto a roof just 130 yards from Mr Trump at a political rally in Butler on Saturday. The US Secret Service which guards political leaders faced disturbing questions about how the gunman got close enough to shoot Mr Trump through the ear. One audience member, who was named as retired fire chief Corey Comperatore, was killed in the attack. Two other men injured in the shooting, who were named yesterday as David Dutch and James Copenhaver, were said to be in a stable condition. In a defiant statement yesterday, Mr Trump posted on his platform Truth Social: 'Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. In a post to Truth Social shortly after the assassination attempt, Trump said his thoughts are with the family of the rally attendee who was killed as he offered details of the shooting 'We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our faith and defiant in the face of wickedness. 'In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand united, and show our true character as Americans, remaining strong and determined, and not allowing evil to win.' Political experts predicted Mr Trump could win a 'landslide' in November's election, referencing the shooting of Ronald Reagan in 1981 which was the last major US assassination attempt. Nick Ferres, of Vantage Point Asset Management, said: 'From memory, Reagan went up 22 points in the polls after his assassination attempt. 'The election is likely to be a landslide. This probably reduces uncertainty.' Witnesses said they told police a man with a gun was on a building overlooking the rally minutes before at least eight shots rang out. Yearbook images have surfaced of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman who opened fire on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. A resident confirmed the identity to DailyMail.com Authorities found explosive materials in Crooks' vehicle and family home. Members of the Bethel Park community where Crooks is believed to have lived with his parents were swarmed by police and Secret Service on Sunday morning Footage shows the crowd screaming 'he's got a gun' several times while the ex-president was speaking. The attacker, who had no criminal record, reportedly used his father's weapon for the attack before Secret Service snipers shot him dead. Mr Trump moved his head slightly moments before the bullet struck, which may have saved his life. But Mr Comperatore, 50, who was sat behind the former president, was killed. Mr Trump's wife Melania yesterday labelled Crooks a 'monster' and urged Americans to 'ascend above the hate'. President Joe Biden personally called Mr Trump yesterday and they had a 'short and respectful' conversation the first time they have spoken outside political debates in years. 'Trump was a hair's breadth away from assassination': Minute by minute analysis by Rebecca Camber, Crime and Security Editor He moved barely an inch but it was enough to change the course of history. Against the backdrop of the Stars and Stripes and a brilliant blue sky, Donald Trump turned his head ever so slightly and dodged a deadly bullet. As a volley of shots rang out one striking the former president in the upper part of his right ear there was silence. Then the screaming started. Mr Trump touched his ear and looked at his bloodied hand before ducking suddenly behind his podium to cries of 'Get down, get down, get down!' The very few moments before Donald Trump was shot at, he turned his head towards a giant screen, potentially saving his life As a volley of shots rang out one striking the former president in the upper part of his right ear there was silence He moved barely an inch but it was enough to change the course of history. Against the backdrop of the Stars and Stripes and a brilliant blue sky, Donald Trump turned his head ever so slightly and dodged a deadly bullet Seconds later, Mr Trump reappeared in view of the cameras, hoisted to his feet by his Secret Service team now acting as a Praetorian Guard His fist gesture to the crowd, surrounded by Secret Service agents, suggested to his supporters that he had survived The moment a bullet streaked past his temple was captured by a photographer just a split second after he had turned his head, a movement that may have saved his life. It was just after 6.03pm local time on Saturday night, 11.03pm UK time, when he took to the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, to the familiar strains of Lee Greenwood's God Bless The USA. He began his address to a crowd of around 30,000 supporters who had queued in the blistering 35C (95F) heat at the Butler Farm Show fairground, trickling through security scanners before taking their seats. The event promised to be just another step on the election campaign trail before Mr Trump is formally crowned the Republican presidential nominee this week. But around five minutes after he took to the stage, bystanders noticed a figure crawling on to a nearby roof and warned local police, according to two law enforcement officials. 'We noticed a guy army-crawling, bear-crawling, up the roof of the building beside us, 50ft away. He had a rifle, we could clearly see a rifle,' Greg Smith told the BBC. He said he tried to alert the authorities for three to four minutes, but thought they could not see the gunman because of the slope of the roof. One police officer climbed up to the roof and encountered Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman. The member of the crowd killed in the assassination attempt on Donald Trump has been identified as Corey Comperatore, a retired fire chief from Pennsylvania Secret Service agents piled themselves on top of Mr Trump, before announcing the shooter had been taken down He pointed his rifle at the officer, who retreated down the ladder. The popping sound of bullets cut through the air at 6.11pm, resembling firecrackers, which silenced Mr Trump as he was talking about a spike in undocumented immigration under President Joe Biden. As he turned his head towards a chart on a 'jumbotron' screen showing illegal border crossings and uttered the words 'take a look at what happened', the first shot rang out. For a fraction of a second there was silence, as many looked around in confusion. Mr Trump raised a hand to his right ear as two more shots rang out. When he pulled his hand back it was covered in blood. As he dived to the floor, blood pouring from his ear, the crowd began screaming. Secret Service agents clad in black suits jumped on to Mr Trump, 78, acting as human shields as more gunshots rang out. The microphone, which he had been speaking into seconds earlier, picked up the chaos. 'What are we doing, what are we doing?' a voice could be heard frantically asking as yet another gunshot rang out. As the shots fired out, spectators got down close to the ground to protect themselves from the deadly situation As he was escorted into his motorcade, Donald Trump continued to pump his fist into the air Within seconds, heavily armed officers in dark tactical gear had sprinted on to the stage. 'Hawkeye's here,' one shouted, referencing the codename for the elite counter assault team assigned to the former president. Surrounded by bodyguards, Mr Trump crouched on the floor with blood running down his cheek. Meanwhile, two Secret Service snipers on a rooftop executed Crooks, who was lying on a separate rooftop around 433ft from the stage. Shortly after, other agents clambered on to the roof to confront the gunman dressed in camouflage shorts and a grey T-shirt, his long hair draped over his blood-streaked face. 'They crawled up on the roof, they had their guns pointed at him, made sure he was dead. He was dead, and it was over,' Mr Smith said. He posed the question that many were asking: 'Why is there not Secret Service on all of these roofs here? This is not a big place. [It's a] security failure, 100 per cent security failure.' Less than a minute after the first shot was heard, one member of the Hawkeye team with Mr Trump declared: 'Shooter's down. Are we good to move? We're clear, we're clear, we're clear let's move.' Seconds later, Mr Trump reappeared in view of the cameras, hoisted to his feet by his Secret Service team now acting as a Praetorian Guard. The Republican's red 'MAGA' cap, knocked off his head, was clutched in his hands. 'Hold up, your head is bloody,' an agent could be heard saying, while the former president stammered: 'Let me get my shoes, let me get my shoes on.' As Donald Trump got down to the ground, spectators were left in the stands trying to protect themselves from any further shots As agents jostled around him trying to usher him to safety, saying 'I got you sir', Mr Trump commanded the team in a clear voice: 'Wait, wait, wait!' Deliberately, he turned to the crowds, his blood-streaked face a picture of defiance. Blood trickling down his ear, he pumped a fist in the air, mouthing to supporters: 'Fight, fight, fight.' The response from the crowd was deafening as they roared 'USA, USA, USA'. Moments later, a phalanx of agents bundled Mr Trump off stage and into a waiting bulletproof Chevrolet Suburban. Before the doors could close he paused to turn to the crowd, raising his fist one last time to show supporters he was all right. But it soon became clear that others were not so lucky. Corey Comperatore, 50, a retired fire chief, was sitting behind the former president. His family last night said he died a hero after shielding his young daughter and wife from the gunfire. One witness, Dr Joseph Meyn said: 'It was apparent they were trying to kill the [former] president. The first few shots hit people. 'Right ahead of me, a man got a gunshot wound and he was killed instantaneously. An emergency room doctor at Donald Trump's rally revealed how he performed CPR on a member of the crowd 'It was a direct hit. His body immediately fell into the bleachers.' He added that it looked like someone else 'got hit in the forearm or hand'. 'Donald Trump was a hair's breadth away from being assassinated. Had he not looked to the left... he would have got hit directly in the head. 'A swat team showed up relatively quickly. I helped carry the body of the man out of the bleachers and they took him to a tent.' A doctor, who was pictured in a white USA T-shirt drenched in blood, tried in vain to resuscitate Mr Comperatore. Meanwhile, Rico Elmore, vice chairman of the Beaver County Republican Party, held the victim's head, but it was too late. 'It was a horror,' he said. Congressman Ronny Jackson, who was Mr Trump's doctor during his presidency, said his nephew was among the wounded. Mr Jackson said: 'Thankfully his injury was not serious and he is doing well. My family was sitting in the front, near where the [former] president was speaking.' 'They heard shots ringing out my nephew then realized something had grazed and cut his neck. He was treated by the providers in the medical tent.' 'Thank you to all those that have reached out to check on him. Please join my family and me in praying for all who were injured and the life lost. '[Mr Trump] and the survivors are lucky to be alive.' Donald Trump scrambled to his feet with the assistance of his secret service detail in the moments after the shots were fired Even as the former president was driven off, many rallygoers stayed low and the BBC's Gary O'Donoghue was filmed talking to the camera while lying on the ground for safety. Some bystanders had heard the bullets ricocheting off the grandstand, severing a hydraulic line connecting to the speakers, which began to topple. Mr Trump later issued a statement saying: 'I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. 'It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country. 'Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. 'Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. God bless America.' As supporters were ushered out of the field which had been declared a crime scene, one shouted: 'Trump was just elected today, folks. He's a martyr.' Others appeared awestruck by the unforgettable image of Trump standing bloodied but defiant, with his fist raised. And no doubt it will come to be a defining image in American political history. A Canadian biology professor shocked social media with their comment on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump. Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin who shot Donald Trump, opened fire at the former president with an AR-style rifle from a roof 130 yards from the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday at 6.15pm. Many have used the attempt on a former president's life to ask for toned down rhetoric from both sides of the political spectrum. Shoshanna Jacobs, a biology professor at Ontario's University of Guelph, received condemnation from all sides after quote-tweeting a video of the shooting, when noting how nearly Trump missed being directly hit. Jacobs - a professor of integrative biology - wrote on the social media platform X: 'When 4 inches really matters'. Shoshanna Jacobs, a biology professor at Ontario's University of Guelph, received condemnation from all sides after quote-tweeting a video of the shooting, when noting how nearly Trump missed being directly hit The professor, who has taught at the school since 2012 and uses they/them pronouns, was quickly vilified for her joke. 'Wow, you really are an awful person,' wrote one X user. 'People died today. But hey, you've got jokes.' Another succinctly added: 'This only makes you look evil.' More social media users tagged Jacobs' employers and asked them to be fired. 'Do you support assassinations and murders @uofg? Why do you have professor supporting criminality teaching at University of Guelph?' Another wrote: 'Educator? I seriously hope your vile nasty take gets you fired'. Donald Trump's family and supporters have slammed the liberal media for downplaying Saturday evening's assassination attempt - and for running tone-deaf opinion pieces in the wake of the atrocity. Publishers were blasted for describing gunshots as 'loud popping noises' and for describing Trump as 'falling' from the stage without reference to the assassination attempt. Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin who shot Donald Trump, opened fire at the former president with an AR-style rifle from a roof 130 yards from the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania , on Saturday at 6.15pm The New York Times was also criticized for running an opinion piece called 'Donald Trump Is Unfit To Lead' which encouraged voters to 'reject him in November' on the morning after the shooting. Printed against an ominous, backlit silhouette of Trump's side profile, the title page also reads: 'He failed the tests of leadership and betrayed America.' The president's son Donald Trump Jr led the criticism on X, calling CNN 'vile' and 'a disgrace' for their coverage of the campaign event incident. Many noted the insensitivity given that Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed in the gunfire attempting to save his family. Comperatore died a hero as he shielded his young daughter and wife from the gunfire as he was killed by 20-year-old gunman Crooks. Other Trump supporters rushed to his aid in the bleachers just moments after Crooks opened fire from a rooftop 130 yards away. Grieving family members announced Comperatore's untimely death on Sunday, as they paid tribute to the former volunteer firefighter. His sister wrote on Facebook: 'The PA Trump Rally claimed the life of my brother, Corey Comperatore. The hatred for one man took the life of the one man we loved the most. He was a hero who shielded his daughters. 'His wife and girls just lived through the unthinkable and unimaginable. My baby brother just turned 50 and had so much life left to experience,' she continued. 'Hatred has no limits and love has no bounds. Pray for my sister-in-law, nieces, my mother, sister, me and his nieces and nephews as this feels like a terrible nightmare but we know it is our painful reality.' Comperatore's daughter, Allyson, also wrote: 'He died a real-life super hero.' Following the attack, Trump put out a statement on Truth Social confirming he was struck by a bullet, while thanking the Secret Service and law enforcement for their 'rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania.' The former president also confirmed that one rally-goer was killed and another was 'badly injured.' 'Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. 'It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,' said the former president. 'I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!' Horrifying footage has captured the moment three teenagers stole a car moments after an Uber Eats driver left the vehicle to drop off an order. The shocking incident unfolded outside a home on Romsey Place at Langwarrin, in Melbourne's south-east, at 1.45pm on Thursday. Three 17-year-old boys from Reservoir, Oakleigh and Langwarrin were charged with aggravated home invasion and aggravated carjacking following the incident. CCTV footage from a neighbouring property showed the Uber Eats driver park his Toyota Camry outside a house before he stepped out to drop off an order. The 33-year-old, who had left the driver's side door open, rushed back moments later when he spotted a teen jumping into the car. The alleged thief, who was wearing a grey hoodie, was seen in the footage reversing the vehicle in a bid to drive off. The teenager kicked the man several times before his friend, who was wearing dark activewear, emerged from an allegedly stolen ute nearby. He then punched the Uber Eats driver from behind and knocked him to the ground. The Uber Eats driver (pictured) tried to stop the teenager from driving off in the allegedly stolen vehicle The man got up and tried again to stop the teenager, but was dragged for several metres as he hung onto the car door. He was rushed to hospital with serious injuries including several cuts and grazes. Damian, who ordered the food for lunch, immediately called the cops and said the incident was horrifying. 'You could see the victim was reaching into the window to try and get the bloke out,' he told the Herald Sun. 'We then picked him up around the corner and he had a knife held to him.' The teenagers then dumped the car in Hughesdale before they allegedly broke into the home of an elderly couple. Spiros Zois, 82, and his wife Angela, 74, were listening to the radio when the teenagers barged in and demanded the pair hand over their car keys. Mr Zois was pushed to the ground and suffered an injured back before the trio left empty-handed. 'He pushed me down on the floor and after they ran inside the bedrooms everywhere [to] look for the keys to the car,' Mr Zois told 7News. The 17-year-old boy, who was seen wearing a grey hoodie (pictured) got into the car while the delivery driver dropped off some food at a home, before the man spotted the alleged thief The group were arrested by police a short time later. Two boys fronted a children's court on Friday while the third was in hospital under police guard. The alleged thieves are accused of stealing a ute, a FWD and the Camry. Two of the boys allegedly stole a knife and a knife sharpener from a hardware store in Frankston on the same day. The trio are accused of committing 39 offences in total, including assault, stealing from cars and stealing from victims according to a court fact sheet. The teenagers will all front court again on August 1. A man is fighting for life and not expected to survive after he suddenly collapsed following a run-in with police over minor traffic matters. Daily Mail Australia can reveal the man, who is yet to be identified, was approached by police in the carpark of a 7-Eleven convenience store at the corner of Heaths and Tarneit roads, in Hoppers Crossing - west of Melbourne - about 2am on Monday. A police spokesperson confirmed officers attempted to speak with the man on traffic issues when he became physically aggressive and wrestled with police. A crime scene was established on Monday outside the Hoppers Crossing 7-Eleven 'At this early stage it appears the man became unresponsive following his arrest,' the spokesperson said via a statement. 'Police immediately called for medical assistance and performed CPR on the man, who has been taken to hospital in a critical condition.' Detectives from the Homicide Squad are investigating the incident with oversight from Victoria Police's Professional Standards Command. On Monday morning, forensic teams remained outside the 7-Eleven, which has been taped-off by detectives. A ute stacked with large yellow and green bags remained parked outside the 7-Eleven. It remains unknown if the arrested man was driving that vehicle when approached by police. Several evidence markers were visible outside the shop near parking spaces. The 7-Eleven remained closed on Monday morning Evidence markers have been placed across the 7-Eleven car park Forensic officers investigated the scene on Monday It is the same location where in May a Starbucks located directly behind the 7-Eleven was destroyed by fire. The location is awash with CCTV cameras, which are expected to have captured Monday's incident. The tragedy comes just weeks after a 27-year old man died while being arrested by Victoria Police officers in Kyneton, in country Victoria. In that instance, it is understood the deceased man ingested a substance believed to be cyanide. Five police officers who were in the home were taken to hospital as a precaution. Anyone with information on the Hoppers Crossing incident should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A man will have to wait to learn his fate after he threatened to kill former political staffer Brittany Higgins, her husband, and the couple's dog in a nasty online rant. David William Wonnocott wore a blue Hawaiian shirt and black pants as he faced Lismore District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to using a carriage service to threaten to kill and using a carriage service to menace or harass. The 49-year-old targeted Ms Higgins and NSW politician Alex Greenwich in vicious online attacks which were deemed to pose a serious threat to their safety. He was arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Squad on April 19 last year after police allegedly discovered 49 threatening and offensive messages sent from linked accounts. Police discovered Wonnocott had used one of the social media accounts to send messages to Ms Higgins' now-husband David Sharaz which contained death threats against him, Ms Higgins, and the couple's beloved cavoodle. The court heard the couple 'became fearful for their safety' after the messages. The Banora Point resident also admitted he had sent menacing messages to openly gay Sydney MP Alex Greenwich in a separate incident. Judge John Pickering noted Wonnocott had a 'seemingly highly entrenched view of disapproving of the lesbian, homosexual community'. David William Wonnocott, 49, (pictured) threatened to kill Brittany Higgins, her husband and the couple's dog Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz married in May and have recently announced they are expecting a baby Wonnocott was due to be sentenced on Monday, however his lawyer asked the court for an adjournment to allow her to obtain a psychiatric report. Judge Pickering adjourned the matter until November. Ms Higgins has been subjected to a torrent of online abuse since she publicly alleged she had been raped by a colleague in Parliament House in 2019. Her fellow political staffer Bruce Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault in 2021 but the trial was later abandoned due to juror misconduct. The Director of Public Prosecutions declined to pursue a retrial out of concern for Ms Higgin's mental health. Mr Lehrmann was recently ordered to pay millions after he brought a failed defamation lawsuit against Network 10 and journalist Lisa Wilkinson. The couple 'became fearful for their safety' He claimed he had been defamed by an interview between Ms Wilkinson and Ms Higgins on Network 10's The Project in 2021. In April, Justice Lee dismissed the case and determined Mr Lehrmann had, on the civil standard of the balance of probabilities, raped Ms Higgins in Parliament House in 2019. Six weeks later, Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz were married at The Valley Estate in Currumbin on Queensland's Gold Coast. After years of intense media scrutiny, the couple have moved to France with their cavoodle Kingston in search of a fresh start. On Sunday night, the couple announced they are now expecting their first child. Ohio's best-known weatherman has deleted his social media and vanished from the screens after he was filmed in a road rage incident that left an elderly couple bleeding and unconscious on the tarmac. Veteran WCPO forecaster Steve Raleigh was with sons Kyle and Carter when their Cadillac Escalade plowed into a Ford F-150 after failing to yield to oncoming traffic. Moments later the Ford driver, Douglas Morrow, 79, was on the ground next to his wife Lois, 76, who suffered a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and a detached retina. The Cadillac is owned by the weatherman's father-in-law, former Hamilton County sheriff and attorney Simon L Leis, Jr. And pressure is growing on Cincinnati Police to explain why there have been no arrests since the June 22 incident which also saw an intervention from Red Sox legend Kevin Youkilis. 'These were locally famous people and in my opinion believe they are above the law,' wrote the couple's daughter Stacey Morrow-Stickrod who posted a video. 'I 100 per cent believe one more hit would have killed her.' Veteran WCPO forecaster Steve Raleigh has deleted his social media pages after footage of his involvement in a road rage incident surfaced Lois Morrow, 76, was left unconscious with a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and a detached retina after an incident with Raleigh's family in a Cincinnati car lot Carter, 28, is thought to have been driving his grandfather's car when it hit the Morrows' car in the lot of Montgomery Inn Boathouse on Riverside Drive. Stacey said the famous family became enraged when her father decided to call police because he smelled alcohol and suspected they had been drinking. 'This set off the people causing my brother and both my parents to be attacked,' she wrote. 'My mom took the brunt of the injuries that night. She was in UC hospital for a few days and is still continuing to be treated. 'She was knocked unconscious and had a concussion, fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, contusion on the back of her head that was stapled shut and the lens that was put in her eye was detached and needs replaced. She had lots of cuts and bruises to her arms and legs. 'My dad also had a concussion and was knocked unconscious. I am not gonna say who was responsible until they are arrested and charged as I don't want to hurt the case. 'I just want all the witnesses to come forward and any videos that were made because there were lots of witnesses.' Youkilis took to Facebook to deny rumors he had been with the Raleigh's on the evening after he was recognized in the footage, insisting he simply chanced across the incident while in town to broadcast a Red Sox-Reds game. The veteran weatherman was pictured in the video which pictured Lois and her 79-year-old husband Douglas unconscious and bleeding as their son attended to them Raleigh was confronted in the video by Red Sox legend Kevin Youkilis who had been dining at the same restaurant before the car crash that sparked the incident Youkilis admitted he 'snapped a little bit after what I saw and used some colorful language' Douglas and Lois were treated for their injuries at UC hospital, according to their daughter A Gofundme appeal has been launched to help the couple who have been married for 50 years 'Unfortunately, I was a little too late and saw a horrible chain of events unfold,' he explained. 'My intentions after what I witnessed was to help the two individuals on the ground and to protect anyone else from being harmed. 'I snapped a little bit after what I saw and used some colorful language in the video.' The grainy footage records a woman repeatedly calling 'Stop!' before Raleigh Snr is seen pushing someone away. 'Someone call 911 please,' the woman pleads as the camera pans across the prostrate 79-year-old clutching his head. His unconscious wife comes into frame as a male voice is heard yelling: 'That is f***ing ridiculous'. A man thought to be Steve Raleigh is then seen over the floored pensioner before saying: 'Kevin listen to me, f*** that, f*** that.' Youkilis bends over Lois to check on her condition as another voice is heard yelling: 'Dood are you serious he hit a f***ing woman. She's pouring blood.' 'You're an embarrassment to that f***ing Red Sox brand,' someone shouts. 'Go back to Boston.' In a Facebook update, Stacy thanked Youkilis for his intervention on behalf of her parents. 'There were at least 50 people in the lot when this happened because it was at closing of the restaurant,' she wrote. 'Only one, Kevin Youkilis, saved my mom and stopped this attack. 'He was definitely her guardian angel that night. I also believe he was there with them but was ready to fight for her!' WCPO lists among its 'core values' 'holding the powerful accountable, it doesn't matter where it takes us'. On July 12 WCPO vice president and general manager Jeff Brogan said the station was 'aware of the incident involving Steve Raleigh's family'. 'It is still under investigation, and at this time no charges have been filed against anyone,' he added in a statement. 'Steve shared his side of the incident with our leadership. His account is consistent with the police report, which does not name him, and with what we have reviewed on video. 'The video does not show the incident from start to finish. We will continue to monitor official findings.' Raleigh, pictured with wife Julie Leis and sons Kyle, left, and Carter (right) He was pictured arguing with Youkilis in the video, urging him to 'f*** that' Lois was pictured unconscious and bleeding from her head in the Montgomery Inn Boathouse car lot, but the restaurant has said that its security cameras were switched off at the time But thousands of people left comments on the Facebook post slamming the station for its response with many calling for Raleigh to be fired. 'I guess there are some amongst us who are above the law after all,' wrote one. 'I sure have a different view of Steve Raleigh now. I'm done with WCPO!' 'Doesn't matter if we didn't see the whole video. What we saw was enough!!!' added another. 'It was one of the most disturbing things I've seen in a long time!!' The Cincinnati Police Department report records that a 'male named Carter pushed another parent', and that they believe the assault suspect was under the influence of alcohol. A manager at The Boathouse told CityBeat that the restaurant does not have security footage of the parking lot because a camera was not operating at the time. Names of the two suspects and five victims were redacted on the incident report and no arrests have been made. 'It was a traffic crash which turned into an assault, which turned into our officers being called,' CPD Lt Jonathan Cunningham told the website. 'At this point, our investigators are working through the case.' Donald Trump has given his first in-depth interview after miraculously surviving an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally Saturday, insisting, 'I'm supposed to be dead'. Trump revealed how turning his head away from the crowd to look at a video screen may have saved his life at the Butler rally in Pennsylvania and how he wanted to keep talking after gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks struck him in the right ear. He said Sunday: 'I rarely look away from the crowd. Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today, would we?' Trump noted that he had turned slightly to the right so that he could read a chart on illegal immigrants. 'The most incredible thing was that I happened to not only turn, but to turn at the exact right time and in just the right amount,' he added, saying he survived 'by luck or by God'. Donald Trump is speaking publicly for the first time after a would-be assassin fired at him with an AR-15 rifle at his Pennsylvania rally on Saturday Trump, pictured on Sunday arriving at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, is set to rewrite his speech Your browser does not support iframes. 'If I only half-turn, it hits the back of the brain. The other way goes right through [my skull]. And because the sign was high, I'm looking up. The chances of my making a perfect turn are probably one tenth of one per cent, so I'm not supposed to be here. 'I'm not supposed to be here, I'm supposed to be dead,' Trump told the New York Post. 'I'm supposed to be dead.' 'Because the thing was an eighth of an inch away. That I would turn exactly at that second, where he [the gunman] wouldn't stop the shot is pretty amazing. Pretty amazing. I'm really not supposed to be here.' Trump turned his head at the vital moment and only ended up with a bloody ear. He was hustled off stage by his Secret Service detail, but not before giving his supporters a clenched fist salute. The former president addressed the now-iconic moment where he raised his fist and mouthed 'fight' to the stunned audience. 'A lot of people say it's the most iconic photo they've ever seen,' Trump said. 'They're right and I didn't die. Usually you have to die to have an iconic picture.' He said he wanted his fans to know he was alright 'and that America goes on, we go forward, that we are strong.' 'The energy coming from the people there in that moment, they just stood there; it's hard to describe what that felt like, but I knew the world was looking. I knew that history would judge this, and I knew I had to let them know we are OK,' Trump added. 'I said, I've got to walk out, I have to walk out,' Trump said during his flight to Milwaukee, according to the Examiner. 'I did not want to be carried out. I've seen people being carried out, and it's not good. And I had no problem with walking.' \ Trump was full of praise for his adoring audience, citing how they reacted to the situation. 'A lot of places, especially soccer games, you hear a single shot, everybody runs. Here there were many shots and they stayed. I love them. They are such great people.' Trump accepted Joe Biden's phone call after the shooting, calling it 'fine' and saying the president was 'very nice.' He added that the 'reality is just setting in' with him regarding the shooting and the chaotic aftermath. Trump pointed to his nose and said they killed Crooks 'with one shot right between the eyes.' Despite the controversy over the Secret Service for allowing the shooting to happen, he praised the speed and strength of his security. Following the shooting, Trump put out a statement thanking the Secret Service for their 'rapid response' and offering his condolences to Comperatore He said he received a bruise on his arm just from a secret service member keeping him on the floor. 'That's just from a guy grabbing me,' Trump said. 'You know how strong you have to be to do that?' 'They did a fantastic job,' he added. 'It's surreal for all of us.' Trump also saw the bizarre side of the incident, including one moment where he can be seen saying that he wants to get his shoes. 'The agents hit me so hard that my shoes fell off, and my shoes are tight,' he said. Trump, ever the showman, added that he wanted to try and go back to the podium and keep speaking. 'I wanted to keep speaking - I wanted to keep speaking, but I just got shot. It's a very surreal experience, and you never know what you're going to do until a thing like that happens.' Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin who shot Donald Trump, opened fire at the former president with an AR-style rifle from a roof 130 yards from the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday at 6.15pm. He spoke to journalist Salena Zito, who was photographed at the rally following the gunfire, hiding behind a speaker. Zito said that Trump reached out to her on CNN Sunday, where they began an interview about the shooting, his reaction and his plans for his speech on Thursday at the RNC. 'The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger,' he told the Washington Examiner. Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin who shot Donald Trump, was once rejected from his high school rifle club and considered a danger Police stand over the body of Donald Trump gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks after he was shot and killed by Secret Service 'Had this not happened, this would've been one of the most incredible speeches aimed mostly at the policies of President Joe Biden. 'Honestly, it's going to be a whole different speech now,' he added. 'I think it would be very bad if I got up and started going wild about how horrible everybody is, and how corrupt and crooked, even if it's true. Had this not happened, we had a speech that was pretty well set that was extremely tough. Now, we have a speech that is more unifying.' Trump, who has often cut a divisive figure in American politics, now plans a Thursday speech that could unite the nation. 'It is a chance to bring the country together. I was given that chance. This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together. The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it would've been two days ago,' he said. It seems to be part of an attempt by both sides to tone down the rhetoric following the shooting. 'I've been fighting a group of people that I considered very bad people for a long time, and they've been fighting me, and we've put up a very good fight,' he said. 'We had a very tough speech, and I threw it out last night, I said I can't say these things after what I've been through.' As Trump pumped his fist to the crowd, some were heard cheering his name and chanting 'USA' and 'Make America Great Again' He still appeared skeptical but hopeful that he could bring Americans of all political stars and stripes together. 'I'd love to achieve unity if you could achieve unity, if that's possible. There are many good people on the other side But there are also people who are very divided. Some people actually want open borders and some people don't want open borders,' he said. 'The question is can those two sides get together? Can sides where you have people who want to see men play in women's sports, and you have a side that doesn't understand even the concept of allowing that to happen [get together]?' A member of the crowd was killed in the deadly shooting, while two others who were wounded are in critical condition. All three are males, according to law enforcement officials. Trump was left bloodied and hurt during the assassination attempt as he was seen to suddenly grab hold of his ear as loud bangs rang out and whizzed by before he ducked to the floor. The Secret Service swarmed around the 45th US President as piercing screams were heard from the MAGA crowd. He then got to his feet with blood pouring down his cheek and raised his fist in the air and defiantly shouted 'fight' while the audience shouted 'USA' as he was dragged off stage and bundled into a vehicle. Secret Service agents could be heard shouting 'the shooter is down' in the ensuing chaos and the gunman was later confirmed dead. Trump is also re-thinking his speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week A member of the crowd was killed in the deadly shooting, while two others who were wounded are in critical condition. All three are males, according to law enforcement officials Trump was taken to hospital for treatment before being later released. Spokesman Steven Cheung said Trump is 'fine' and being checked out at a local medical facility while the former president's eldest son Donald Trump Jr said his father 'is in great spirits'. Trump flew back to New Jersey ahead of his spending the night at his golf resort in Bedminster. In a post to his Truth Social network, Trump thanked the Secret Service and other law enforcement 'for their rapid response'. 'I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,' he said on social media. 'Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. 'I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of law enforcement, for their rapid response,' Trump added. 'Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. Donald Trump appeared to be shot in the ear as shots were fired at the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania Trump is seen surrounded by Secret Service agents in the moments after the shooting. He raised his fist to indicate that he was okay in an image that has since swept the globe 'It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country. 'GOD BLESS AMERICA!' President Biden said in a statement that Americans 'must unite as one nation' in response to the horrific scenes. Biden called for a peaceful return to politics but his Oval Office address Sunday night contained a few errors as he attempted to bring down the political temperature in the wake of an assassination attempt on Donald Trump. 'Politics must never be a little battlefield or, god forbid, a killing field,' Biden said in the Sunday evening speech. 'No matter how strong our convictions, we must never descend to violence.' He reminded Americans the place to take out their differences was at the ballot box and, as he prepares to restart his re-election campaign, he called on voters to 'cool it down.' But the president made a few glaring errors in his six-minute address, including calling the ballot box 'the battle box' and referring to former President Donald Trump as 'former Trump.' His overall message came through, however. President Biden said in a statement that Americans 'must unite as one nation' in response to the horrific scenes 'Tonight I'm asking every American to recommit,' Biden noted. 'Hate must have no safe harbor.' For his remarks, the president used the Oval Office to add a sense of weight and formality to his words. He spoke from the Resolute Desk, an American flag and the presidential seal behind him. Oval Office addresses are usually rare and used to give greater heft and sense of state to the occasion. Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin who shot Trump, was once rejected from his high school rifle club and considered a danger. The registered Republican and 2022 high school graduate opened fire at the former president with an AR-style rifle from a roof 130 yards from the rally stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday at 6.15pm. Now, disturbing anecdotes have emerged from those who knew Crooks dating back to his days at Bethel Park High School. Crooks tried out for the school's rifle team but was turned away because he was a bad shooter, said Frederick Mach, a current captain of the team who was a few years behind Crooks at the school. Jonathan Myers, a member of the team around the time Crooks auditioned, said there was something ominous about him back then. 'He didn't just not make the team, he was asked not to come back because how bad of a shot he was, it was considered like, dangerous,' Myers told ABC News. Trump spoke to journalist Salena Zito, who was photographed at the rally following the gunfire, hiding behind a speaker Fellow classmate Jameson Murphy added: 'He tried outand was such a comically bad shot he was unable to make the team and left after the first day.' Many are also questioning the Secret Service and how they allowed the president to get so close to a bullet. The Secret Service's primary responsibility is to protect current and former presidents, a job they have been accused of failing spectacularly. It is perhaps the worst lapse in security since President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded at a Washington hotel in 1981. They now face a torrent of questions of how the first assassination attempt in 43 years was allowed to happen. Politicians, law enforcement and critics are demanding answers on how Crooks managed to get so close to a rally that was surrounded by such vast security. Top Republicans and Democrats have demanded an urgent investigation. There are suggestions that routine checks would have eliminated all potential threats. In a damning statement on Saturday night, FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek said it was 'surprising' Crooks managed to fire off so many shots. There are also allegations that Trump's team asked for more protection on the campaign but was rebuffed. The Secret Service has since denied those claims, but are still under immense scrutiny for what has been called an 'absolute failure'. And Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., became the first lawmaker to say that the director of Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle 'needs to go.' President Joe Biden, addressing Americans from the White House Sunday, promised an 'independent review' into what happened at the rally. 'I'm directing an independent review on national security [at] yesterday's rally to assess exactly what happened, and we'll share the results of that independent review with the American people as well,' Biden stated. A machete-wielding man has been arrested and a fire extinguished following a major police operation in an upmarket suburb in Sydney's north. Emergency services were called to a property on Figtree Road at Hunters Hill following a concern for welfare check at about 9am on Monday. When officers attempted to approach the property, they noticed a man inside was armed with a machete. Specialist police including negotiators were called to the scene and at about 1pm, smoke was seen coming from the property. Fire and Rescue NSW attended and extinguished the blaze. Police arrested a 56-year-old man who has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital for assessment. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Lifeline 13 11 14 Emergency services were called to a property on Figtree Road in the northern Sydney suburb of Hunter's Hill at about 9am on Monday for a concern for welfare check When officers attempted to approach the property, they noticed a man inside was armed with a machete. Specialist police including negotiators were called to the scene Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has compared the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trumps life to ongoing pro-Palestinian protests outside Australian MPs offices, including his own, declaring that these things can escalate. Is that a long bow to draw? If not, does the rhetoric need to be backed up by actions to reduce the risk of Australian protests escalating? The PM was speaking yesterday at Parliament House in Canberra, responding to the news that a gunman on a rooftop had attempted to assassinate Donald Trump. A bullet grazed the former Presidents ear. One rallygoer was killed and two others are in a critical condition. The gunman was shot dead by the Secret Service, and the former President was rushed away from the venue while being shielded from the threat of further attacks. I've expressed my concern that people who just dismiss actions outside electorate offices, these things can escalate, the PM told reporters yesterday. Which is why [the protests] need to be called out unequivocally, and opposed. The sort of incidents that we've seen outside some electorate offices are inappropriate. Victorian Labor MPs Josh Burns and Peter Khalil have been targeted with aggressive actions by protestors, including dumping fake dead bodies out the front of the offices. Yet these protests remain ongoing, disrupting the activities of the constituent offices. A bullet grazed former US President Donald Trump's ear on Sunday AEST. The shooter was shot dead by the Secret Service While there is a world of difference between someone firing eight shots with a long range rife into a political rally from a nearby rooftop - in a country with easy access to guns that has a history of assassinating presidents and prominent politicos - and protestors camping outside of Australian electorate offices, Albo wanted to make the point that such situations can and do escalate. Which is why they need to be called out and opposed, unequivocally, he said. But what does that mean exactly? In the case of eight-month-old protests outside of his own taxpayer funded electorate office - which have closed it down since January, and continue to do so - Albo is still refusing to move the protestors on. Even though they are camped on the premises with their signs affixed to it. Just last week his spokeswoman and former Guardian Australia political editor Katharine Murphy described protests outside the PMs constituency office as peaceful and appropriate in a democracy: Citizens in a democracy have a right to peaceful protest, the PMs spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia. The PM echoed those sentiments in his remarks yesterday: People can express their views democratically, whether that be in favour of issues or against issuespeaceful demonstrations are fine. So it remains clear and unequivocal that Albo wont be demanding protestors outside his own office be disbanded - even though the AFP says that they pose a security threat that prevent the office reopening. So what does he mean when he says these protests need to be called out and opposed unequivocally? How can a prime minister warn of the risk of escalation yet do nothing tangible to prevent it? Merely using words rather than actions. Is that a long bow to draw, Mr Prime Minister? If not, does the rhetoric need to be backed up by actions to reduce the risk of Australian protests escalating? Perhaps all Albo is really trying to achieve is a delicate political balancing act: hell continue to rhetorically condemn pro-Palestinian protests when addressing the national media. That allows him to also take aim at the Greens who support them, at the same time as quietly defending their right to protest, so as not to upset pro-Palestinian voters in his own electoral backyard. And Albo will hope these protests just dont escalate, despite pointing out the risk that they might. If they do, hell refer all and sundry to his rhetoric, not his actions. Walking both sides of the street can be tricky, but it becomes that little bit harder to navigate when comparing Australian protests youve described as peaceful to an assassination attempt on a former US President. Nonetheless Albo is giving it a red hot go. If he wants to draw a parallel between such events, and be taken more seriously when doing so, he should disperse the Australian protests he claims risk escalating. If, however, he prefers to let them continue to sit on the proverbial grassy knoll in front of electorate offices such as his own, perhaps Albo shouldnt compare the threat they pose to what transpired in the US over the weekend. Lest his false equivalence be called out, unequivocally. The PM seemed to recognise the false equivalence of his remarks yesterday. This morning on Melbourne radio he was walking them back. Quizzed whether comparisons between what has happened in the US and what is still happening outside Australian electorates is a valid observation to make, Albo shifted ground: 'Oh, no. Look, I think we need to be very, very careful to draw a distinction...I don't think we should draw a straight line between [pro-Palestinian protests in Australia] and what we saw in the United States yesterday', the PM said. When the PM said 'we' did he really mean 'I'? Perhaps he was simply using the royal 'we'? A mother has revealed she is happy spending her children's inheritance and doesn't feel guilty about it. Western Australian woman Trudy Wertheim, who is part of Gen X, said she has worked decades to provide for her family and now deserved to live how she wanted. 'There are generations coming through that just don't expect to work,' she told Yahoo. 'They expect to inherit or be given or bought a family home by their parents.' She said many parents probably didn't instill a strong work ethic in their kids, which may explain why some younger generations have a sense of entitlement. Ms Wertheim sympathises with the younger generation who are doing it tough, but said her children in their early 30s totally support her. 'They've never said to me, 'We expect you to not spend your hard-earned savings, because that's ours.' She said her children's attitude is a result of how she raised them and they just want her to be happy and enjoy life. Trudy Wertheim (pictured) said she plans to enjoy her hard-earned money now before age catches up with her Ms Wertheim said one of her children is renting, while the other has entered the property market and bought a home. 'Maybe I should be giving the child that's renting money to help her buy a house, but how is that fair to the child that already got into the housing market before this started?' she said. Ms Wertheim said she plans to enjoy her hard-earned money now before age catches up with her. 'I don't want to be in Bali at 80 and falling down and breaking my leg.' She said her kids will not be left empty-handed. She will leave her paid off property to her twins and her grandchildren will receive smaller amounts. Ms Wertheim is part of a global trend known as SKI: 'Spending Your Kid's Inheritance'. Ms Wertheim sympathises with the younger generation who are doing it tough, but said her children in their early 30s totally support her Critics have blasted the SKI trend as selfish, believing boomers and Gen Xers should be saving their money to leave for their children and not spending it on themselves. Some argue they should be helping their children through the cost of living crisis and so they can get a foot on the property ladder. Leanne and Leon Ryland said their sons shouldn't be expecting much from their inheritance as they intended to spend the money on themselves. Since retiring, the couple have spent $170,000 on luxurious holidays around the world. 'We've done all the right things by investing in property, boosting up our super making sure that was healthy, going without a lot of things,' Ms Ryland told told SBS Insight. 'We're not going be able to spend all this money so let's do it, because in another 10 years we won't be climbing the Great Wall of China.' 'We won't be going up Machu Picchu.' Alex Ryland said he fully supported his parents. Australia's 'thuggish' construction union will continue working on big ticket building sites in Victoria despite being in administration, legal experts and the Opposition have warned. The CFMEU's Victorian branch was put into administration on Monday following reports of bikies acting as union delegates, including one official earning $250,000 a year as a health and safety officer. But the branch going bust will have no effect on Victorians building their own homes or even for massive infrastructure projects, experts predict. The union's national office has now taken executive control, overriding the state branch, following John Setka's resignation as Victorian secretary. But employment law expert Professor Andrew Stewart has warned that CFMEU officials will continue overseeing Victorian building sites despite the state branch going into administration. 'There's no legal effect at all, unlike what would happen if, unlikely at present, the union were deregistered,' the University of Adelaide academic told Daily Mail Australia. This means the CFMEU will continue to have a stranglehold on major projects including the state Labor government's $90billion Big Build program, covering 165 road and rail projects Senator Michaelia Cash, Opposition employment and workplace relations spokeswoman, said the union will continue with its 'thuggish' behaviour unless it was deregistered. 'The appalling behaviour at the CFMEU, including violence, thuggery, intimidation and bullying has been going on for a number of years,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Australia's militant construction union will continue having access to building sites in Victoria despite being in administration, a legal expert says 'It is time that this union is deregistered. They have made it clear over a number of years that they have no intention of changing their ways. 'They need to start again.' Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has so far refused to call for deregistation despite Nine Network's damaging investigation into the union. 'The fact that John Setka went is a start - it is in no way the end of what needs to be done,' he told ABC Insiders on Sunday. 'The criminal elements, for example, people involved in outlaw motorcycle gangs having the place of delegates on site - completely unacceptable.' Construction Forestry and Maritime Employees Union national secretary Zach Smith said on Monday that he would act to clean up the Victorian branch. 'The CFMEU has zero tolerance for criminality and anyone found to have engaged in criminal conduct while representing the CFMEU will be identified and removed,' he said. The CFMEU congratulated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for abolishing the Australian Building and Construction Commission, a Coalition government agency that had targeted the Labor-affiliated building union, in December 2022. 'Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party had a clear mandate to abolish the ABCC,' it said at the time. Former Labor prime minister Bob Hawke in 1986 disbanded the old Builders Labourers Federation because of bad behaviour and the Coalition now wants the CFMEU to face the same fate. Professor John Buchanan, an industrial relations expert at the University of Sydney, said the CFMEU was formed to be a clean break from the BLF, where burly unskilled labourers were actively recruited to intimidate management. 'The whole idea of forming the CFMEU was to try and drive that out - but in the end, problem forces ended up taking over the whole show,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'The CFMEU was supposed to put the carpenters in charge but in the end, the labourers ended up taking over - the irony. 'The problem's always been more serious in Victoria.' The CFMEU's Victorian branch last month secured a 21 per cent pay rise for members over four years. The union's national office has voted to assume executive powers, overriding the state branch after John Setka resigned as Victorian secretary Professor Buchanan said construction industry corruption, involving both unions and building companies, was a global problem. 'It's not the militancy, it's the corruption that's the problem,' he said. 'There's a lot of corruption in the building industry and this is just not unique to Australia. 'If you talk to anyone who's honest in the building industry, they'll say there are just problems with builders who don't honour contracts - there's lots of money and lots of uncertainty.' Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn has called for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Fair Work Ombudsman to investigate the CFMEU instead of allowing the national branch to take over the Victorian division. 'A self-appointed internal investigation simply won't cut it,' she said. A Yale student was diagnosed with cancer after months of pleading with doctors to be taken seriously while they claimed she just had dehydration and anxiety. Molly Smith was just 20 years old when she started feeling numbness in her hands and feet. She spent a full month before she decided to speak to a doctor, as the numbness was her only symptom, and she did not know what could be causing it. Still, she knew it couldn't be normal. 'The numbness was so bad that it was affecting my ability to walk and dance, and I wasn't sure if I would get the feeling back,' Smith told Newsweek. But the doctor told her she was probably just experiencing dehydration or anxiety. Molly Smith was just 20 years old when she started feeling numbness in her hands and feet She then spent months going from doctor to doctor in an effort to be heard, describing one of her early appointments in an Instagram video. She tells the doctor in the video that her hands and feet have been numb for the past two weeks and she brought her mother along to the appointment. But the doctor replies: 'That's really weird, it says here you don't have any medical conditions, so you're in pretty good health, but maybe you're just dehydrated.' Smith then says she had already been told by an ER doctor that she needed to drink more fluids, and she has not seen any improvements in her symptoms. At that point, the doctor suggests she might have carpal tunnel syndrome, before saying the numbness may go away on its own. Finally, Smith tells the doctor she would like a referral to a neurologist so she could follow up with them for further testing. Smith was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 21 After several months of such back-and-forth, Smith had an ultrasound - which uncovered an ovarian cyst. But still, Smith was told the tumor 'was probably benign' and she should wait three months to see if it went away. It did not, and she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 21. She finally had surgery to remove the tumor in January 2023, followed by three rounds of chemotherapy. Smith detailed the experience in an op-ed for Yale News, describing how she would get 'sympathetic looks from the patients, all much older than me, as I attend my appointments alone.' Smith finally had surgery to remove the tumor in January 2023, followed by three rounds of chemotherapy She also said she lost the ability to dance and make films, and 'cancer took the happiness from my family. 'Hearing my mother's cries on the other end of the phone hundreds of miles away was the hardest part,' Smith wrote at the time. 'No patient ever wants to hear that their child has cancer, especially when they're states away.' It was also difficult, she said, to realize she may lose the ability to have a child before she had even begun to consider starting a family. But 'even when it feels like I'm stuck between worlds, floating in the purgatory of the uncanny valley, my family and friends bring me back.' Smith has now completed her treatment and is in remission She detailed her experience going through cancer treatment in an op-ed for Yale News Smith has now completed her treatment and is in remission. But she wishes the doctors had taken her seriously from the beginning. 'I understand that most doctors wouldn't make the connection between neuropathy and ovarian cancer, but the dismissal of my concerns is unacceptable.' Neuropathy is not a typical symptom of ovarian cancer, but board-certified gynecological oncologist Dr. Josh Cohen said it could occur. The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include pressure in the pelvic area, abdominal pain, bloating, feeling full quickly and changes in bathroom habits. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 19,680 new cases in 2024, and has predicted 12,740 women will die from the cancer. As with all cancers, risk increases with age, but as the medical director of the gynecologic cancer program at City of Hope Orange County, Cohen said early onset cancer is 'on the rise' and medical professionals must pay attention to patient's concerns. 'A diagnosis at any age is devastating, but younger people face additional challenges, including fertility preservation, managing employment [and] changes in body image,' he told Newsweek. To help others in her position, Smith started Mission Mariposa - a nonprofit which aims to empower young people and educate them about cancer To help others in her position, Smith started Mission Mariposa - a nonprofit which aims to empower young people and educate them about cancer. She said her hope is to raise awareness for symptoms and to encourage people to advocate for themselves. 'I wasn't listened to because I'm young and have no prior medical conditions, so I had to beg for three doctors to take me seriously,' she recounted to Newsweek. 'I'm so glad I did because I was lucky enough to find the cancer while it was stage one.' Smith is now using her platform to teach others with unexplainable symptoms to take notes, have someone with them at each appointment and get a second opinion. 'The best person advocating for your health is you,' she said, noting that she followed much of the advice she offers. 'I brought my mom to every appointment and that helped communicate the severity of the situation. She took notes and I did my research before each appointment. 'I'm so glad I didn't accept those initial explanations because it would've taken much longer to find the cancer.' Cohen also said physicians should 'focus on listening' because patients 'know their bodies best and should trust their instincts.' If a patient does not feel sufficiently heard, Cohen urges them to seek a second opinion and advocate for themselves. WARNING: Graphic details Three men have been found guilty of the gang rape of three teenage girls at an Airbnb during a bucks party weekend in Newcastle. Andrew David, 30, and brothers Maurice, 30, and Marius Hawell, 22, stood trial after pleading not guilty to counts of aggravated sexual assault in company, attempting to commit aggravated sexual assault in company and aggravated sexual touching. The trio allegedly gang raped three teenagers at the Newcastle Airbnb that they had rented in February 2022 to celebrate a bucks party for groom-to-be Maurice Hawell. Prosecutors claimed the men sexually assaulted two 18-year-old women on the Friday night before attacking a 19-year-old woman on the following night. Brothers Maurice and Marius Howell and their friend Andrew David were charged after a Newcastle Airbnb bucks party for a bucks party for groom-to-be Maurice, 30 One of the bedrooms at the Airbnb where the teenage girls were sexually assaulted during the bucks night in 2022 Maurice Hawell and David maintained that all sexual activity was consensual, while Marius Hawell claimed he did not participate in any of the sexual incidents. All three men faced a weeks-long trial in the NSW District Court over the allegations they were involved in a joint criminal enterprise that sought to engage in group sex with or without consent. On Monday, the jury of eight men and four women reached verdicts on the majority of the charges. The jury is still deliberating on a verdict for one charge of sexual touching against Maurice Hawell and a charge against all the three men for aggravated sexual assault, which relates to allegations of anal rape. One of the teens told the court Maurice Hawell had tried to sexually touch her while she was lying in bed after consensual sex with another bucks party attendee on the Friday evening. Maurice Howell (above) as a fresh faced lawyer is now a convicted sex offender after a jury found him guilty of the Airbnb bucks' party assaults Harrowing evidence from the young women who were raped at the macho event included a teen saying when she wet to retrieve her phone she was shoved backwards on a bed for sex "I don't, like, want that," she recalled telling the groom-to-be. The jury were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on this charge and will continue to deliberate. The 18-year-old and her friend told the court they went into a bedroom to retrieve their phones as they prepared to leave the Airbnb, but they were shoved backwards onto beds. One of the teens said she was forced to engage in penetrative sex with a man she couldn't see while another man knelt on her arms and thrust his penis into her mouth. Although the 18-year-old could not see her assailants because the room was dark, the prosecution claimed the Hawell brothers and David committed the sexual assaults. In a conversation with a friend soon after the alleged gang rapes, the court heard the alleged victim characterised the incident as 'an orgy'. Maurice's lawyer Richard Pontello SC said during the trial the description was "hardly consistent" with the allegations of rape. The court heard the 18-year-old initially told police she had consented to all the sexual activities that night, but made a sexual assault complaint a year later. Mr Pontello argued her backflip on her sworn statement "destroys (her) credibility" in regards to consent. Maurice Hawell and David claimed the 18-year-olds agreed to have group sex and gave no indication they were not consenting throughout the acts or afterwards. Bedroom number two: one 18-year-old girl could not see her assailants because the room was dark, prosecution claimed the Hawell brothers and Mr David committed the sexual assaults The three men were charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault in company with others after the prosecution alleged they were involved in a joint criminal enterprise to rape one woman Meanwhile Marius Hawell argued he didn't participate in the alleged gang rape and wasn't in the room at the time. The trio were charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault in company after the prosecution alleged they were involved in a joint criminal enterprise to rape the woman. The jurors found all three men were guilty of gang raping the 18-year-old in the dark bedroom. At the same time as her friend was allegedly pinned to the bed beside her, the other 18-year-old said she was held down and stripped naked by a 'swarm' of men, the court heard. She described trying to bat away a man's penis as he tried to put it in her mouth, while another man tried to place her free hand on his penis. The teen said she was then vaginally and anally raped simultaneously, but she was unable to identify any of the man attacking her because the room was so dark. The prosecution claimed the Hawell brothers and David were involved and charged them all with attempted aggravated sexual assault in company, aggravated sexual touching, and two counts of aggravated sexual assault in company with others. This photo of the entry to one of the bedrooms in which the girls were raped was tendered to the court during the trial which heard an 18-year-old was held down and stripped naked by a 'swarm' of men a The teenage girls were forced into having sex with several men and the jury believed their testimony about their ordeal Maurice Hawell and David maintain the teens were engaged in consensual group sex, while Marius claims he wasn't present or involved. The jurors ruled the trio were guilty of three of the charges, but could not reach a verdict about the allegations of anal rape. It was alleged the trio also gang raped a 19-year-old woman inside a dark room of the Airbnb on the Saturday night of the bucks weekend. The court was told Maurice had approached the teen on the street and persuaded her to come back to the rented Airbnb for pre-drinks but had instead ushered her into a bedroom. Maurice Hawell told the court the teen had agreed to have sex with him before they entered the Airbnb, which Mr Evans slammed as "fanciful" and "not credible". The jury has found the men guilty on the majority of charges arising from the harrowing night when the teenage girls attended the bucks' party and were held down and raped He said the groom-to-be's assertion was 'totally inconsistent' with CCTV audio and texts from the woman which claimed she'd been 'kidnapped' and called for 'help'. The defence lawyers argued the texts were hyperbolic and pointed out the teen willingly went with Maurice Hawell into the Airbnb. The 19-year-old said he pushed her onto a bed and they kissed before he asked if she wanted to have a threesome with him and David. 'What? No,' she recounted telling him. Despite her refusal, the teen said David pinned her to the bed by kneeling on her shoulders before he forced his penis into her mouth while Maurice raped her. She told the court she tried to keep her legs closed but he had forced them open before a third man entered the room. Mr David's lawyer Sharyn Hall SC argued the teen "did not say no" and acted as if she were consenting during the alleged gang rape, so the teens would not have thought otherwise. The prosecution alleged Marius entered the room and used his phone's flashlight as the men took turns sexually assaulting the 19-year-old. The court was told the teen was concerned the third man was filming the alleged gang rape. Mr Pontello submitted she had been motivated to make the sexual assault complaint out of fear she had been filmed and the video would be published on the internet. Maurice and Mr David were each charged with four counts of aggravated sexual assault in company with others over the alleged penetrative and oral sexual assaults. The jury determined the three men were guilty of gang raping the teen. Marius was also charged over the alleged gang rape, with the prosecution arguing he had encouraged and been complicit in the assault after he entered and provided light. His lawyer Scott Corrish maintained his client had not been in the room and had not engaged in any sexual activity with the 19-year-old. "No person has actually pointed the finger and said (Marius) did any criminal sexual act or even said that he was seen with his shoes and socks off," he said. He was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault in company with others. The jury found he was guilty of those charges. The jurors were ordered to retire to consider whether they could reach unanimous verdicts for the remaining charges. A couple who thought they had won $1,000 were left stunned after realising they had misread their Lotto ticket and actually won more than a million dollars. The Gold Coast couple became $1,008,162.52 richer following the division one draw on Saturday. They were one of five entrants who held a winning ticket and initially believed they had won $1,000. By the time officials from The Lott called to confirm their winnings, the pair had realised their mistake. 'I just decided to check the ticket. At first, all I saw were the first four numbers and I went to my partner, "We've won $1,008",' the winning woman said. 'He looked at the screen and said, "It's not $1,008" and I said, "Yes, it is!" and then he said, "It's $1 million".' The woman said that both she and her partner are retired and the money will be used to repair their home after it was damaged in recent storms. 'We're retired and there's a lot of work we'd love to do on our home especially after the Christmas Day storms that swept through here,' she said. A Upper Coomera couple, who live in the Gold Coast, initially thought they had only won $1,000 in Saturday's Gold Lotto draw 4485 on July 13 Upon closer inspection of their 18-game QuickPick division one winner however, they realised the winnings actually totalled $1,008,162.52 The woman said they usually win no more than $15 per draw. 'I still cant believe it,' she said. 'It's come at a lovely time, were feeling very blessed.' The winning ticket was purchased from News Extra Coomera whose manager, Ching Lee, said she could not believe it. 'When I first saw it on the terminal, I couldnt believe it,' she said. 'Congratulations to our winner, I hope the win will change your life!' In the past decade, five division one winning tickets and two top prize-winning Instant Scratch-Its have been sold at the newsagent. The winning numbers in Saturday's Gold Lotto draw were 21, 2, 36, 24, 18 and 1, and the supplementary numbers were 14 and 27. The ticket was purchased at News Extra Coomera and the winning numbers were 21, 2, 36, 24, 18 and 1, with the supplementary numbers being 14 and 27 Two of the division one winners lived in Queensland and one each came from New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. There have been 223 division one winners so far in 2024, and in 2023 Saturday Gold Lotto created 176 millionaires across Australia. Officials are hoping that Monday's $20,000 a month for 20 years Set for Life draw, Tuesday's $40 million Oz Lotto and Thursday's $10 million Powerball will result in similar feel-good stories. A teenager who was one of two people killed in a 'mystery' house fire has been identified as a car lover who was ready to 'help anyone'. Benjamin Stonehouse, 18, suffered critical burns after a fire broke out at the home on Chandler Street in Garbutt, near Townsville, Queensland, at around 3pm on Friday. Ben and another 18-year-old were rushed to Townsville University Hospital, but the other teenager died a short time later. Ben then was flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital before he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday morning. Two other men, who were inside the property when the home became engulfed in flames, were not injured. Queensland Police are still investigating the cause of the blaze. The four men were tenants of the double-storey home, which was owned by Ben's mother Christie Stonehouse. Ms Stonehouse said she will still waiting to learn how the fire had been started and remembered her son as a caring and generous young man. Benjamin Stonehouse, 18 (pictured) suffered critical burns after a fire broke out at a home on in Garbutt, near Townsville, on Friday afternoon 'He was always there to help everyone,' she told the Courier Mail. She said the smoke alarms in the home had recently been upgraded. Ben leaves behind his mum and his girlfriend Shelby. '(Shelby's) not coping well, he absolutely adored her,' Ms Stonehouse said. Ben was learning how to become a plasterer and recently completed his painting and panel beating apprenticeships. Ms Stonehouse said Ben was a 'petrol head' and saved up money to buy several cars. 'He just went and bought himself a VR Commodore five-litre V8 and he was fixing it up for himself,' she said. A Queensland Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia officers are still investigating the incident and the deaths have been referred to the coroner. Ben and four others were inside the home (pictured) when the flames engulfed the property, which was destroyed by the fire A GoFundMe page was set up by two family friends on Sunday to help provide financial support. 'The Stonehouse family are currently struggling to find the strength to continue,' they wrote. 'The family would appreciate any funds able to be provided at this time to cover all and any costs'. Anyone with CCTV footage from the time of the incident has been urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A Texas YouTuber has broken his silence after it was revealed the Trump shooter was wearing a t-shirt from his merchandise line. Thomas Matthew Crooks was seen in Demolition Ranch apparel after he was shot dead during the assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. The 20-year-old grazed Trump's ear, killed one spectator and injured two more before a Secret Service counter assault agent killed him. Photos circulating in the hours since Crooks fired a series of bullets at the former president show him wearing the grey Demolition Ranch short-sleeved t-shirt with an American flag on the arm and block lettering. The brand is linked to Matt Carriker's popular video channel, which is devoted to showcasing guns and and shooting various types of weaponry. Now the founder of Demolition Ranch, which boasts almost 12 million subscribers, is has shared his reaction to learning Crooks was in his brand. A popular Texas YouTuber has broken his silence after it was revealed the Trump shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, had been wearing a branded t-shirt showcasing his channel The grey t-shirt features an American flag on the sleeve and block lettering that was partially obscured in photos from the scene Matt Carriker, pictured, is seen wearing the same t-shirt as the shooter. He runs the Demolition Ranch YouTube page which has almost 12 million subscribers 'What the hell,' Carriker wrote Saturday evening in a Facebook posting that saw a photo of Crooks lying dead. After finding out about Crooks endorsement of his channel, Carriker took to X to explain how he had been contacted by members of the media asking about his connection and if he had ever spoken with the shooter. 'Last night was crazy Ive got news stations calling me asking if I ever spoke with the shooter what the hell,' Carriker tweeted, clearly in shock. Carriker, who calls himself as 'King of the Demolitia' and has been running his YouTube channel for the last 13 years and now receives billions of views. He started the venture as a hobby in 2011. His postings across social media this weekend received 147,000 likes on Instagram and a further 9,000 on Facebook. Many loyal followers sought to reassure Carriker that he was not responsible for Crooks' actions. Carriker appeared shocked by his unwitting connection to the shooter Carriker's is devoted to showing off guns and shooting various types of weaponry Many of Carriker's followrs sought to reassure him that they did not blame him for the shooter's actions 'So sorry your logo was possibly attached to this.. you aren't attached to these actions at all bro stay positive and keep sharing the good stuff you do,' wrote Shonduras. 'Unfortunately, we cant control who wears our merch in the wild. But people that know you, know that you dont condone acts such as this. At the end of the day, this was a piece of trash that just happened to throw on a DR shirt,' wrote another. 'Matt, we know you do not stand for violence. This doesnt affect what we think of you. Your actions show your intentions,' reassured another online poster. 'On the positive, your shirt will live in history for a thousand years,' added another on X. In many of Carriker's videos, he can be seen conducting experiments using his firepower which are often extremely creative and entertaining blending his fascination with guns with a dark sense of humor that include his wife and friends. Carriker regularly posts videos of himself firing handguns and assault rifles at targets that include human mannequins and vehicles. Crooks, meanwhile, was identified by police as Saturday's shooter after firing off several shots that killed one person and injured three others including Trump. Crooks was reportedly registered as a Republican but had made a $15 donation to a Democratic PAC in 2021. Schoolmates described him as a loner who would often wear hunting gear. Business magazine Forbes has pulled the plug on a tone-deaf article by a leading DEI researcher which claimed that black people might now identify with Donald Trump because he has been shot. USC Professor Shaun Harper who boasts on his resume of advising more than 400 organizations about their diversity policies, claimed that the injured ex-president's defiant raised fist might resonate with George Floyd protesters. The article under the headline 'Will surviving gunfire be Donald Trump's next appeal to black voters?' was uploaded at 10.27am on Saturday. And the crass analysis had left hundreds of incredulous readers blinking in disbelief by the time it was deleted hours later. 'Very sad to see a magazine with the relevance of Forbes measuring the appeal of 'surviving a gunfire' sorely based on skin color,' wrote one. 'Because black people keep being shot at? Is that the idea?' demanded another. 'Sick and twisted.' Self-styled DEI expert and USC Professor Shaun Harper saw his opinion piece pulled within hours after claiming that the shooting of Donald Trump might resonated with black voters The image of the former president defiantly raising his fist has already acquired iconic status Harper, who billed himself in the piece as a 'diversity, equity and inclusion expert', noted that support for Trump among black Americans has more than doubled since the 2020 election. 'The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has repeatedly contended that the August 2023 release of his criminal mugshot deeply resonated with Black voters because they know firsthand the unfairness of our nation's criminal justice system,' he wrote. 'Hopefully, being shot doesn't become a similarly problematic strategy to link Trump with an experience that far too many Black people have. 'Another racially problematic kinship narrative is unlikely to make Black voters see Trump as one of them. And it most certainly won't fix the gun violence.' But the professor, who has persuaded the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post to carry previous pieces, fears that photos of the ex-president's already iconic raised fist will persuade yet more black voters to abandon the Democrat camp. 'After winning gold and bronze medals for their spectacular performances in the men's 200-meter race at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, American track athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised gloved fists as they stood on the podium,' he wrote. 'Hopefully Trump doesn't claim that his raised fist was an homage to Smith and Carlos, two powerful Black Americans. The 'hot take' was written within four hours of Saturday's shooting, but deleted hours later The author raised fears that the ex-President's raised fist gesture would appeal to black voters associating it with the Black Power protest of US athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos The image of defiance was also heavily in evidence during Black Lives Matters protests In June 2020, many Black Americans and supporters from other racial groups marched in cities all across the nation with their fists raised. 'They were protesting Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin's murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man. 'Then-President Trump weaponized the National Guard and law enforcement against them. 'But now, just over four years later, there's a chance that his raised fist at the Pennsylvania rally becomes erroneously connected to the Black people who were marching with fists raised in rallies in summer 2020 and at other moments in American history.' Harper, who boasts of attracting more than $40 million from foundations for his DEI research and center at USC, is a regular commentator on CNN, MSNBC, CNBC. Screenshots of the tone-deaf opinion piece were taken before it was deleted, and attracted howls of protest when shared to social media Foundations have invested $22.2 million into my diversity, equity, and inclusion research, and I have procured an additional $18.5 million for my center at USC. But his hot take on the implications of the brutal assassination attempt against the former president was slammed as 'beyond racist' by some. 'I wasn't voting for him because he was a felon, but when they tried to bust a cap in his *ss... that made up my mind,' ...said no one ever,' wrote one scathing tweeter. 'So getting arrested and later shot at makes him relatable?? Racism much? Media fails on a daily basis.' wrote another. 'They really trying to say the worst stuff about black people like we relate to him more because he's a convicted felon and now surviving get shot at,' added a third. A leisurely Sunday drive has turned into a dramatic rescue after a man drove through two fences and into a pool in the backyard of a home. Residents at the property on Byron Terrace, in Redlynch, Cairns, jumped into action after the white Lexus SUV crashed into their pool just before 11am on Sunday. The car had careered into the backyard of one property before smashing through the fence of another until it landed in the pool and slowly filling up with water. A female resident rushed to smash one of the car's windows with a hammer and dragged to safety the 61-year-old male driver, from nearby Palm Cove. Emergency services arrived at the scene shortly after and transported the driver Cairns Hospital for treatment. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services send two crews to the scene after being asked to attend by police. Investigations into the accident remain ongoing. A resident on neighbouring Norfolk Circuit, who wished to remain anonymous, said he saw the car 'hurtling' down Heritage Street before crashing into his home. A leisurely Sunday drive has ended with a 61-year-old having to be dramatically saved from his car after crashing into a pool in the backyard of a home in Cairns (pictured) The local was grateful there were no injuries but told the Cairns Post it 'would have been a way different scenario' if it had happened after school hours. He claimed the man appeared to have had a medical episode behind the wheel and was unconscious while being dragged out of the car. 'Then he woke up and I said "are you OK" and he said "yeah Im alright",' he said. Queensland Police said the driver had escaped injury after he was checked out in hospital. A spokesman added: 'We were called after a car crashed through a fence and into a pool, the driver has been able to escape the vehicle and they suffered no injuries.' One of the two men who were injured when a 20 year old gunman opened fire at a Trump rally has been identified as a United States Marine veteran. David Dutch, 57, was shot in the liver and chest on Saturday night, according to a post by the Marine Corps League, where he is a member. He had recently been installed as the commandant of Westmoreland County Marine Corps League Detachment No. 1416, TribLive reports. 'He has had one surgery and is undergoing another this morning,' the post from District 8 Vice Commandant Matt Popovich said. 'He is currently in an induced coma.' One of the men critically injured at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday has been identified as David Dutch, 57 'Please keep him and his family in your prayers,' Popovich pleaded. 'I am sure there will be lots of angst and anger at this news but please be careful how you express it, verbally or physically will not help but prayers and compassion do.' One of Dutch's neighbors, William Pepper, described him as a 'good guy.' He and his girlfriend recalled how Dutch came to their aid last month when their dog died and 'carried the dog out to the car,' according to the New York Post. Dutch and another victim of the shooting in Pennsylvania, James Copenhaver, 74, are now in stable condition, Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris announced on Sunday. A third victim, Corey Comperatore, 50, was tragically killed when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at the Trump rally. His family has told how Comperatore shielded his young daughter and wife from the gunfire. 'These victims and their families are certainly in our thoughts today,' Paris said. Corey Comperatore, 50, was tragically killed when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at the Trump rally Gov. Josh Shapiro has since mandated that flags be flown at half mast in honor of Comperatore, as he hailed the former volunteer firefighter as a hero for diving on his family to shield them from the hail of bullets. 'Corey dove on his family to protect him last night, he died a hero, he was the very best of us,' the governor said in a press conference on Sunday afternoon, adding that the father-of-two was a self-proclaimed 'girl dad' and firefighter. 'Corey went to church every Sunday for a loved his community. And most especially Corey loves his family. Corey was an avid supporter of the former president, and was so excited to be there last night with him in the community,' the governor said. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe established for the surviving victims, along with the family of Comperatore, raised more than $3.5million, with more than 48,000 people contributing. One person who donated told the family of Comperatore, 'There are no words that I can put together in a sentence that will make you feel any better. 'Nobody should have to see that ever,' he said. 'Your father/husband was a hero, and we are so sorry for your loss,' Stephanie Muma wrote. 'To the others critically injured, we hope you pull through and have a full recovery.' The shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks Crooks opened fire with an AR-style rifle from a roof 130 yards from the MAGA event in Butler, Pennsylvania Another contributor wrote that their 'heart goes out to the families impacted by the senseless violence. 'It's a stark reminder of the importance of compassion and community. 'I hope my contribution can help provide some relief during this difficult time,' he continued. 'Together, we must work towards a future where such events no longer occur. 'Let's stand united in support and healing.' Trump was shot in the right ear after turning his head to look at a video screen The former president was seen grabbing at his head and ducked as screams front terrified onlookers ran out Trump was also shot in the right ear by Crooks, who opened fire with an AR-style rifle from a roof 130 yards from the MAGA event in Butler, Pennsylvania. The former president was seen grabbing at his head and ducked as screams front terrified onlookers ran out. He then stood, pumped his fist and chanted 'fight, fight, fight' as Secret Service rushed him off stage and into a motorcade. In an interview on Sunday, Trump revealed how turning his head away from the crowd to look at a video screen may have saved his life at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally and how he wanted to keep talking after gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks struck him in the right ear. He said Sunday: 'I rarely look away from the crowd. Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today, would we?' Trump noted that he had turned slightly to the right so that he could read a chart on illegal immigrants. 'The most incredible thing was that I happened to not only turn but to turn at the exact right time and in just the right amount,' he added, saying he survived 'by luck or by God'. The former president addressed the now-iconic moment where he raised his fist and mouthed 'fight' to the stunned audience in an interview on Sunday 'If I only half-turn, it hits the back of the brain. The other way goes right through [my skull]. And because the sign was high, I'm looking up. The chances of my making a perfect turn are probably one tenth of one percent, so I'm not supposed to be here.' 'I'm not supposed to be here, I'm supposed to be dead,' Trump told the New York Post. 'I'm supposed to be dead.' 'Because the thing was an eighth of an inch away. That I would turn exactly at that second, where he [the gunman] wouldn't stop the shot is pretty amazing. Pretty amazing. I'm really not supposed to be here.' Trump turned his head at the vital moment and ended up with a bloody ear. He was hustled off stage by his Secret Service detail, but not before giving his supporters a clenched fist salute. The former president addressed the now-iconic moment where he raised his fist and mouthed 'fight' to the stunned audience. 'A lot of people say it's the most iconic photo they've ever seen,' Trump said. 'They're right and I didn't die. Usually you have to die to have an iconic picture.' He said he wanted his fans to know he was alright 'and that America goes on, we go forward, that we are strong.' 'The energy coming from the people there in that moment, they just stood there; it's hard to describe what that felt like, but I knew the world was looking. I knew that history would judge this, and I knew I had to let them know we are OK,' Trump added. Three black trucks with United States government plates were spotted at the home of Ohio Senator and rumored vice presidential candidate JD Vance on Saturday. Aides have let it be known that Vance, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and Sen. Marco Rubio are on a shortlist of three as they tease his announcement ahead of the Republican Party convention next week. Vance, a big favorite with Trump's MAGA base, saw the extra protection at his house following the assassination attempt on Trump that the former president miraculously survived, with Vance blaming Joe Biden for the rhetoric leading to it. Some speculated on social media upon noticing the black trucks that they might be Secret Service agents, leading many to wonder if Vance had officially won the veepstakes. Trump is expected to make the announcement at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week. Vance, a big favorite with Trump's MAGA base , saw the extra protection at his house following the assassination attempt on Trump that the former president miraculously survived, with Vance blaming Joe Biden for the rhetoric leading to it Three black trucks with United States government plates were spotted at the home of Ohio Senator and rumored vice presidential candidate JD Vance on Saturday However, while it was left vague why the extra security had been requested, a report suggested it was not Secret Service and had nothing to do with whether Vance was going to be Trump's VP. 'A source familiar says its NOT Secret Service, not related to veepstakes and that the presence is strictly precautionary after yesterday,' NBC News reported. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine would only say that Ohio State Highway Patrol and ATF agents were sent to Vance's home, according to WLWT. The request was approved at around 6:40pm local time Saturday afternoon, about 25 minutes after Trump was shot at. 'For safety reasons, the patrol does not discuss specific details related to security operations.' OSHP said in a statement. It is unclear if the other rumored VP favorites have had security sent to their homes, or if the same has been bestowed on fellow Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown. A spokesperson for DeWine, a Republican like Vance, would not say whether there was any specific threat against the Senator or the reasoning behind it at all. Vance has yet to make any public comment on the security detail. Ohio Senator JD Vance blamed Biden's 'rhetoric' in a post on X after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump It was suggested it was not Secret Service and had nothing to do with whether Vance was going to be Trump's VP He is seen as potentially the top contender for Trump's running mate in recent days after it was confirmed Trump's son Don Jr. who is an ally of Vance would speak ahead of the vice presidential pick at the convention. Supporters, who include the likes of Trump Jr. and former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, say he brings a deep connection with the rust belt states that could decide the election, a personal history that embodies the American Dream, and the sort of TV skills essential for the president's number-one advocate. Critics accuse him of being a political chameleon, selling out his Never Trump credentials at the first sniff of power. Either way it marks an extraordinary rise for a 39-year-old brought up in the crushing poverty of southern Ohio by his heroin-addicted mother and his fierce grandmother. His 2016 memoir, 'Hillbilly Elegy,' catapulted him to literary and political fame, establishing him as the sort of working class, white author who could decode Trump and his allure for an uncomprehending liberal and conservative establishment. The book painted an evocative portrait of a forgotten American while still warning that Trump himself was like an opioid, an 'easy escape from the pain.' As opponents have gleefully pointed out, he repeatedly criticized Trump as he promoted his first book, describing himself as a 'Never Trump guy' and explaining why the New York property developer and TV star was 'unfit for our nation's highest office' in a New York Times piece. Vance has become one of Trump's most visible defenders on television and a hero to the hardline MAGA movement with his message of America First economic nationalism. Vance has become one of Trump's most visible defenders on television and a hero to the hardline MAGA movement with his message of America First economic nationalism It is unclear if the other rumored VP favorites have had security sent to their homes, or if the same has been bestowed on fellow Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown Whether he's named Trump's running mate or not, he's expected to play a big role at the RNC this week, as the former president attempts to make a once-unlikely pivot to unifying the nation after the shooting. Trump flew into Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Sunday evening in a display of defiance as he demonstrates that he is already back at work. He spent Sunday on calls to world leaders, journalists and allies before announcing that the attack would not knock him off a busy schedule. But at the same time, aides have quietly let it be known that the conventionexpected to be a rowdy, Democrat-baiting coronation for the nomineemust be a more muted affair. Starting with the president's own speech. 'The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger,' he told the Washington Examiner. 'Had this not happened, this wouldve been one of the most incredible speeches aimed mostly at the policies of President Joe Biden. 'Honestly, its going to be a whole different speech now,' he added. He is expected to make his first public appearance on Monday when he may (or may not) announce his vice presidential pick before his big set-piece speech on the final night of the convention. A British woman has died after being run down and dragged along the tarmac by a reckless driver who lost control of their car on the Greek island of Crete. The unnamed 47-year-old was enjoying a family holiday with relatives and in-laws in the coastal village of Georgioupoli in Crete's Chania region last week. They were on a walk along a country lane on Friday evening when a silver Peugeot 206 sped along the road and ploughed into the group. The victim was knocked to the floor and dragged off the road by the car which smashed through a wire fence and eventually came to a stop roughly 40ft into the adjacent field. Horrific pictures from the scene captured by Greek media outlet Flash News showed a pool of blood soaking into the tarmac by the side of the road. The victim was knocked to the floor and dragged off the road by the car which smashed through a wire fence and eventually came to a stop roughly 40ft into the adjacent field Two women, aged 47 and 54, were hit by the car The unnamed 47-year-old was enjoying a family holiday with relatives and in-laws in the coastal village of Georgioupoli in Crete's Chania region (pictured) last week Two women, aged 47 and 54, were hit by the car with the elder victim sustaining various abrasions but ultimately escaping without serious injury. The 47-year-old however was rushed to Rethymnon Hospital with serious head trauma. Doctors stabilised her but her condition deteriorated overnight and Greek media reported that she passed away in her hospital bed on Saturday morning. The driver of the vehicle is said to have escaped the incident without injury and was taken into custody. Officers from the Vrysses Police Department in Chania are now conducting an investigation into the incident. A FCDO Spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.' Donald Trump supporters were seen warning cops that gunman Thomas Crooks had taken up a position on a rooftop just outside of the ex-president's rally in Pennsylvania but the Secret Service never reacted. Multiple attendees loudly call out the location of Crooks to police officers but still the shooter was able to get off multiple shots. Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe confirmed that a local police officer did attempt to confront Crooks on the rooftop, moments before the gunfire rang out, but that he ducked for cover when the rifle was trained on him. Slupe confirmed that Crooks, 20, got into position after climbing a ladder and bear crawling across the roof of a business around 100 feet away from where the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was speaking. 'All I know is the officer had both hands on the roof to get up on the roof, never made it because the shooter had turned towards the officer, and rightfully and smartly, the officer let go,' Slupe said. Video shows a member of the public talking to a police officer just yards away from the rooftop where Crooks was situated. Trump's ear was grazed by a bullet while supporter Corey Comperatore was tragically killed. A spokesman for the Secret Service has said that the securing the perimeter of the event is the responsibility of local law enforcement. A member of the public is seen talking with a police officer before the shots rang out, the building where Crooks was perched is to the right A timeline showing the dramatic events that took place on July 13 Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin who shot Donald Trump, was once rejected from his high school rifle club and considered a danger A stunned witness, Greg Smith, told DailyMail.com that he saw the would-be assassin climb onto the top of a building outside the event in Butler, Pennsylvania. 'I'm thinking to myself, "Why is Trump still speaking on this stage right now? Why is he still up there talking?" he said. 'I saw Secret Service blow his head off,' he said, and then ran to collect his wife and three kids and return to safety. 'At this point, I'm feeling, as I think about it more and more, it just feels like a huge security failure to me,' he told DailyMail.com. 'This isn't a big place, there's not a lot of buildings around here, why is everything not covered.' He said he had spotted a guy crawling up on the roof of a building. 'I noticed there's a guy crawling up the roof of that building,' he continued to DailyMail.com. 'I'm like, 'that doesn't seem right.' He said the man definitely did not look like Secret Service, wearing tan and grey clothes, and was not in uniform. Spotted police officers running around the building, appearing to be looking for someone. "I'm pointing at the roof, like, 'Hey man, there's a guy on the roof with a rifle.' According to Butler County Sheriff Michael T. Slupe, the officer who initially confronted Crooks was 'gripping the roof's edge' when confronted by Crooks' rifle. Because of his position, he did not have a gun with him and had to drop back to the ground. 'He lets go because he doesnt want to get killed,' Slupe told the Washington Post. 'The guy is a f***ing cop, come on man!' Police personnel standing over the body of the shooter Now, a report from NBC News details that agents who were charged with securing the area in the town of Butler in the days leading up to Trump's appearance, identified the rooftop as a security risk. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi has said that securing the rooftop would have been under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement, however there were no officers assigned to it. 'Someone should have been on the roof or securing the building so no one could get on the roof,' a former Secret Service agent with knowledge of the plans that went into securing the rally told NBC. It is perhaps the worst lapse in security since President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded at a Washington hotel in 1981. Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger has been deflecting the blame for the shooting to the agency. 'They had meetings in the week prior. The Secret Service ran the show. They were the ones who designated who did what. In the command hierarchy, they were top, they were No. 1,' he said. The former agent who was speaking to NBC News said that even if local cops 'did drop the ball,' the ultimate responsibility lies with the Secret Service. 'Just because it is outside of the perimeter, it doesn't take it out of play for a vulnerability, and you've got to mitigate it in some fashion,' the agent added. Trump who like other former presidents has lifetime protection by the Secret Service, was swarmed by agents who then rushed him away seconds after the gunshots were heard. Agents killed the shooter, identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, and an AR-15-style semiautomatic was recovered near his body, officials said. Trump says a bullet hit his upper right ear but that he is otherwise doing well and would travel to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he will receive his party's presidential nomination. Mike Johnson, speaker of the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives, said panels in the chamber will call officials from the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI for hearings. 'The American people deserve to know the truth,' Johnson said. The House oversight panel called Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify on July 22. The Secret Service, tasked with protecting current and former presidents, is part of the Department of Homeland Security. The department's Office of the Inspector General is responsible for conducting oversight of Secret Service operations. A spokesman for the inspector general's office did not respond to questions about whether it would launch its own inquiry. As Trump pumped his fist to the crowd, some were heard cheering his name and chanting 'USA' and 'Make America Great Again' The FBI said in a statement following the shooting that it would be the lead federal law enforcement agency in the investigation into the shooting. In a statement, Secret Service spokesman Guglielmi said the agency had 'added protective resources (and) technology (and) capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo.' Guglielmi denied accusations that the agency had rebuffed requests for more security resources from Trump's team. In televised remarks, Biden, 81, said that Trump, as a former president who is the Republicans' nominee for president in the Nov. 5 election, already receives a heightened level of security. 'I've been consistent in my direction of the Secret Service to provide him with every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety,' Biden, a Democrat, said. He said he had 'directed an independent review of the national security at yesterday's rally to assess exactly what happened,' the results of which will be shared with the public. On Sunday, Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres said that he and Republican Congressman Mike Lawler are planning to introduce a bill that would call for enhanced security for all presidential candidates. Paul Eckloff, a former Secret Service agent who retired in 2020, said agents would have surveyed all the rooftops with a line of sight ahead of time. Trump is seen surrounded by Secret Service agents in the moments after the shooting. He raised his fist to indicate that he was okay in an image that has since swept the globe 'This person either concealed themselves until they became a threat, or were not a threat until they revealed their weapons,' said Eckloff. In the moments after Trump was injured, the former president was quickly surrounded by Secret Service personnel who formed a human shield, while heavily armed agents in body armor and toting rifles also took to the stage and appeared to scan the area for threats. Trump was whisked by the agents to a black SUV, and taken to a local hospital, according to the campaign. Trump supporters blasted the Secret Service as having failed to protect the former president. Billionaire Elon Musk called for the agency's leadership to resign. 'How was a sniper with a full rifle kit allowed to bear crawl onto the closest roof to a presidential nominee,' asked conservative activist Jack Posobiec on social media. 'There will be an intensive review' of the incident and 'there's going to be a massive realignment,' said Joseph LaSorsa, a former Secret Service agent who served on the presidential detail. 'This cannot happen.' During most of Trump's campaign stops, local police aid the Secret Service in securing the venue. Agents from other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, such as the Transportation Security Administration, occasionally help. Many Trump rallies feature thousands of audience members, take place in the open air and last for hours. Before the event, agents scan the venue for bombs or other threats, and Trump invariably arrives in a fortified motorcade. Law enforcement officials typically put up barriers as a perimeter, and require all attendees to go through a metal detector to enter the venue. Armed protective agents search all attendees' bags and even wallets. Many rallygoers are patted down by hand. Britain is considering restarting its funding of the UN refugee agency despite Israeli claims that it has been infiltrated by Hamas and staff even took part in the October 7 terror attacks. The UK's ambassador to the global body signalled that under Foreign Secretary David Lammy the new Labour government may resume sending money to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine in the Near East (UNRWA). Funding for the organisation was halted by Rishi Sunak's former Tory government after Israel claimed that its operation in Gaza had been infiltrated by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters who made up 12 per cent of its workforce, or around 1,400 people. The Netanyahu government also claimed staff even took part in the October 7 massacre. But an independent review carried out in April found that Israel had provided no evidence to back up its claims. In a speech at the UNRWA Pledging Conference 2024 on Friday, UK ambassador Barbara Woodward said the UK had been 'appalled' by the accusations but that it was confidence action was being taken to ensure 'the highest standards of neutrality, transparency and accountability' were being met. 'The UK recognises the importance of UNRWAs mandate and the need for UNRWA to operate on a sustainable financial footing. Following last weeks elections in the United Kingdom, the new Foreign Secretary is closely considering resuming UK funding to UNRWA.' It came as Mr Lammy made his first visit to the Middle East as Foreign Secretary, meeting both Mr Netanyahu and Prime Minister of Palestine, Mohammad Mustafa. The Foreign Secretary today met families of hostages murdered or held in Gaza by Hamas. The UK's ambassador to the global body signalled that under Foreign Secretary David Lammy the new Labour government may resume sending money to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine in the Near East (UNRWA). It came as Mr Lammy made his first visit to the Middle East as Foreign Secretary, meeting both Mr Netanyahu and Prime Minister of Palestine, Mohammad Mustafa (above) Photos shared on social media showed him embracing and shaking hands with those affected. The department also said on X, formerly Twitter: "In the West Bank @DavidLammy met Palestinian community members, where he heard the impact on communities suffering from settler violence and settlement expansion. "Settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law and harm prospects for a two-state solution." Mr Lammy has used his trip to urge an 'immediate ceasefire' between Israel and Hamas and the release of hostages, describing the death toll in Gaza as 'intolerable' and calling for 'unrestricted' access for aid. Labour is walking a diplomatic tightrope - with many of the party's voters demanding a more pro-Palestinian stance. It lost five seats to pro-Palestinian candidates in areas with prominent Muslim populations in this months General Election. But restoring UNRWA funding may help placate hostile backbenchers. The October 7 attack by Hamas militants killed 1,200 people, while about 250 other people were abducted, according to Israeli tallies. Several countries including the United States halted funding to UNRWA after Israel alleged that staff members were involved in Hamas' attack. The agency has said it took the allegations seriously and sacked 10 staff members accused by Israel of involvement in the attack. But in April, Norway called on international donors to resume funding UNRWA, after a UN-authorized independent review found that Israel had not provided evidence supporting its accusations that hundreds of UNRWA staff were members of the terrorist groups. Established in 1949 after the first Arab-Israeli war, UNRWA provides schooling, healthcare and humanitarian aid in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. It is almost entirely by UN member states. Mr Lammy highlighted that there is more than 680 tonnes of UK aid in the region and waiting to enter Gaza, including medicines, shelters and hygiene kits. He also met families with links to the UK whose loved ones were either murdered or captured by Hamas. Ahead of the meetings he said: The death and destruction in Gaza is intolerable. This war must end now, with an immediate ceasefire, complied with by both sides. The fighting has got to stop, the hostages still cruelly detained by Hamas terrorists need to be released immediately and aid must be allowed in to reach the people of Gaza without restrictions. I am meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to stress the UKs ambition and commitment to play its full diplomatic role in securing a ceasefire deal and creating the space for a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution. The world needs a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. Central to this is to see an end to expanding illegal Israeli settlements and rising settler violence in the West Bank. Here, in what should be a crucial part of a Palestinian state, alongside Gaza and East Jerusalem, we need to see a reformed and empowered Palestinian Authority. His remarks come after an Israeli strike said to be targeting the suspected October 7 attack mastermind Mohammed Deif killed at least 90 people and injured hundreds more. The charity Action Aid UK said the attack on the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis in the southern area of the Gaza strip happened in a designated humanitarian zone. An eyewitness told the BBC that it looked like an earthquake had hit while Hamas described the strike as a horrifying massacre and denied Deif was killed. It remained unclear last night whether he was among the dead. A teenage girl is in a critical condition and three others remain on the run after she was allegedly stabbed in the back during an altercation. Emergency services raced to the scene in Fortitude Valley in inner-city Brisbane at about 1.45pm on Monday. Queensland Police were told a group of teenage girls were involved in an altercation. One was rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital with life-threatening injuries, a police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. A crime scene has been established in Alfred Street as detectives launched an investigations. The area was cordoned off as forensic officers collected samples from a stormwater drain outside the Centre to Counter Child Exploitation. CCTV from a nearby business captured the group walking past prior to the incident. 'They looked like they came from school, they didn't look nervous, they were heading in the same direction,' the business owner told Courier Mail. A girl was rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital with life-threatening wounds on Monday afternoon. Pictured are police are the scene in Fortitude Valley Forensic officers were seen collecting samples outside the Centre to Counter Child Exploitation on Alfred Street 'They are walking pretty casually, they weren't running to me, if they walked past me I wouldn't think they were up to anything heading back towards the train station. 'Just around the corner after dark on the weekend it's pretty bad; it's not a bad place during the day, this street is good.' The other three girls are still on the run. It is believed they are all known to each other. Investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information which may assist investigators is urged to call Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers. Raging sunseekers got into a brawl on an Italian beach over the weekend after they were denied loungers in a prime spot near the shoreline. Two women demanded they be given sunbeds close to the sea, putting them in front of people who had already been on the beach for hours, a local government official said, citing a witness. Lifeguards refused and a vicious fight broke out between the women and members of the public, with footage showing them wrestling and yanking each other's hair. Witnesses said the women then turned on beach lifeguards who had been trying to pull them away, and that the fight went on for 'more than half an hour'. The violent scenes took place in the coastal resort of Varcaturo, near Naples, where families had been enjoying a day out. Women are seen yanking each other's hair and grappling to win the fight as members of the public watch on helplessly Locals sent a report to member of parliament Francesco Emilio Borrelli, which detailed how the 'very violent' fight had broken out at the popular lido. Borrelli labelled it 'uncontrolled violence' and said the perpetrators 'do not know how to behave in public need to be re-educated'. He said the women had risked the safety of members of the public with the violence. 'A fight between women in broad daylight, in front of families and children. For what? A sunbed on the seashore. We have surpassed all imagination,' he said. He went on in a statement on Facebook: 'Those who think they can do what they want, sowing panic on a beach, cannot go unpunished. 'We ask that these women are identified and brought to justice as soon as possible.' Video of the incident has gone viral online and shows women wearing swimming costumes and beach clothes hitting and wrestling each other. Their faces are hardly visible in the footage as they grapple with beachgoers who are trying to bring them under control. Around a dozen people are seen around the women, seemingly trying to break up the ferocious scrap, with little success. Around a dozen people are seen around the women, seemingly trying to break up the fight One of the women appears to try to wrestle another to the ground during the fight over the sunbed While so-called sunbed wars are nothing new across Mediterranean resorts, it is rare for them to descend into such violence. Tourists vying for the best spot have been caught on camera racing each other to pool and beachside beds this summer in Spain. People have also been seen queueing for hours before pools open in a bid to secure a lounger. Footage from last year showed holidaymakers racing each other to nab poolside sun loungers the moment sites opened, at which point witnesses said 'madness' ensued. 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. Hotels across southern Spain were forced to crackdown last year on unruly behaviour as tourists battled for the best sunbathing spots. One hotel on the Costa del Sol revealed that they were forced to introduce a parking ticket style system - with towels left on beds unattended removed after a time limit. Meanwhile at a Greek resort where a similar policy was meant to be enforced, one German family was awarded a 280 payout after missing out on a sunbed. The family, who spent 4,532 on their break last summer, were awarded the cash after they were they were unable to get any loungers at their Rhodes hotel one morning. Managers at the TUI Kids Club Atlantica Mikri Poli hotel had been operating a policy that meant guests who put down towels on any of their 500 beds had to use them within 30 minutes. The court found that in this case, the policy was not implemented. King Charles yesterday sent a private message to Donald Trump after the former US President was shot in an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. Charles' message to Trump was delivered on Sunday via the UK Embassy in Washington DC. Buckingham Palace said the contents of the correspondence will be kept private. It is understood it was in keeping with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's conversation with Trump, in which he condemned the violence, expressed his condolences for the victims and their families, and wished the former president and those injured a quick recovery. Trump, 78, was left bloodied and wounded when a bullet pierced the 'upper part' of his right ear just minutes into his speech in Butler on Saturday night. King Charles yesterday sent a private message to Donald Trump after the former US President was shot in an assassination attempt Trump is bundled off the stage by Secret Service agents to chants of 'USA' form the MAGA crowd Trump pumped a fist at the crowd and did not seem to severely injured as he walked on his own off the stage, surrounded by secret service Donald Trump and his wife Melania meet with Charles and Camilla during his State Visit to the UK in June 2019 Camilla, Charles, Trump, and Melania pose for the cameras ahead of a dinner at Winfield House (the residence of the US Ambassador) in June 2019 Gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired at least eight bullets from an 'AR-style rifle' at the 45th US President from a rooftop just 130 yards away from where Trump was stood. One spectator was killed in the attack - former fire chief Corey Comperatore - while two others were seriously wounded. Crooks, a registered Republican, was killed by a US Secret Service sniper. Trump told US media he is 'supposed to be dead' and he was only saved 'by luck or by God'. Trump first met the King and Queen, then the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, during a royal tour of the US in 2005. In 2019, Charles hosted Trump and his wife Melania for afternoon tea at Clarence House with Camilla. Trump was also feted with a state banquet, hosted by the late Queen, during a state visit to the UK earlier the same year. He told Piers Morgan on GMB that year that he and Charles had long conversation in which the royal shared his views about the environment. He said: 'We were going to have a 15-minute chat. And it turned out to be an hour and a half. And he did most of the talking. He is really into climate change, and I think that's great, I mean I want that, I like that. 'What he really wants, and what he really feels warmly about is the future. He wants to make sure future generations have climate that is good climate as opposed to a disaster. And I agree.' The-then Prince of Wales chats with Trump and his wife Melania during a reception at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2005 Trump raises his glass to Charles during the dinner at Winfield House for the-then Prince of Wales in 2019 Trump shakes Charles' hand after he steps off Marine One for his welcome ceremony at Buckingham Palace, June 2019 Trump and Charles stroll side-by-side at Buckingham Palace during the-then US President's three-day State Visit Melania, Trump, Charles, and Camilla share a laugh as they have tea at Clarence House, June 2019 Trump signs the visitors book after their tour of Westminster Abbey in June 2019 in which he wrote: 'Thank you so much. This has been a great honor. Special place.' Trump sent his prayers to the 75-year-old monarch in February after his shock cancer diagnosis. In an all-caps message written on his Truth Social platform he said: 'KING CHARLES HAS CANCER. HE IS A WONDERFUL MAN, WHO I GOT TO KNOW WELL DURING MY PRESIDENCY, AND WE ALL PRAY THAT HE HAS A FAST AND FULL RECOVERY!'. And he predicted that Charles would do 'very well' as King and would likely 'refrain' from discussing certain elements of politics after he ascended to the throne following Queen Elizabeth II's death. Charles previously wrote to Trump in 1995 when the then-Prince of Wales thanked him for offering an honorary membership to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. As bullets rang out and whizzed by in Pennsylvania on Saturday night, Trump suddenly grabbed hold of his ear before hitting the floor as Secret Service agents swarmed on top of him. With blood trickling down his cheek, Trump rose to his feet and raised his fist in the air and repeatedly mouthed the words 'fight' as he refused to leave the stage without his shoes. In his first interview since the attack, he said: 'The most incredible thing was that I happened to not only turn [my head] but to turn at the exact right time and in just the right amount,' he said, adding that the bullet that grazed his ear could have easily killed him. 'I'm supposed to be dead, I'm not supposed to be here,' he told the New York Post. Trump revealed how turning his head away from the crowd to look at a video screen may have saved his life and how he wanted to keep talking after being shot. The former president appeared to be shot in the ear Donald Trump raises his fist moments after being injured in a shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin who shot Donald Trump, was once rejected from his high school rifle club and considered a danger Trump is seen surrounded by Secret Service agents in the moments after the shooting. He raised his fist to indicate that he was okay in an image that has since swept the globe One spectator was killed in the attack - former fire chief Corey Comperatore (pictured) - while two others were seriously wounded Trump, pictured on Sunday arriving at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, is set to rewrite his speech President Biden said in a statement that Americans 'must unite as one nation' in response to the horrific scenes He said on Sunday: 'I rarely look away from the crowd. Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today, would we?' Trump noted that he had turned slightly to the right so that he could read a chart on illegal immigrants. 'The most incredible thing was that I happened to not only turn but to turn at the exact right time and in just the right amount,' he added. 'If I only half-turn, it hits the back of the brain. The other way goes right through [my skull]. And because the sign was high, I'm looking up. The chances of my making a perfect turn are probably one tenth of one percent, so I'm not supposed to be here.' The former president addressed the now-iconic moment where he raised his fist and mouthed 'fight' to the stunned audience. 'A lot of people say it's the most iconic photo they've ever seen,' Trump said. 'They're right and I didn't die. Usually you have to die to have an iconic picture.' He said he wanted his fans to know he was all right 'and that America goes on, we go forward, that we are strong'. 'The energy coming from the people there in that moment, they just stood there; it's hard to describe what that felt like, but I knew the world was looking. I knew that history would judge this, and I knew I had to let them know we are OK,' Trump added. 'I said, I've got to walk out, I have to walk out,' Trump said during his flight to Milwaukee, according to the Examiner. 'I did not want to be carried out. I've seen people being carried out, and it's not good. And I had no problem with walking.' \ Trump was full of praise for his adoring audience, citing how they reacted to the situation. 'A lot of places, especially soccer games, you hear a single shot, everybody runs. Here there were many shots and they stayed. I love them. They are such great people.' Trump accepted Joe Biden's phone call after the shooting, calling it 'fine' and saying the president was 'very nice.' He added that the 'reality is just setting in' with him regarding the shooting and the chaotic aftermath. Trump pointed to his nose and said they killed Crooks 'with one shot right between the eyes.' Despite the controversy over the Secret Service for allowing the shooting to happen, he praised the speed and strength of his security. Britain risks another politician being killed due to the growth of a US-style 'toxic environment' on this side of the Atlantic, a Government adviser has warned. John Woodcock, the independent adviser on political violence and disruption, issued the chilling message after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. The ex-Labour MP, now known as Lord Walney, said the shoooting of the former US president was a 'vivid reminder of the vulnerability of all politicians'. Prior to the apparent attempt to muder Mr Trump, Lord Walney had already urged a probe into the intimidation of candidates during this month's general election. He last week wrote to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and security minister Dan Jarvis about his fears of a 'concerted campaign by extremists'. Donald Trump, who is bidding to return to the White House as the Republican candidate at November's presidential election, was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday John Woodcock, the independent adviser on political violence and disruption, said the shoooting of the ex-US president was a 'vivid reminder of the vulnerability of all politicians' Mr Trump, who is bidding to return to the White House as the Republican candidate at November's presidential election, was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. In the wake of the shooting, Lord Walney warned that Britain was not immune from political violence. In 2016, Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right terrorist a week before the EU referendum, while Tory MP David Amess was killed by an Islamic State fanatic in 2021. Lord Walney told the Guardian: 'We have seen the growth in the UK of US-style politics of aggressive confrontation and intimidation which is unfortunately, exactly the toxic environment that could lead to another assassination attempt on a UK politician, of which we have already tragically seen a number in recent years.' In a letter to Ms Cooper and Mr Jarvis, the peer has urged the Labour ministers to commission a short inquiry into the recent intimidation of parliamentary candidates. He asked them to investigate whether groups in different constituencies were working together and to document what he called the 'dark underbelly' of abuse. Lord Walney told the newspaper he believed intimidation was increasingly being used as 'a core electoral strategy to try to either get candidates defeated or bully candidates into submission'. He said there was a particular pattern of abuse 'created by aggressive pro-Palestine activists'. 'The stories coming back from constituencies, from election campaigns are horrific,' he added. 'I think our frontline politicians were shaken before this and they have come back from the campaign determined to do something about it. 'And the question is now what measures will be effective and how you create the atmosphere for a change of culture.' Earlier this month, Labour candidate Stella Creasy, who stood in Walthamstow, north-east London, had the window and door of her office smashed days before the general election. She said at the time that 'malicious and false' leaflets had been handed out about her. Sammy Wilson, the DUP candidate for East Antrim, also saw the windows and doors of his office damaged, with police saying it may have been caused by ball bearings. Mr Wilson expressed concerns that a weapon may have been involved. And Reform UK accused the police of failing to protect candidates from 'attacks and threats' while on the campaign trail, with the party claiming one was 'robbed, punched and kicked' in what it branded a 'hate crime'. It has emerged that two Secret Service sniper teams were scouting Trump's security and both appeared trained on the building where Thomas Crooks managed to carry out his assassination attempt on the former president during a rally on Saturday night. Less than two minutes before gunfire erupted at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally the teams appeared to be positioning themselves to face the direction of the shooter. Footage showing the two teams of agents, armed with their sniper rifles but not shooting until Crooks, 20, had already fired shots at the former president has raised questions around the Secret Service's security footprint. In the videos and images of the counter-snipers circulating on social media, the two teams donning black protective gear appear to be trained on the American Glass Research building, where Crooks had managed to gain access to the roof. But as they seemed to be refining their aim, neither of the teams eliminated the threat until it was too late and Trump was hit - despite the Secret Service being alerted to Crooks' presence by concerned rally-goers. Footage has emerged showing two sniper teams on the roofs of buildings behind Trump during his Saturday night rally in Pennsylvania where he was almost assassinated Graphic shows the two roof tops where Secret Service sniper teams were positioned and the sight they had on the building where shooter Thomas Crooks, 20, positioned himself Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was identified by the FBI as the shooter in the Saturday night Donald Trump assassination attempt. He was later gunned down and killed by the Secret Service but only after he had already fired at least eight shots at the former president One-minute-and-32-seconds before shots were heard, footage captured the moment two Secret Service sniper teams moved into place on roofs behind the former president. One team were located on the south roof and one on the north roof facing the direction of the shooter. It is not clear in footage whether the agents are repositioning or gearing up to fire. While Trump delivers his speech, the snipers are seen still facing Crooks, before an agent on the north roof lift his head up before shots begin to ring out. At 6:15pm, agents rush on to the stage to pull Trump to the ground after he was hit and only then do the snipers eliminate him. Witnesses described seeing Crooks armed with a rifle climbing onto the roof of the building 130 yards away - where law enforcement later recovered an AR-style rifle. The gunman fired at least eight shots from outside the security perimeter in an incident that has sparked immediate calls for an an investigation into the security failure. A witness to the assassination revealed he warned Secret Service agents about a man with a rifle on a nearby roof minutes before they opened fire. The witness, named Greg Smith, told DailyMail.com that he saw the suspected gunman climb into a rooftop outside the event, and was bewildered by the lack of action from agents. 'Im thinking to myself 'Why is Trump still speaking, why have they not pulled him off the stage,'' he said. 'The next thing you know, five shots ring out.' This has raised serious questions around whether the two teams had completely failed to spot the shooter until it was too late and how Crooks was able to fire at least eight shots before he was taken down. Donald Trump was addressing a cheering crowd at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, before he was shot in the ear Secret Service swarmed to his side and ushered the former-President away while he was seen with blood pouring down his face Trump emerged from the cover of the suited agents and raised a fist, shouting: 'Fight, fight, fight' before he was taken to hospital Former Secret Service agent Joseph LaSorsa said there will be an 'intensive review' and 'massive realignment' in the agency. 'This cannot happen' he said. He also explained to DailyMail.com why agents from the under-fire service may not have been able to see the gunman. 'Remember theyre observing 360 and youre dealing with seconds. Theyre monitoring maybe in that case it might have been 240 degrees. 'Theyre looking at many areas and it only took seconds for that individual to get up there and luckily he was a 20 year old and not a superior marksman. 'Luckily for all of us as a country that he was only 20.' According to NBC News, the rooftop where Crooks was based was identified by the Secret Service as a potential vulnerability in the days leading up to the campaign rally. The glass building is directly adjacent to the Butler Farm Show where Trump was delivering his speech before being targeted. A former Secret Service agent told the news channel: 'Someone should have been on the roof or securing the building so no one could get on the roof'. On Sunday, the shooter was identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks - a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. It has since emerged through federal campaign finance records that the gunman was a registered Republican who had previously made a $15 donation to the liberal ActBlue political action committee on January 20, 2021 - Biden's Inauguration Day. Yearbook images have surfaced of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old gunman who opened fire on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. A resident confirmed the identity to DailyMail.com Authorities found explosive materials in Crooks' vehicle and family home. Members of the Bethel Park community where Crooks is believed to have lived with his parents were swarmed by police and Secret Service on Sunday morning Officers stand guard outside a cordon in Bethel Park as cops search an address registered to Crooks Explosive devices were found in his vehicle and home after his father, Matthew Crooks, 53, legally purchased the AR-15 that his son used to attempt to assassinate Trump. The gunman killed one rally goer, revealed to be Corey Comperatore, and critically injured two - including David Dutch, 57, a marine veteran. Although his assassination attempt was unsuccessful, Crooks opened fire on Trump but only managed to graze his ear. Trump was seen in footage clutching his right ear and ducking behind the podium, while his security detail created a wall of bodies around him and the gunman was taken out. With blood running down his face, Trump stood up and raised his fist in the air and repeatedly yelled 'fight' as he was escorted off stage by suited members of the Secret Service. Crooks, who graduated high school just two years ago, parked his vehicle near the rally site in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday before scaling to the roof of the glass building and targeting the former president. Authorities claim that after police received multiple reports of suspicious packages near where the shooter parked his car it prompted them to dispatch bomb technicians. Investigators worked well into the night to make sure the scene was clear, which included searching Crooks' home and speaking with his family. The FBI search led to the discovery of more bombs in the family's Bethel Park home, according to reports. A new film charting the reign of Adolf Hitler and his propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels has split public opinion in Germany where it was initially refused public funding for its attempt to 'humanise' the Nazi leaders. Fuhrer und Verfuhrer - translated as 'Leader and Seducer' or 'Goebbels and the Fuhrer' - is a docudrama that seeks to 'tear off the masks' of the Nazi demagogues and explore how they compelled an entire nation to follow their murderous ideals. Splicing dramatised scenes of Goebbels and Hitler together with archive footage and interviews with Holocaust survivors, the film follows the private lives of the Fuhrer and his propagandist-in-chief from 1938 until their suicides in 1945 - and covers in detail their tactics for mass indoctrination. Many critics in Germany and beyond have lauded the docudrama as a 'masterpiece and 'revolutionary' for its willingness to place the Nazi chiefs front and centre of the story, unlike most works which focus on the victims of the Third Reich - but others have questioned the filmmaker's desire to do just that. Such resistance comes from long-held wariness in Germany of any work that focuses on the 'perspective of the perpetrators' amid fears the audience could begin to empathise and identify with the fascist authors of the Holocaust. A new film on the reign of Adolf Hitler and the tactics of propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels has split public opinion in Germany The film follows the private lives of the Fuhrer and his propagandist-in-chief Goebbels (pictured here being depicted by Robert Stadlober) from 1938 until their suicides in 1945 Many critics in Germany and beyond have lauded the docudrama as a 'masterpiece and 'revolutionary' for its willingness to place the Nazi chiefs front and centre of the story Adolf Hitler and Dr Joseph Goebbels are pictured in Stuttgart in this colourised photo (L to R) Fritz Karl, Franziska Weisz, Joachim A. Lang and Robert Stadlober arrive for the 'Fuehrer und Verfuehrer' premiere at Delphi Filmpalast on July 11, 2024 in Berlin Fuhrer und Verfuhrer offers a uniquely personal take on the experiences of Hitler and Goebbels, portraying in equal measure how they concocted their evil grand plans alongside the tumultuous and controversial nature of their family and romantic lives. Viewers are shown how Goebbels painstakingly rehearsed virulent anti-Semitic speeches, openly boasted of manipulating the truth for the benefit of the regime and routinely attempted to influence Hitler's decision making. They also watch how Goebbels was troubled by lust for one of several mistresses, Czech actress Lida Baarova, and the disputes he had with Magda, his wife and mother of his children, as a result. For Director Joachim Lang, the humanisation of the Nazi leaders is paramount to prevent history from repeating itself. Lang argues that portraying such individuals as human beings - and lifting the curtain on the processes by which Goebbels was able to construct lies and effectively disseminate 'fake news' - can help people today to become more resilient to propaganda and disinformation. 'It is a film for the present. When I look at recent events, it couldn't be more topical,' the filmmaker told BILD. 'If we manage to see through the criminals of that time and their strategies, we will also be able to rip the mask off the faces of today's people-catchers. The film shows how endangered our civil society is and how quickly barbarism can arise.' That perspective is shared by Thomas Weber, the film's chief historical consultant and professor at Aberdeen University. 'The whole point is we have to humanise Hitler, precisely because he was not some kind of demon, he was a human being who did terrible things 'In a way it becomes scarier when Hitler is human, because when you see the Aperol spritz-drinking new radical right you realise that they are not really that different from National Socialism,' he told The Times. Lang, Weber and the team behind Fuhrer und Verfuhrer went to great pains to make the film as historically accurate as possible, enlisting various expert consultants and poring over hours of recordings, Goebbels diary entries, memoirs and notes from other Nazi henchmen, and archive footage. The first scene of the film even contains the only known private audio clip of Hitler, recorded secretly by a Finnish sound engineer when the Nazi leader visited Finland in 1942. Weber told Germany's Der Spiegel that every scene of the film could have a footnote to show its historical authenticity, much like an academic paper. But despite Lang, Weber and their actors Robert Stadlober (Goebbels) and Fritz Karl (Hitler) earning plaudits from German media, the film has also received plenty of pushback. Much of the film had to be shot in Slovakia after German authorities reportedly refused to provide funding upon reading the plot. And Vision Kino - a federally administered institution that recommends and organises screenings of films to German schools - ruled that Fuhrer und Verfuhrer must not be shown to pupils, even after the country's media regulator deemed the docudrama 'particularly valuable' with 'intelligent and well-founded information'. The film splices dramatised scenes of Goebbels and Hitler together with archive footage and interviews with Holocaust survivors A Nazi rally is seen in this archive footage included in Fuhrer und Verfuhrer Much of the film had to be shot in Slovakia after German authorities refused to provide funding upon reading the plot For Director Joachim Lang, the humanisation of the Nazi leaders is paramount to prevent history from repeating itself Dr. Joseph Goebbels (L), Minister of propaganda for Nazi Germany, and German Chancellor Adolf Hitler (R) standing in a crowd of military officers ahead of WWII 102-year-old Margot Friedlander, one of several Holocaust survivors who appear in the docudrama, said: 'You have the responsibility to use the power of film to ensure that something like this never happens again' The regulator recommended the film for ages 12+, writing that 'the clear message that history can repeat itself, as well as the plea for humanity, encourage discussion for this age group'. But Vision Kino still declined to offer Fuhrer und Verfuhrer to teachers for screenings in schools, declining requests from German media to explain their decision. The ruling from the group, which previously recommended the film 'Zone of Interest' on the life of Auschwitz camp commandant Rudolf Hoss to German pupils, angered Lang. 'The decision to withhold this reappraisal of National Socialism from students, which is so important, especially in the current situation, is completely incomprehensible to the producers, the distributor, the historical consultant and to me,' he declared. Weber was also adamant that the film could prove invaluable to school children as a tool to educate them about propaganda and disinformation. 'As has always been the case in times of pandemics and crises, conspiracy theories are springing up like mushrooms, with the help of which demagogues are cleverly trying to poison the masses,' he told BILD. 'Social media and artificial intelligence are acting as accelerant, just as the new media of film and broadcasting did in the years 1920 to 1945.' The sentiment of Lang and Weber is shared by 102-year-old Margot Friedlander, one of several Holocaust survivors who appear in the docudrama. Speaking onstage at the German Film Awards in May, she said: 'There are a lot of storytellers in this room. You have the responsibility to use the power of film to ensure that something like this never happens again. 'I ask you to support me so that history does not repeat itself.' Fuhrer und Verfuhrer premiered at the Munich Film Festival on July 4, where it won the National Audience award, and opened in German cinemas last week. A serial domestic abuser has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars after he attempted to murder his model girlfriend in a 'brutal and harrowing' assault. Daniel William Huish, 33, was sentenced in Perth Supreme Court on Monday for the horrific and degrading attack on his then-partner in November 2021. The court heard during an earlier trial that the nightmare attack started when Huish returned to his Burswood apartment from the gym and demanded the passcode to his girlfriend's phone. The young woman, who was staying at the inner-city apartment overnight, refused to tell Huish the code as he accused her of cheating on him. Huish's accusations escalated into a violent and prolonged attack which only stopped when the woman pretended to be unconscious. The court heard Huish repeatedly threatened to kill the young woman, strangled her several times and slammed her hand in a door. At one point, the woman was able to run onto the apartment's balcony, where she desperately called out to commuters waiting at a nearby train station to help her. The passengers watched as she was dragged back inside the apartment by her hair before Huish grabbed a large kitchen knife and slashed at her chest. Daniel William Huish (pictured) was sentenced to 15 years behind bars after attempting to murder his former girlfriend Huish only stopped attacking the woman when she pretended to be unconscious (stock image) The woman grabbed the knife in an attempt to protect herself, which left deep cuts on her hand. Believing she would die from Huish's unrelenting attack, the woman resorted to pretending she was unconscious in the hope he would stop. Huish proceeded to slap her, splash toilet water on her face and urinate on her in an attempt to wake her. Two police officers, who had been called by the train station passengers, arrived at the apartment where Huish tried to block their entry before attacking them. The earlier trial also heard about Huish's history of violence from one of his former partners and his prior domestic violence convictions in Queensland and New South Wales. Huish pleaded guilty to obstructing and assaulting the police officers and detaining and assaulting the victim but denied he tried to murder her. A jury later found him guilty of the charge and choking her four times. Justice Bruno Fiannaca found Huish's attack showed 'male entitlement and control' over the victim. 'You acted with a sense of entitlement and possessiveness in a desire to punish her,' he said, the ABC reported. Justice Fiannaca highlighted the use of strangulation as very serious and labelled domestic violence a scourge to society. He sentenced Huish to 15 years behind bars, 12 to be served before he is eligible for parole. The sentence was backdated to Huish's arrest in November 2021, meaning he could be released as early as 2034. Justice Fiannaca highlighted Huish's use of strangulation as very serious and declared him a serial family violence offender (pictured, Perth Supreme Court) Justice Fiannaca also imposed a lifetime restraining order banning Huish from ever contacting the victim and declared him a serial family violence offender. In an emotional victim impact statement last week, the woman described the 'profound and devastating' effect Huish's attack took on her life. 'That day my life was altered by a brutal attempt on my life,' she said. 'Physically, the assailant's ruthlessness left me with a hand that no longer functions as it once did. 'The memory of suffocation and strangulation haunts me deeply. The fear of losing my breath consumes me. The emotional scars are deep and pervasive, robbing me of sleep. 'The emotional anguish has shattered my sense of self-worth.' If you or anyone who know needs support, contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Questions surrounding how would-be political assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks managed to get into a position just 100 feet from Donald Trump was speaking, take aim with a rifle and fire off at least eight shots, remain. Crooks, 20, was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper moments after he opened fire at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. The presumptive Republican nominee was wounded in the ear while supporter Corey Comperatore tragically lost his life. In the aftermath of a seismic day in US politics, it now appears that it was sheer luck that Trump was not killed by Crooks' gunfire which the ex-president's ear and did not cause major injury. The Secret Service is coming in for the most scrutiny of their handling of the event. The building that Crooks' fired from was identified as a security risk but the shooter was still able to establish a position and fire off multiple shots. New videos appear to confirm witnesses accounts that attendees at the rally notified law enforcement about Crooks' presence after seeing him bear crawling and armed atop the building. After witnesses alerted cops when they saw Crooks bear crawling, an officer was hoisted by another officer on to the rooftop. Once there, Crooks trained his gun on the officer, forcing him to duck for cover. Moments later, shots rang out, terrifying the crowd. Trump was said to be in 'great spirits' on Sunday while telling the Washington Examiner that he has rewritten the speech he will deliver at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden spoke for about five minutes from the Oval Office and noted that the Republican National Convention was opening in Milwaukee on Monday, while he himself would be traveling the country to campaign for reelection. He said passions would run high on both sides and that the stakes of the election were enormous. But the president added, 'it's time to cool it down' and noted not just the weekend attack on Trump but also the possibility of election-year violence on multiple fronts. Here, the MailOnline looks at five of the key unanswered questions surrounding the first assassination attempt in 43 years and the security lapses around it. How did Thomas Crooks get on to the roof? Police personnel standing over the body of the shooter on the rooftop This 2021 photo provided by Bethel Park School District shows would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks who graduated from Bethel Park High School with the Class of 2022 Officials have confirmed that Crooks used a ladder to climb up to the roof of the American Glass Research building in Butler, along Evans Road. How he managed to get the building with a large rifle and a ladder undetected remains to be established. It's not clear for how long he was in the vicinity. Trump took the stage at 6:03pm, attendees began entering the grounds of the event around 1:00pm. The crowd were forced to go through metal detectors before gaining entry. CNN reports that Crooks was reportedly acting suspicious around security. It's not clear at what time that was reported. A message was relayed to the Secret Service about Crooks, warning them to keep an eye on him. According to the Associated Press, Trump supporters notified local cops who were patrolling the area about Crooks' presence at 6:10pm. The building was identified as a security risk. So why wasn't it secured? A map showing the jurisdiction of the Secret Service, within the red line parameters of the venue, and the outside, which was under the purview of Butler County officials The building rooftop where Thomas Crooks was perched is shown here. It was to the right of where Donald Trump was facing when he was shot The building that Crooks shot from was identified as a security risk so it's not clear as to why it wasn't properly secured, according to a report from NBC News. 'Someone should have been on the roof or securing the building so no one could get on the roof,' a former Secret Service agent told the network. The rooftop was well-within the range of someone with AR-15 style gun. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that the agency worked with local law enforcement to secure the area and that securing the perimeter was the responsibility of the Butler Township Police Department and the Butler County Sheriff's Office. Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldlinger disputed this somewhat when speaking to NBC News. 'They had meetings in the week prior. The Secret Service ran the show. They were the ones who designated who did what. In the command hierarchy, they were top, they were No. 1,' he said. 'To me, the whole thing is under the jurisdiction of the Secret Service. And they will delineate from there.' The officer who confronted Crooks on the roof was a member of the Butler Township Police Department. Why did it take so long for snipers to take him out? Butler Township snipers provided support to the Secret Service snipers who were monitoring the event The Secret Service is still investigating the response to the gunshots. It took 'seconds' for the sniper to kill Crooks, a law enforcement source told CBS. The video reveals that it was 43 seconds between the first series of pops heard and a Secret Service agent saying: 'The shooter is down.' Initial reports indicate that Crooks managed to fire eight bullets into the crowd before being shot dead at 6:11 pm. Trump was in the middle of describing a displayed chart at the time. 'And if you want to really see something this sad... take a look at what happened...' The next sound heard was a series of pops, as many as six can be heard. The next sound is a male voice saying: 'Get down! Get down! Get down!' Five Secret Agents then swarm the stage and provide coverage for Trump. Another series of pop like sounds are heard. It's 12 seconds later that we hear a final volley of shots, less than 30 seconds after that a voice can be heard saying: 'Shooter is down.' The weapon used was an AR-15 style rifle chambered in 5.56mm. At least three attendees, including Comperatore, were hit. Donald Trump was wounded in the ear. The others were described as being 'critically injured.' Why was the glass making building out of the security perimeter? It's not clear why the glass manufacturer's building remained outside of the secure perimeter. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC News Monday: 'A direct line of sight like that to the former president should not occur. That's why president Biden directed an independent review of the incident.' A former Secret Service agent told NBC News that the mere presence of the building should have been enough to pique the interest of those charged with securing the event. 'Just because it is outside of the perimeter, it doesn't take it out of play for a vulnerability, and you've got to mitigate it in some fashion,' the agent said. Another former Secret Service agent, Anthony Cangelosi, told NBC that one of two scenarios is likely to be revealed. There was either no plan to deal with a potential sniper on the roof or there was an it was not executed. 'I don't like making any assumptions, but it does look like some mistakes were made, that this was preventable,' Cangelosi added. 'There will be an intensive review' of the incident and 'there's going to be a massive realignment,' said Joseph LaSorsa, a former Secret Service agent who served on the presidential detail. 'This cannot happen.' DA Goldlinger told CBS News that local law enforcement provided snipers to aid the Secret Service which means there was extra coverage. Those local snipers were placed to the left of the Secret Service sniper who took out Crooks, disrupting their line of sight to Crooks. During most of Trump's campaign stops, local police aid the Secret Service in securing the venue. Agents from other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, such as the Transportation Security Administration, occasionally help. Many Trump rallies feature thousands of audience members, take place in the open air and last for hours. Before the event, agents scan the venue for bombs or other threats, and Trump invariably arrives in a fortified motorcade. Law enforcement officials typically put up barriers as a perimeter, and require all attendees to go through a metal detector to enter the venue. Armed protective agents search all attendees' bags and even wallets. Many rallygoers are patted down by hand. Why did the cops not do anything? A member of the public is seen talking with a police officer before the shots rang out, the building where Crooks was perched is to the right Following the shooting, Trump put out a statement thanking the Secret Service for their 'rapid response' and offering his condolences to Comperatore Video from the scene just before the gunfire began shows a man speaking with a local cop and appearing to point to the roof of the building where Crooks was lying in wait. Other bystanders can be heard directing the officer to that roof top. A witness told KDKA that the shooting began moments after he told a cop that he'd seen Crooks. 'When I turned around to go back to where I was, it was when the gunshots started, and then it was just chaos, and we all came running away, and that was that,' Ben Macer said. Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe told CBS News that when the cops were told about the sightings of Crooks, they began 'searching' for him. Slupe said an officer with the Butler County Township was hoisted on to the roof where he encountered Crooks. 'All I know is the officer had both hands on the roof to get up on the roof, never made it because the shooter had turned towards the officer, and rightfully and smartly, the officer let go,' Slupe said. 'I would have done the same thing, absolutely. I mean, people think the officers are supermen like you hold on the roof with one hand while you are hanging on for dear life and pull a gun out. It doesn't work that way.' Paul Eckloff, a former Secret Service agent who retired in 2020, said agents would have surveyed all the rooftops with a line of sight ahead of time. 'This person either concealed themselves until they became a threat, or were not a threat until they revealed their weapons,' said Eckloff. Russia needs just three missiles to destroy British civilisation, a prominent MP and pro-Putin propagandist has claimed in his latest vitriolic attack against NATO. Yevgeny Popov raged against American plans to deploy SM-6 surface-to-air and Tomahawk cruise missiles as well as hypersonic weapons under development in Germany. Popov on Kremlin-controlled Russia state TV listed seven specific targets in England and Scotland, while also stressing 'all European capitals are at risk', blaming the planned US deployment in Germany. He warned: 'Special attention to Britain, our traditional enemy, as a significant part of the [Russian] Northern Fleet will work against [the UK].' Detailing possible targets, he said: 'Under attack Washington has put not only London, but also Manchester, Birmingham, the largest naval base Devonport, the Clyde in Scotland, where the King stores his Trident nuclear missiles, Portsmouth as well as Chatham Dockyard in the county of Kent. File image shows a Russian Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile launch on April 20, 2022 A prominent MP and pro-Putin propagandist has claimed that the Russian president could target Britain with missiles 'This is Britain at its most vulnerable,' he went on. 'Basically, all it would take is three missiles and this civilisation would collapse,' he said, without further explanation. The propagandist said Russian cities were at risk directly as a result of the US decision from 2025 to station SM-6, Tomahawk and 'hypersonic weapons under development'. 'The Pentagon will deploy missiles in Germany that pose a direct threat to Russia, reaching St Petersburg, Kazan, Moscow, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg,' he said, listing major Russian cities. But he threatened: 'It is not difficult to guess the geography of the response if White House [plans] become a reality. 'All European capitals are at risk [from] our missiles in Kaliningrad - Berlin, Warsaw, all the Baltic republics, Paris, Bucharest, Prague 'Of course, also the American bases in Germany Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Patch Barracks [Stuttgart], Spangdahlem, [and] Ramstein.' He accused the 'Western bloc' of misreading the impact on Russia of the US move, highlighted at the recent NATO summit in the US. 'No reaction, no reflection and no attempt to analyse the implications,' he said. Yevgeny Popov raged against American plans to deploy SM-6 surface-to-air and Tomahawk cruise missiles in his latest attack on NATO The Clyde in Scotland, where the Trident nuclear deterrent is stored, was named as one of the potential targets 'A quick study of the missiles' specifications is enough to realise that the US is throwing Europe into the crucible of a world war with guaranteed mutual destruction.' It comes after Russia warned that Europe's capital cities 'are the potential victims' if the US deploys long-range missiles on the continent, following an announcement by the US and Germany that they will begin distributing projectiles by 2026. In a video published by a Russian state television reporter on Saturday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia has the means to deter US deployments of long-range missiles in Europe. Asked by reporter Pavel Zarubin about the possibility of the United States deploying hypersonic missiles to Europe, Peskov said: 'We have enough potential to deter these missiles. But the capitals of these (European) states are potential victims.' Russia on Thursday said that it would act to counter the planned US deployment of long-range missiles in Germany, as it regarded the NATO military alliance's actions as a serious threat to Russia's national security. At a briefing with Russian news agencies about the outcome of the NATO summit which took place in Washington on Wednesday, Peskov said: 'The North Atlantic alliance has once again very clearly confirmed its essence. This file handout image obtained from the US Navy and taken on September 20, 2016 shows a Tomahawk Missile being launched from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem 'It is an alliance created in an era of confrontation with the aim of maintaining confrontation. 'Tensions on the European continent are escalating' as a result, he added, saying the Kremlin was watching as NATO's military infrastructure crept closer. The US and Germany had announced at the NATO summit that they would begin deploying long-range fire capabilities in Germany in 2026 to show their commitment to European defence as Russia continues to wage its war against Ukraine. They said the 'episodic deployments' were in preparation for longer-term stationing that would include SM-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons with a longer range than current capabilities in Europe. Jay Slater's mother has used the donations from a GoFundMe page to fly in a team of specialist rescue volunteers as the hunt for the missing teenager continues in Tenerife. Jay, 19, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared after setting off to walk back to his accommodation on the Spanish holiday island on June 17. His mother Debbie Duncan has now decided to use some of the 53,000 raised by the Get Jay Slater Home GoFundMe appeal to deploy five people and four dogs to the area, with a sixth person due to join them on Monday. The group have been sent by the non-profit organisation Signi Zoekhonden, based in the Netherlands, who have about 20 years experience in searching for missing people. Signi Zoekhonden contacted Mr Slater's family after reading about the case and told the BBC they will use drones as part of their search, subject to flight permission being granted by local authorities. The move comes after Tenerife's Guardia Civil called off the search for the apprentice bricklayer at the end of June after helicopters, drones and search dogs were deployed to find him. Missing Jay Slater with his mother Debbie Duncan, 55, who says she is desperate to find her son Ms Duncan has now decided to use the 53,000 raised by the GoFundMe appeal to deploy five people and four dogs to the area, with a sixth person due to join them on Monday (Pictured: A group of volunteers led by Jay Slater's father continue their search for the missing teenager) The move comes after Tenerife's Guardia Civil called off the search for the apprentice bricklayer at the end of June (Pictured: Former Britih army reservist Chris Pennington walks the Masca mountains with Daily Mail's Fred Kelly in search of the teenager) In a statement posted onto the GoFundMe page, Ms Duncan thanked the 4,300 people who had donated for their 'kindness' and said the family were 'only able to fund this with the generosity of all those who donated'. She said: 'As you all know the Guardia Civil gave up the land search after 12 days. We have been actively working with search and rescue teams and we can now confirm that we have a team of experts flying in over the weekend from the Netherlands, who will carry on the search with their specialist dogs. 'We are only able to fund this with the generosity of all those who donated. The team are the Signi Zoekhondon and this has taken lots of planning to get them over so thank you so much for your kindness.' The Signi Zoekhondon rescue specialists say they are aiming to search for the missing teenager for about five-and-a-half days. Marieke Krans, one of the specialist volunteers, told the BBC: 'We are very committed to come and we are confident in the dogs and in ourselves. Our dogs are trained to find people, both alive or dead, and have more skills. 'They can search underwater, and up mountains, whatever it may be.' On Sunday, Ms Duncan said she was aware of the 'vile' conspiracy theories about her son and claimed they were 'hindering' rescue efforts to find him. In a statement released through British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global, Ms Duncan said the family was 'desperate to find our beautiful boy'. Apprentice bricklayer Jay, 19, vanished after being driven to a remote Air BnB A 13-day search by police using drones, dogs and a helicopter failed to find any trace of Jay She said: 'As we approach four weeks of our beautiful Jay's disappearance, we cannot put into words the heartache we are suffering as a family. 'Jay is a typical young man who loves life, with a bright future ahead of him. This month will mark the end of his three-year apprenticeship with the world at his feet. 'He is loved by everyone and has a close bond with his family and many, many friends.' Ms Duncan criticised the 'awful comments and conspiracy theories' posted on social media, which she branded 'vile' and said were 'hindering' people trying to help locate the teenager. Her statement continued: 'He is a loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend to so many. 'We have been inundated with requests for interviews, documentaries and even as far as a movie. In reality, we are just a normal family from Lancashire desperate to find our beautiful boy,' she added. LBT Global chief executive Matt Searle said 'horrific things are being posted online, and even sent directly to family and friends' as he called for an end to 'the constant barrage of conspiracy theories and wild speculation'. The search in the village of Masca, near Mr Slater's last-known location, took place in a steep rocky area, including ravines, trails and paths. Mr Slater had attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island - which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. The update reveals the family have called in rescue experts from the Netherlands to help with the search for the teenager after Spanish police ceased their land search Volunteers search for Jay in Masca as the teenager remains missing A volunteer firefighter searches for Jay in the Juan Lopez ravine near Masca He had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca and the two men said to have rented the property were later ruled 'not relevant' to the case, according to reports. Ms Duncan posted an update on the GoFundMe page set up for her son on Saturday, July 13. The update revealed the family had called in the Signi Zoekhonden team to help find the teenager. It said: 'Almost four weeks on and we are still no further in finding our beautiful boy. He was only four days into his holiday and his disappearance still remains a mystery. 'We are still here in Tenerife searching daily with the help of volunteers and local hiking groups. 'We have been actively working with search and rescue teams and we can now confirm that we have a team of experts flying in over the weekend from the Netherlands, who will carry on the search with their specialist dogs. 'We are only able to fund this with the generosity of all those who donated. The team are the Signi Zoekhondon and this has taken lots of planning to get them over so thank you so much for your kindness. 'Jay is just a normal hardworking young lad from Lancashire who is very loved by all who know him. 'He is about to finish his three year apprenticeship this month. Although we don't have any answers to his disappearance we obviously have to remain positive. 'Please continue to pray for him and our family. There is a lot of negativity unfortunately and this is adding to the heartbreak of the unknown. So I would please just say send the love and positive thoughts to Jay, our beautiful son.' Police have said they are 'continuing with the investigation and have lines open' but refuse to disclose them leaving school finance officer Debbie and the rest of his family in the dark. Masca is an hour from the Papagayo nightclub in the heady resort of Playa de las Americas where Jay was last seen with the two British men following the end of the New Rave Generation three-day festival. An American soldier who fled the UK after crashing into a nurse is due to appear in court today after being arrested in Texas. Isaac Calderon, 22, left 56-year-old Elizabeth Donowho with multiple fractures following the crash in Herefordshire in July last year. Calderon was due to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on December 1 to answer charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was labelled a potential 'flight risk' by police but was still able to leave the UK on a flight to Texas on November 25. It is understood he was arrested at his home in Texas yesterday and is due to appear in court in Houston later today. Isaac Calderon (pictured) was labelled a potential 'flight risk' by police but was still able to leave the UK on a flight to Texas on November 25 Elizabeth Donowho (pictured) was left with multiple fractures following the crash in Herefordshire in July last year Radd Seiger, Ms Donowho's advisor and spokesman said: 'It is almost a year since Elizabeth suffered the crash which very nearly took her life. 'We do not know why the extradition process has taken so long but we are delighted to see that it is now underway and we look forward to Mr Calderon being returned to the UK shortly so that he can face our justice system. He is of course innocent of the charges he faces until proven otherwise.' Calderon was thought to have been visiting an SAS base in Herefordshire at the time of the crash. In court, his occupation was given as 'American soldier'. West Mercia police are said to have told Ms Donowho he was 'associated with the Secret Service'. In December, Calderon's own uncle told the Daily Mail he should return to face justice. He said Calderon may have 'freaked out' but urged him to fly back to Britain because there is 'no honour in running'. He is accused of colliding with Ms Donowho, 56, on the A4103 near Shucknall on July 31. Ms Donowho, from Malvern, Worcestershire, was unable to walk for six weeks after suffering a fractured sternum and two broken ankles. Calderon was due to appear at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on December 1 but instead boarded a commercial flight to Houston, where he lives in the suburb of Humble. Speaking at his home nearby last year, his uncle Jonathan Calderon, 59, said his nephew 'should have stuck around' and that his actions went against everything that his father Manuel, a former Marine, taught him. He said: 'I think that he freaked out and left thinking everything would be OK. If he doesn't go back to England it will mess up with his military career. There is no honour in running.' He added: 'Isaac has always been an outstanding kid and he joined the National Guard out of high school. His parents raised him to be respectful. 'If he did something wrong his father made him do exercises like sit-ups and push-ups, military kind of stuff. It's not too late for him to say he freaked out and to go back to England.' He said he thought his nephew was working as a translator in the UK. Ms Donowho, from Malvern, Worcestershire, was unable to walk for six weeks after the crash due to her injuries (pictured) The victim suffered a fractured sternum and two broken ankles (pictured) Calderon's grandfather emigrated from Mexico and fought in the Second World War and Korea and was awarded a Purple Heart, one of the highest military honours. The case has been compared to that of Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US spy who killed motorcyclist Harry Dunn, 19, in a head on crash in the UK in August 2019 before fleeing to America. She eventually admitted death by dangerous driving and was handed a suspended sentence - but appeared in court remotely from the US. A flight carrying England fans back from Berlin has been forced to make an emergency landing due to what the airline said was an 'undefined smell in the cabin'. The Manchester-bound flight was forced to return to the German airport around 15 minutes after it took off this morning. Flight EW8470 took off at 8.09am and climbed to 10,000 feet before turning around and landing back at Berlin at 8.26am, flight trackers show. The Airbus A319 was met by the airport fire service and the roughly 150 passengers and crew on board were evacuated and taken back to the terminal. Brits on board have complained about being left 'stranded' for hours with no information, with many going back through passport control and saying they have had no texts from operator Eurowings. The flight returned to Berlin airport minutes after take off There was no @eurowings rep to meet us from the plane. You literally just bunged us all back in to the airport with no communication whatsoever. #eurowings pic.twitter.com/ycr2df5eUc j (@jhats90) July 15, 2024 John Hattam from York, who has flown out to watch all the games in the Euros knock-out stages, told MailOnline he is 'angry' about how Eurowings has handled the delay. 'It's not quite how we thought the weekend would pan out,' said the exhausted England fan. To avoid forking out for accommodation, John flew out to watch the match yesterday morning then headed straight to the airport at 2am last night. He has been there ever since, and worried at one point that he'd have to wait until Tuesday to get another plane out. Now, he says, a flight is scheduled for 3.30pm - though he says he and fellow passengers only know this from airport departure boards and have received no texts from Eurowings. He said that passengers were given vouchers worth just five euros to get food with, which they were told could be redeemed throughout the airport. But when they went to various food outlets, he said, 'they all told us you can't use them here.' 'It's frustrating, we were all disappointed by the result last night and then this happens. We're glad we are all safe - worse things happen - it's just how it's been dealt with.' He said that the flight took off with 'seemingly no problems' before the pilot told passengers that there was a 'burning smell' in the cockpit and that they would need to land. 'The landing was all handled very well, we were pleased just to be on the ground and safe, and credit to the pilot for that,' said John. 'However it was the aftermath that was chaotic, that's what people are unhappy about.' Flight EW8470 took off at 8.09am and climbed to 10,000 feet before turning around and landing back at Berlin at 8.26am, flight trackers show Fire engines were on the tarmac when the plane landed at Berlin airport Another passenger, Gareth Davies from Wigan, said there had been no Eurowings rep to meet passengers from the plane, saying the airline 'literally just bunged us all back in to the airport with no communication whatsoever.' Mr Davies also wrote on X that a flight attendant had told him not to take photos or videos because they didn't want 'bad press on social media'. Eurowings said that passengers and crew were not in danger 'at any time' during the incident. It also told German media that passengers will now be rebooked on alternative flights. The airline said in a statement : 'Flight EW8470 from Berlin to Manchester made an unscheduled return to Berlin this morning due to an undefined odour in the cabin. 'An 'air emergency' was declared, a standard procedure to obtain a prioritised landing. The aircraft landed normally at BER at around 8.30 am. 'Passengers and crew left the aircraft via passenger stairs provided and were taken to the terminal by bus. The aircraft was then inspected by the fire brigade. There were no findings. There was neither a fire nor smoke in the cabin. 'There were 150 passengers on board the Airbus A319. There was no danger to passengers or crew at any time. Safety is always the top priority at Eurowings. The passengers affected will be rebooked on alternative flights.' Neighbours of a former couple whose body parts were found in a suitcase on Clifton Suspension Bridge have been left 'devastated' by their shock deaths - as a 34-year-old man appeared in court today charged with murder. Yostin Andres Mosquera, 34, has been charged with the murders of 62-year-old French national Albert Alfonso and his British ex-partner, 71-year-old Paul Longworth. Detectives made the grisly discovery on Wednesday after two suitcases were left on the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol before further remains were found at the victims' flat in Scotts Road, west London, on Friday. Mr Alfonso and Mr Longworth, who was just days away from retiring and going travelling, had previously been in a relationship and still lived together at the flat in Shepherd's Bush. They were known to the suspect, who had been staying with them for a short period of time, police said. A woman who lives opposite their flat told MailOnline: 'Albert and Paul were lovely guys. It's devastating. They were both really friendly and polite and smiled a lot. Yostin Andres Mosquera (left) has been charged with two counts of murder after human remains were found in Bristol and London. Police have named the two victims as 62-year-old Albert Alfonso (centre) and 71-year-old Paul Longworth (right) A court sketch of murder-accused Yostin Andres Mosquera as he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon Mosquera (pictured) appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court charged with two counts of murder A manhunt was launched after suitcases containing human remains were found on Clifton Suspension Bridge (pictured) Police also discovered remains at a flat in Shepherd's Bush, west London 'I last saw Paul a month or so ago in the pub and he told me that he was retiring. He told me 'I've only got two days left that I have to go to work'. 'He was really happy about it. He said he was also due to go to Pride in Brighton. 'Paul and Albert had lived together for years. They were really quiet. There was never any issues with them. The police had never been called to their flat or anything like that. I haven't heard anything out of the ordinary these last few days. It's so sad.' Mr Longworth was a regular at the Shepherd and Flock pub close to his flat. Timeline of grim discovery Wednesday July 10: At 11.57pm, Avon and Somerset Police receive reports of a man acting suspiciously - including allegedly dumping a suitcase on Clifton Suspension Bridge. Police officers arrive within 10 minutes and find a second suitcase nearby. The suspect had already fled. Thursday July 11: Police release a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident. Detectives confirm human remains were found in suitcases. Friday July 12: Police confirm remains belong to two adult men - as Met take over manhunt. Officers search a property in Shepherd's Bush, west London, before a 36-year-old man is arrested and released without charge. Police say more human remains are found at the flat in Shepherd's Bush. Saturday July 13: Met Police arrest a 34-year-old man in at Bristol Temple Meads Station. Monday July 15: Yostin Andres Mosquera is charged with two counts of murder and victims are named as Albert Alfonso and Paul Longworth. Advertisement A member of staff told MailOnline: 'He used to sit at the end of the bar. He told me recently that he had just retired and was looking forward to travelling more.' Mr Longworth was British and Mr Alfonso was originally from France but had obtained British citizenship. Mosquera, of Shepherd's Bush, west London, was remanded in custody earlier today after appearing before a judge. The defendant, assisted by a Spanish interpreter, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth in a short hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court. He was remanded in custody and will next appear for a hearing at the Old Bailey on Wednesday. Lead magistrate Christina Ruiz told him: 'You are remanded in custody as this court has no powers to consider bail.' Evidence in the investigation so far has not pointed to a homophobic motive, the Met said, but it has been classified as a hate crime under national guidelines. This will be reviewed if clearer evidence emerges, while officers are also working to establish whether there are any linked offences or incidents in the UK or overseas to 'build a full picture of the circumstances', though none has yet been identified. Avon and Somerset Police officers were first alerted to a man acting suspiciously on Clifton Suspension Bridge on Wednesday night. They swooped on the scene within 10 minutes, where they found two suitcases containing human remains. The suspect, who had travelled there by taxi, had already fled the scene. Further remains were found at the west London address on Friday. Mosquera, of Scotts Road, west London, was arrested by armed police at Bristol Temple Meads Station in the early hours of Saturday. He will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court later today. A 36-year-old man was arrested in Greenwich, south-east London, on Friday but was released without charge. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said: 'My thoughts are first and foremost with Albert and Paul's loved ones who are coming to terms with this terrible news. A forensics tent set up on Clifton Suspension Bridge where suitcases full of human remains were found A picture of the moment staff on Clifton Suspension Bridge uncovered the grisly contents of the cases Forensic investigators in white suits seen working behind a police cordon on Clifton Suspension bridge Forensic officers remove evidence from a property in west London last week Police on the scene at Scotts Road in Shepherd's Bush, west London, last week 'While we do not believe either of them had any close family, we have identified other next of kin who have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. 'We are continuing to try and identify any extended family members. 'I know that this awful incident will cause concern not just among residents in Shepherds Bush but in the wider LGBTQ+ community across London. 'I hope it will be of some reassurance that whilst enquiries are still ongoing and the investigation is at a relatively early stage, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the two murders. 'Officers have worked with the pan-London LGBTQ+ Independent Advisory Group (IAG) since the identity of the two victims and their sexuality was established. Their advice, expertise and support for the investigation has been extremely valuable. 'We will continue to work with them, and with other partners including local IAGs, as the investigation and the policing response continues.' Since Friday, nine dismembered bodies found in Mukuru slum in Nairobi, Kenya Kenyan police said Monday they had arrested a suspected serial killer who had confessed to murdering 42 women including his wife before dumping their dismembered bodies in a Nairobi rubbish tip. Since Friday, a total of nine butchered bodies trussed up in plastic bags have been pulled from the garbage site in the Mukuru slum area in the south of the capital, a gruesome discovery that has horrified the nation. Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said the 33-year-old suspect, named as Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, was arrested at around 3:00 am (0000 GMT) on Monday near a Nairobi bar where he had been watching the Euro 2024 football finals. 'We are dealing with a serial killer, a psychopathic serial killer who has no respect for human life,' the head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin told reporters. 'We are dealing with a vampire, a psychopath.' Kenyan police announced on Monday the arrest of a 'serial killer' who has confessed to murdering 42 women and dumping their dismembered bodies in a rubbish tip in Nairobi Amin said Khalusha claimed the murders took place between 2022 and July 11 this year. 'The suspect confessed to have lured, killed and disposed of 42 female bodies at the dumping site,' he added. 'Unfortunately, and this is very sad, the suspect alleged that his first victim was his wife... who he strangled to death, before dismembering her body and disposing it at the same site,' he said. The suspect was tracked down after analysis of one of the victim's mobile phones, Amin said, in a joint operation by the DCI and the National Police Service. As officers swooped, 'he was in the process of luring another victim', Amin said. Khalusha had confessed to having had 'carnal knowledge' with some of his victims, he added. Officers searched his one-room house, located just 100 metres (yards) from where the bodies were found, discovering a machete, nylon sacks, rope, a pair of industrial rubber gloves - as well as a 'pink female handbag', and 'two female panties'. The areas will remain 'active crime scenes,' Amin said, promising a thorough investigation. Nine mutilated and dismembered bodies have so far been retrieved from the crime scene, according to police, with Kanja saying autopsies on the victims would be carried out on Monday. Eight have been confirmed to be female. Kenya's Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) announced an investigation on Friday to determine if there was any police involvement in the bodies found at the dumpsite Since Friday, police have retrieved nine mutilated and dismembered bodies, all trussed in plastic bags, from a garbage site in the Mukuru slum area, located in the south of the capital Over the weekend, tensions ran high at the crime scene as volunteers sifted through the massive rubbish piles in search of more victims The horrendous discovery has left the community and the nation in horror while bringing intense scrutiny to law enforcement practices The shocking revelations have placed additional pressure on President William Ruto's (pictured) administration A second suspect who was caught with a phone belonging to one of the victims has also been arrested, Amin said. The discoveries have thrown yet another spotlight on Kenyan police and added more pressure on President William Ruto, who is struggling to contain a crisis over widespread anti-government protests that saw dozens of demonstrators killed. Kenya's police watchdog, the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA), had said on Friday it was looking into whether there was any police involvement in the bodies found in the tip, noting that the dumpsite was just 100 metres from a police station. IPOA was also investigating if there had been a 'failure to act to prevent' the grisly killings. Kanja, in office for only a week following the fallout over last month's protest bloodshed, told reporters last week that all officers at the police post located near the rubbish tip had been transferred. Still, tensions ran high at the crime scene over the weekend, as volunteers combed through the vast piles of rubbish in the abandoned quarry in search of more victims. Trouble briefly erupted when locals tried to take a bag they had hauled out of the pit to the police station, but were met with volleys of tear gas, an AFP journalist at the scene said. Kenyan police are often accused by rights groups of using excessive force and carrying out unlawful killings or running hit squads, but few have faced justice. Dozens of migrants were intercepted crossing the English Channel in dinghies today as people smugglers continue to take advantage of calm conditions. Despite the deaths of four migrants on Friday, 127 people in two boats crossed the 21-mile voyage on Saturday. On Sunday, 41 people arrived in one boat, including children, bringing the total number of migrants arriving in the UK in small boats this year to 14,232 across 283 boats so far. Today's arrivals crossing the world's busiest shipping lane will further increase this number. Witnesses in Dover this morning saw more migrants arriving, marking the fifth consecutive day of crossings. Dozens of migrants were intercepted crossing the English Channel in dinghies today as people smugglers continue to take advantage of calm conditions Witnesses in Dover this morning saw more migrants arriving, marking the fifth consecutive day of crossings. Despite the deaths of four migrants on Friday, 127 people in two boats crossed the 21-mile voyage on Saturday. On Sunday, 41 people arrived in one boat, bringing the total to 14,232 migrants in 283 boats so far this year Graph showing number of migrants crossing the channel on small boats The Border Force boat Defender brought dozens of migrants, mostly adult men, into Dover Harbour, all wearing orange lifejackets. Other Border Force vessels, Volunteer and Taku, and French warship Oyapock were also seen in the channel, but north of the usual migrant route, around 30 miles from the coast of Deal in Kent. In recent months, migrants have taken longer, riskier routes to evade authorities. Another group of Border Force vessels and a French ship were seen along the usual migrant passage, around halfway between Calais and Dover at the narrowest point of the channel. British boats Hurricane and Ranger, along with French boat Minck, operated around 16 miles from Dover. It is unclear if more migrants are attempting the crossing via these two routes. The Mail on Sunday revealed yesterday that beefed-up anti-terrorism laws will be used to try to tackle the small boats crisis, under plans to be unveiled by the Government in the King's Speech Home Secretary Yvette Cooper intends to use Labour's thumping Commons majority to extend powers under the Terrorism Act to organised immigration crime, and she is now headhunting a former top spy such as Sir Alexander Younger, the ex-MI6 chief to fill the role of Border Security Commander The Mail on Sunday revealed yesterday that beefed-up anti-terrorism laws will be used to try to tackle the small boats crisis, under plans to be unveiled by the Government in the King's Speech. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper intends to use Labour's thumping Commons majority to extend powers under the Terrorism Act to organised immigration crime, and she is now headhunting a former top spy such as Sir Alexander Younger, the ex-MI6 chief to fill the role of Border Security Commander. Ms Cooper is also planning to increase by 50 per cent the number of specialist officers from Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) stationed within Europol, the EU's crime-fighting agency, as part of the new drive. A Home Office statement said, 'Everyone wants to see an end to the dangerous small boat crossings. They are undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. 'We are taking action to smash the people smuggling gangs responsible for this trade, establishing a new Border Security Command to bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terror-style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas. 'Our staff continue with their dedicated mission to save lives in the Channel whilst working with our French and other international partners to ensure the criminals responsible face the full extent of the law.' BBC Breakfast star Charlie Stayt and his wife have avoided bankruptcy after agreeing to pay off a tax bill of around 190,000. A judge said in a hearing today that Mr Stayt and his wife Anne had owed '191,000-odd' to HM Revenue & Customs, with around '32,000-odd' still to be paid. HMRC filed a bankruptcy petition against the couple, but asked for it to be withdrawn at the hearing at the specialist Insolvency and Companies Court in London. Solicitor Anam Rezvi said: 'HMRC would like to seek permission to withdraw today, as the balance has now been reduced and the remaining balance has agreed to be paid by the debtors.' Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Sebastian Prentis agreed to the petition being withdrawn at the end of the short hearing which Mr and Mrs Stayt did not attend. BBC Breakfast star Charlie Stayt (pictured) and his wife have avoided bankruptcy after agreeing to pay off a tax bill of around 190,000 Charlie Stayt, pictured here with Naga Munchetty on the BBC Breakfast couch, faced a battle with HMRC after being served with a bankruptcy petition It is reported that Stayt came into conflict with HMRC over his company Stayt Limited, of which he and his wife Annie are listed as directors alongside Hogbens Dunphy Secretaries, an accountants and tax consultants based in central London. The firm, which describes itself as being involved in 'television programming and broadcasting activities', was 6,409 in the red according to accounts filed last December. Mr and Mrs Stayt bought a home in Twickenham in 2002 for 800,000. It has now sky-rocketed in value to as much as 2.3million. They have been together for more than 20 years and have two children, Pheobe and Jake, who are both grown up. It is believed that they still live at home with their parents, Hello! reported. Mr Stayt is one of a number of high-profile TV presenters whose idyllic life was threatened after being chased by HMRC over millions of pounds. Other hosts were targeted by the government department over accusations they had not paid enough tax. Among those in the firing line were Lorraine Kelly, Gary Lineker and Eammon Holmes, who were alleged to have underpaid by millions. Kelly and Lineker ended up winning their feuds with HMRC, although Holmes was defeated and forced to sell his home to pay. His company - Stayt Limited - lists both Annie and Charlie as directors alongside Hogbens Dunphy Secretaries, an accountants and tax consultants based in central London Lorraine Kelly was cleared of liability for a 1.2million tax bill after a judge described her as an 'entertaining lady'. The Scottish TV host was presented with an income tax bill for almost 900,000, plus national insurance contributions of over 300,000, in 2016. Kelly, 59, told Judge Dean she was 'baffled' by HMRC's attitude and denied that tax and national insurance should have been deducted from her income under the PAYE system. She said she had been 'freelance' since 1992 and had since then worked for the BBC, Channel 4, Scottish TV, Sky and ITV, also writing weekly columns for the Sun newspaper. Overturning the tax bills, the judge concluded: 'The relationship between Ms Kelly and ITV was a contract for services and not that of employer and employee.' Judge Dean also ruled that Kelly was a 'theatrical entertainer'. Match of the Day host Lineker was chased by the tax authorities for 4.9million it claimed should have been paid on income received between 2013 and 2018. The taxman claimed that Lineker should have been classed as an employee of the BBC and BT Sport for his presenting duties, rather than as a freelancer. A tax judge came down on his side in court, ruling that while Gary Lineker Media (GLM), which he set up with his then wife in 2012, was a partnership to which IR35 legislation applies, the appeal was still dismissed in full because contracts existed. Lorraine Kelly (pictured) addressed her 2019 tax tribunal case, saying: 'I don't want people to think I would do anything to get out of paying what I should be paying' The Scottish TV host (pictured in 2021) made headlines when she won a 1.2million battle with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Gary Lineker was told by the taxman he should have been classed as an employee of the BBC and BT Sport for his presenting duties, rather than as a freelancer, but he won his case in court. Pictured: Lineker outside his London home in March 2023 HMRC did succeed in their case against Eamonn Holmes, however, after it claimed he owed 250,000 in unpaid levies. The This Morning host was forced to sell his beloved house in east Belfast to pay off his enormous tax bill after officials ruled he was a staff member for broadcasters rather than a freelancer. The 64-year-old said that the stress of the row caused a severe bout of shingles which could have left him blind. The TV star said: 'I was like a lamb to the slaughter it was the most stressful, humiliating experience.' Tax experts told MailOnline that HMRC has 'made a point' of 'aggressively pursuing' high-profile presenters in recent years, possibly to 'send a clear message' to others. Seb Maley, CEO of IR35 compliance specialist at Qdos, told MailOnline: 'HMRC has made a point in recent years to pursue high profile presenters for eye-watering amounts of tax. 'One train of thought is that HMRC's often aggressive pursuit of those in the public eye will send a clear message to others about the importance of compliance. That said, it would be a fairly cynical tactic. 'As it stands, it's unclear what Charlie Stayt's tax bill relates to. Although, it's worth pointing out that he's been an employee of the BBC for a number of years so it seems unlikely that it relates to IR35.' Eamonn Holmes was forced to sell his beloved house in east Belfast to pay off a huge bill after a 250,000 tax battle with HMRC Holmes believes that the stress of his 250,000 tax row caused his severe bout of shingles which could have left him blind He added: 'Regardless, his battle with HMRC certainly follows a trend of presenters' tax affairs being scrutinised by the tax office.' It comes as the government cracks down on tax avoidance using legislation known as IR35 which uses so-called 'disguised employees', who charge for their services via limited companies. The rules see all contractors that do not meet HMRC's definition of self-employment taxed at a similar rate to normal employees. The new European Union relations minister is heading to Brussels to stress the Labour Government's commitment to 'resetting the relationship' with the bloc. Nick Thomas-Symonds is meeting European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic for their first face-to-face talks on Monday to 'set the ground for further discussions' on deepening ties, according to the Cabinet Office. It comes ahead of the European Political Community summit Sir Keir Starmer is hosting at Blenheim Palace later this week. The Prime Minister will welcome 45 leaders from neighbouring countries on Thursday as he seeks to forge an ambitious new UK-EU security pact to strengthen co-operation and closer work on defence with key allies such as France and Germany. The Labour 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. Nick Thomas-Symonds is meeting European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic for their first face-to-face talks on Monday to 'set the ground for further discussions' on deepening ties, according to the Cabinet Office. Mr Sefcovic said: 'The EU and the UK are close neighbours, partners, and allies, sharing values as well as challenges that are global in nature. I am looking forward to receiving Minister Thomas-Symonds to discuss ways to strengthen our co-operation, while making the most of our existing agreements that form the cornerstone of our partnership.' It comes ahead of the European Political Community summit Sir Keir Starmer is hosting at Blenheim Palace later this week. In a sign of the importance placed on European diplomacy, Sir Keir gave Mr Thomas-Symonds the newly-created job of EU relations minister tasked with leading discussions and resetting the relationship. The minister was also part of Sir Keir's delegation to last week's Nato gathering in Washington. Ahead of his Brussels trip, Mr Thomas-Symonds said: 'Our Government is committed to resetting the relationship with the European Union, to strengthen ties, reinforce our security and tackle barriers to trade. 'The EU and Member States are among the UK's closest friends and allies. With war in Europe, and shared global challenges, in areas such as climate change and illegal migration, a strong UK - EU alliance is vital. 'I am looking forward to meeting the Executive Vice President in Brussels today, it was a pleasure to speak to him immediately after my appointment last week. 'I expect to be engaging with him and EU colleagues much more in the coming months, as we work together to help make our continent safer and more prosperous.' Mr Sefcovic said: 'The EU and the UK are close neighbours, partners, and allies, sharing values as well as challenges that are global in nature. I am looking forward to receiving Minister Thomas-Symonds to discuss ways to strengthen our co-operation, while making the most of our existing agreements that form the cornerstone of our partnership.' 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 UK's working relationship with the EU within our red lines - no return to the single market, customs union or free movement'. A 16-year-old girl who was missing from Sheffield for 11 days has been found safe and well, police have confirmed. South Yorkshire Police had issued an appeal to find Summer, and thanked everyone who shared it. In a social media post this afternoon, police said: "We are pleased to share that missing girl Summer from Sheffield has been found safe and well. "Thank you to everyone who shared our appeal." Officers had become "increasingly concerned" for the teenager after she vanished on July 4. Serious questions are being asked of the Secret Service over their handling of the Pennsylvania rally where former president Donald Trump was nearly killed by a shooter. Trump was shot in the ear around 10 minutes after he took to the stage near Butler, in the southwest of the state, on Saturday. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by a Secret Service sniper, after he fired several shots at those attending the rally, injuring two more people and killing one person. But the entire situation may have been avoidable, with one eyewitness claiming they warned law enforcement that they had spotted a man armed with a rifle crawling along a nearby rooftop. The director of the 159-year-old agency, Kimberly Cheatle, has already been called to appear before the House Oversight Committee to be grilled over her organisation's handling of the Butler shooting. Cheatle's 2022 appointment was already controversial, and the near-death of the former president has only compounded fears that she may be the wrong woman for the job. But who exactly is Kimberly Cheatle? MailOnline takes a look at the current director of the Secret Service. The director of the 159-year-old agency, Kimberly Cheatle, (pictured, right) has already been called to appear before the House Oversight Committee to be grilled Trump was shot in the ear around 10 minutes after he took to the stage He was seen with blood across his face on Saturday Early Career Cheatle joined the Secret Service in 1995 and worked her way up the ranks while having to protect political leaders in some of the most pivotal moments in modern American history. She was involved in evacuating former vice-president Dick Cheney during the September 11th attacks in 2001. The law enforcement official graduated from the agency's senior executive service programme, and ended up working as the deputy assistant director for the Office of Training in the agency. There, she 'revolutionized the way training at the Secret Service was delivered by implementing a regional, in-service training programme', according to Security Magazine. She was then tasked with supervising Joe Biden's security detail when he was vice-president during the Obama administration, from 2009 to 2017. Following her time with Biden, she was then made assistant director of Protective Operations, a department with a nearly $134million budget that aims to 'research, develop and deploy technologies that reduce risks to protectees, protected facilities, and protected events', according to the Secret Service's website. Having spent over two decades in the Secret Service, she left to join PepsiCo as its senior director of global security, where she was in charge of developing security protocols for the multinational's sites in North America. She said of her time there: 'I like having diverse assignments and multiple things on my plate. I thrive on chaos.' While she was at PepsiCo, she was awarded a Presidential Rank Award for 'exceptional performance' by Joe Biden. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa. Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event The shooter was taken out by a Secret Service sniper Current Service Biden cited her service in his security detail when he appointed her to the head of the agency in late 2022. She is only the second ever woman to lead the Secret Service in its entire history. He said at the time: 'Jill and I know firsthand Kims commitment to her job and to the Secret Services people and mission. 'When Kim served on my security detail when I was Vice President, we came to trust her judgement and counsel. 'She is a distinguished law enforcement professional with exceptional leadership skills, and was easily the best choice to lead the agency at a critical moment for the Secret Service. 'She has my complete trust, and I look forward to working with her.' Cheatle took control of the agency at a time when it was rocked by several scandals related to missing texts to and from its agents on January 6 2021, when the US Capital was stormed by violent anti-Biden protestors. The agency's parent organisation, the Department of Homeland Security, has been accused of not cooperating with House committees investigating the attack. On top of this, there have several instances over the last ten years of drunken behaviour and deals with sex workers by Service agents during and ahead of foreign trips, as well as failures to prevent fence jumpers from getting into the land the White House sits on. One particularly embarrassing moment saw a couple sneak into a state dinner at the White House in 2009. The couple, Michaele and Tareq Salahi of Virginia, managed to sneak into the receiving line in the Blue Room, as Barack and Michelle Obama greeted the invited 400 guests. The couple were seen standing next to the then-prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh. Trump raised a fist as he was taken off the stage by Secret Service members One eyewitness said he saw someone crawling along the roof in the minutes before the shooting What does Cheatle face now? All of the Secret Service's failures over the past decade were brought back into the spotlight over the weekend, and as the head of the agency, Cheatle faces severe scrutiny. The agency was forced to deny a claim by Florida representative Mike Waltz that Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas repeatedly denied requests to increase the Secret Service's protections. Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, said on X: 'Theres an untrue assertion that a member of the former presidents team requested additional security resources & that those were rebuffed. This is absolutely false. 'In fact, we added protective resources & technology & capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo.' Even so, Cheatle is expected to be held accountable for the alleged failures in Pennsylvania over the weekend. On July 22, she will be dragged in front of the House Oversight Committee to attend a hearing. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on X on Sunday: 'The House will conduct a full investigation of the tragic events. 'The American people deserve to know the truth. We will have Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other appropriate officials from DHS and the FBI appear for a hearing before our committees ASAP.' A British man has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence for sexually assaulting an air steward on a flight to Spain. Holidaymaker Mark Turnbull, 43, was held on suspicion of inappropriately touching the flight attendant's bottom and nipples during the flight. According to reports, he got up from his seat and approached the flight attendant, touching him 'in a lewd way.' Other passengers restrained Turnbull until the plane landed in Majorca, where he was taken into custody by police. Upon arrival, Turnbull allegedly became aggressive toward the first officers, requiring additional reinforcements. Despite this, he was not charged with resisting arrest. Mark Turnbull (pictured, centre), 43, was held on suspicion of inappropriately touching the flight attendant's bottom and nipples during Jet2 flight to Majorca in Spetember 2023 Today, a court in Palma officially convicted him of sexual assault and imposed a one-year prison term, which was suspended as part of a plea bargain. The sentence was automatically suspended as part of a plea bargain deal Mr Turnbulls lawyer agreed with public prosecutors. He admitted to wrongdoing via videoconference after being given permission to testify from the UK. Public prosecutors had called for the Brit holidaymaker to be jailed for a year and seven months in a pre-trial indictment before todays trial took place as a formality following the sealing of the plea bargain agreement. The indictment stated the tourist approached the air steward on board the Ryanair flight as he tried to sort out a problem with his credit card 'with the intention of undermining his sexual integrity and satisfying his sexual desires.' It said that 'after touching his victim in the chest area' on the September 29 2023 flight, he 'pinched his right nipple and moments later, taking advantage of the fact the airline worker had his back to him and was with the snacks and beverage trolley, forcefully grabbed his bottom cheeks with both hands.' In addition to the suspended sentence, Turnbull received a one-year probation order, during which he must undergo sexual education training. He was also issued a 100-meter restraining order, preventing him from approaching the flight attendant for two years. The assault happened on a Jet2 flight from Newcastle to Majorca in September 2023 Furthermore, he is banned from working with minors for the same period. If Turnbull reoffends in Spain within the next two years, he will serve his suspended jail term. The arrested man was pictured last year being hauled to court in handcuffs, wearing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, after a night in a police cell. A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Majorca said at the time: 'I can confirm the arrest of a British man at Palma Airport on suspicion of sexual assault. He allegedly sexually assaulted a flight attendant on a plane from Newcastle to Palma.' Local reports at the time said he initially told the investigating judge who bailed him pending an ongoing investigation that he had wanted to play a joke on the air steward but subsequently offered conflicting versions of why he had acted the way he had which were 'incoherent.' He was allowed to leave Spain while the criminal probe against him continued. A court in Palma officially convicted Mark Turnbull of sexual assault and imposed a one-year prison term, which was suspended as part of a plea bargain. This case is part of a series of incidents involving British tourists accused of inappropriate behaviour on flights to Spain. In August last year, another British holidaymaker was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an air stewardess on a Jet2 flight from Manchester to Ibiza. On the same day as Turnbull's arrest, four men were removed from an easyJet flight from Manchester to Tenerife after it was diverted to Lanzarote due to violent behaviour onboard. Spanish air traffic controllers said the reroute occurred because of violent passengers on board. Protestors who laid a Palestinian flag and white flowers on the cenotaph in London before marking the ground with the alleged death toll in Gaza have been arrested. Members of the group Youth Demand - an off-shoot of Just Stop Oil - used red washable chalk to write '180,000 killed' on the tarmac in front of the national war memorial in Whitehall just before noon today. The figure references a recent report in the Lancet which speculated that the number of people who have died in Gaza may be significantly higher than what has been circulated. The protestors were 'quickly' arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed. As cars and buses passed, the pair shouted 'Stop arming Israel' and 'Free Palestine' before sitting on the memorial and pulling out placards which read 'Never Again for Anyone' and 'Stop Arming Israel'. Two activists from Youth Demand lay a Palestine flag on the cenotaph in Whitehall, London The pair use red washable chalk to write an alleged death toll on the tarmac Having laid white flowers on the memorial, the activists sit with signs that read 'Stop Arming Israel' and 'Never Again for Anyone' The protestors were cheered by some people passing by. One of those protesting at the cenotaph today was Olivia Burnett, 22, from Leeds. She said: 'At the end of WWII, this country looked at the bodies and promised we would never allow these kinds of atrocities to happen again. 'This monument reminds us of those who gave their lives fighting a genocide, and that "never again" means never again for anyone. Labour is disrespecting this legacy by being complicit in genocide and allowing arms to be sold to Israel.' Also taking action today is Esther Akatwijuka, 20, who said: 'In Palestine, four-year-olds are having heart attacks from the sound of bombs dropping around their homes and Gaza is so decimated it literally looks a different colour from space. 'Everything that the cenotaph stands for is contrary to the Labour government allowing British companies to profit from genocide.' The student from Bristol added: 'The government continuing to uphold the status quo they have inherited from the Tories shows us that party politics has failed us and we need nonviolent direct action to make a change. Akatwijuka is also a part of The Our Air Our City campaign which calls for action to eliminate Bristol's dangerous air pollution. In a post on X, the Metropolitan Police said: 'These two women were quickly arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and are in custody. 'The damage was caused to the road and not the Cenotaph. Everyone has the right to peaceful protest but where that crosses the line into criminality we will take action.' Protestor Olivia Burnett sits on the cenotaph with red hands and a sign that reads 'Stop Arming Israel' Fellow activist, Esther Akatwijuka, shows her stained hands and a sign saying 'Never Again for Anyone' The Metropolitan Police arrest the protestors at the cenotaph today Burnett, 22, lies on the ground as police officers gather round The Youth Demand activist looks angry as the police remove them from the cenotaph Wearing a Youth Demand t-shirt, Akatwijuka looks sombre while being led away by police Akatwijuka (circled) is also a part of The Our Air Our City campaign which calls for action to eliminate Bristol's dangerous air pollution The Metropolitan Police told MailOnline: 'Police officers have arrested two people after paint was sprayed on to the road at Whitehall. 'At about 11:55hrs on Monday, 15 July, officers were made aware of a protest next to the Cenotaph. 'Two people were quickly arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and taken to a central London police station. 'The Cenotaph was not damaged.' Veterans minister Al Carns criticised the protest, saying the Cenotaph was 'special for all of us'. He said: 'The act of vandalism is abhorrent. 'No matter what is happening in the world, the Cenotaph must be respected. It stands in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.' Youth Demand is a sister group of Just Stop Oil - set up to address issues other than the climate crisis. On Saturday they held a protest in the roads around Marble Arch, bragging they had left '50 police officers trailing behind'. However, the protest which began at 2.30pm was cleared less than half-an-hour later as officers from the Met Police arrested eight people, with traffic returning to normal by 2.55pm. The group are demanding a two-way arms embargo on Israel and for the new UK government to halt all new oil and gas licences granted since 2021. An officer carries the Palestinian flag laid on the cenotaph during the protest Three Metropolitan police officers surround a placard on the floor which reads 'Never Again for Anyone' The new organisation has previously targeted the Labour party by spray painting their headquarters as well as staging a protest outside Keir Starmer's home. The group laid rows of children's shoes at Starmer's front door in Kentish Town, north London in April this year. Youth Demand announced they intend to disrupt the state opening of parliament on July 17. More than 56,000 pages of Brittany Higgins' mobile phone records downloaded by the Australian Federal Police will form a vital part of the litigation brought against her by Senator Linda Reynolds. The documents were originally produced for the Bruce Lehrmann defamation proceedings against Network 10 and will be used in the defamation case against Ms Higgins, which is set to go to trial on August 2. Senator Reynolds' lawyer Martin Bennett told reporters outside court they needed to find pages that were relevant to the case, and would be used in a different perspective to the matter involving Mr Lehrmann and Network 10. 'Our case is slightly different, we need to look at it again,' he said. 'Already we can see there are documents within it that are useful and need to be pulled.' Lawyers for Ms Higgins and Senator Reynolds were in the WA Supreme Court on Monday for a directions hearing two weeks ahead of the trial. Senator Reynolds is suing her former staffer over claims social media posts made by Ms Higgins and her husband David Sharaz damaged her reputation. She claims the posts suggested she had engaged in a political cover-up of Ms Higgins' allegations that she had been raped at Parliament House by her colleague Bruce Lehrmann, a claim he has always denied. Senator Reynolds is suing her former staffer over claims social media posts made by Ms Higgins damaged her reputation Justice Michael Lee's findings In the Federal Court earlier this year, Justice Michael Lee ruled he was convinced to a civil standard - which is different to a criminal standard - on the balance of probabilities Ms Higgins was raped. The finding came following legal action Mr Lehrmann brought against Network 10 and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over a report about the alleged rape on The Project program in 2021. Mr Lehrmann is appealing the decision. Justice Lee also found claims of a political cover-up involving Senator Reynolds and others were not true, a finding Senator Reynolds said vindicated her. Ms Reynolds told reporters she needed to clear her name, and that Justice Lee was very clear there was never any political conspiracy and that 'many people's lives had been destroyed in the fallout of Ms Higgins' allegations. 'There was simply never any political conspiracy and there was certainly the allegations of mistreatment as the evidence in the Lee trial has absolutely demonstrated,' she said. Brittany Higgins ' mobile phone records will form a vital part of the litigation brought against her Criminal trial In October 2022, a criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court against Mr Lehrmann was aborted because of jury misconduct. Mr Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty to the charge. A mistrial was declared and the jury was dismissed after it was discovered one of the jurors had conducted their own research outside of what was presented in court. The trial was relisted for February 2023, but was abandoned and the charge dropped when the Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold found another trial would pose an unacceptable risk to Ms Higgins' mental health. A father and daughter from Green Bay, Wisconsin tragically died after running out of water during a sweltering hike at a well-known Utah National Park. The unidentified dad, 52, and his daughter, 23, were found dead by park rangers and members of the Bureau of Land Management at Canyonlands National Park on Friday. At the time of the unfortunate incident, the air temperature was reported to be higher than 100F, officials said. They were hiking on the Syncline Loop Trail- 'the most challenging trail in the Island in the Sky district'- when they got lost and ran out of water, the National Park Service said on Sunday. San Juan County Dispatch received a 911 text from someone at the national park, but once a search team arrived, the father and daughter were deceased. The unidentified dad, 52, and his daughter, 23, were found dead by park rangers and members of the Bureau of Land Management at Canyonlands National Park on Friday The identities of the victims have not yet been released. DailyMail.com contacted the San Juan County Sheriff's Department and the National Park Service. 'While temperatures remain high this summer, park visitors are advised to carry and drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous activity during midday heat,' the National Park Service said. The Syncline Loop Trail requires hikers to climb and navigate boulder fields and steep zigzag paths. The trail is 8.1miles long and is situated on a 1,500ft elevation change, according to the National Park Service. It takes about five to seven hours to complete the hike. The agency has informed hikers to over prepare for the treacherous journey with necessary supplies, including at least a gallon of water, snacks, headlamps, flashlights, maps, and 'sturdy footwear.' They also warn hikers to be prepared for all types of weather conditions, including sun, rain, the cold, or intense heat. The father and daughter ran out of water during their hike. The air temperature was reported to be higher than 100F, officials said The father and daughter's deaths are being investigated by the San Juan County Sheriff's Office and the National Park Service. Another person lost their life in the suffocating heat late Saturday, according to the Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department. The department received a call that two people were 'suffering from a heat-related incident' at Snow Canyon State Park - about five hours from Canyonlands National Park. Multiple agencies responded and swiftly rescued the two, but a passerby soon reported a third person unconscious nearby, Fox 13 reported. Search crews discovered the person, a 30-year-old unidentified woman, dead when they arrived. On June 29 a Texas man, Scott Sims, 69, was found dead on a popular hiking trail in the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon dispatching office received a report around 7pm that Sims was found semi-conscious on the canyon's River Trail, which runs for just under two miles along the Colorado River. Officials said that he was heading to Phantom Ranch where he was planning on staying for the night. Scott Sims, 69, is from Austin, Texas, and was hiking in the Grand Canyon when he died on June 29 Pictured: South Kaibab Trail at Grand Canyon National Park. This is the treacherously hot trail Sims traversed in order to get to Phantom Ranch, where he planned to stay overnight Three National Park Service paramedics rushed to the hiker's position from Phantom Ranch as bystanders began doing CPR on Sims. Unfortunately, all efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, leading the Park Service to issue a dire warning about extreme heat while hiking, especially on the specific trail Sims was on. 'In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120F in the shade. Park rangers strongly advise not hiking in the inner canyon during the heat of the day between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm,' the federal agency said. The summer months are a particularly perilous time to hike because the heat also makes it more complicated for rescue operations to be conducted.' Officials didn't confirm if Sims died from heat stroke, nor did they release any information on his cause of death. According to AccuWeather, the high temperature on the day Sims died was 91F. Carefully sifting through the dirt with trowels, this was the scene today as police started a fresh dig in the hunt for Muriel McKay, who was never seen again after being kidnapped and held to ransom 54 years ago. Around 20 forensic and specialist officers are involved in the operation at Stocking Farm in Hertfordshire, acting on new information provided by one of her killers. At present it is focused in and around a barn at the site in Stocking Pelham where a manure heap once stood. Elsewhere on the farm, officers could be seen carrying equipment and blue tents have been set up. It is the third search of the farm and the Metropolitan Police, who are carrying out the operation in conjunction with Hertfordshire Constabulary, have warned it will be the last attempt to find Mrs McKay. Police officers searching inside a barn at a Hertfordshire farm for the remains of Muriel McKay Police have begun a fresh dig for the remains of Muriel McKay, who was murdered Mrs McKay, 55, (pictured) was actually married to Australian Alick McKay, a deputy to Mr Murdoch, and was held to ransom for 1million by the thugs that kidnapped her A fresh search is now taking place at the property and sees officers from the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command and forensic officers working together with forensic archaeologists and other specialists Police at Stocking Farm at Stocking Pelham in Hertfordshire where a new search has begun Brothers Arthur (left) and Nazamodeen Hosein (right) were found guilty of her murder. Arthur died in prison in 2009, while Nizam was deported after serving a 20-year-prison sentence The 55-year-old vanished on December 29, 1969, after two brothers mistook her for the then wife of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. Nizamodeen Hosein and his brother Arthur demanded 1 million the equivalent of 20 million today - for her safe return to Alick McKay, a deputy to Mr Murdoch at News Limited. There were two botched attempts to pay some of the ransom believed to be the first incident of its kind in the UK and Mrs McKay was never seen again. The Hosein brothers were later caught and sentenced to life for murder in 1970 despite the absence of a body another gruesome legal first. Searches took place at the farm around the time of the murder and again two years ago, when ground penetrating radar and specialist forensic archaeologists were used but no body was found. Arthur died in prison in 2009 and his brother was deported to Trinidad and Tobago after serving his time. Last December the 76-year-old provided new information about Mrs McKay's whereabouts after he was visited in his native Trinidad by her daughter Dianne, 84, and grandson Mark Dyer, 59. He claimed she died from a heart attack after seeing a television appeal from her family. Police have said they remain concerned about inconsistencies in his account but have started to look in a limited search area. Police at Stocking Farm at Stocking Pelham in Hertfordshire where they will resume the search for the body of Muriel McKay They expect to remain until Friday but could stay longer if significant progress is made. The fresh search taking place at the property and sees officers from the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command and forensic officers working together with forensic archaeologists and other specialists, as well as Hertfordshire Police. The family campaigned for two years to persuade the Met and the farm's owners to approve another search of the area. Mrs McKay's grandson, Mark Dyer, told BBC Breakfast that it would 'be a disappointment, but it won't be unexpected' if they were unable to find his grandmother's remains. He said: 'It's difficult not to get anxious and emotional but I've got to keep on the straight and narrow. 'Really, if we don't find her it will be a disappointment, but it won't be unexpected. 'But without searching for something you're never going to find it... We haven't dug behind the barn, no one's ever dug behind the barn.' The search is expected to take around five days but could be extended, the Met Police said. Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command and forensic officers working together with forensic archaeologists and other specialists as part of the fresh search Extensive searches have taken place at the farm in Stocking Pelham, Hertfordshire, where police traced her in 1969 An air exclusion zone will be in place during the dig, with no access to the farm or to a section of public footpath that runs through it. Trinidadian brothers Nizamodeen and Arthur Hosein were jailed in 1970 over her death in what was one of the first murder convictions without a body. The decision to search the farm again was made after the investigation team visited Nizamodeen to speak to him in person and interviewed him over three days following his offer to show her family where she was buried. Detectives visited Nizamodeen in Trinidad and Tobago, where he was deported after serving his 20-year jail sentence, to speak to him in person after his offer to show her family where she was buried. Meanwhile, Arthur died in prison in 2009. Ms McKay's daughter Dianne McKay, 84, and grandson Mark, 59, accompanied the police as they were told their mother was buried at the back of the farm. Mrs McKay's grandson, Mark Dyer (pictured), told BBC Breakfast that it would 'be a disappointment, but it won't be unexpected' if they were unable to find his grandmother's remains The search is expected to take around five days but could be extended, the Met Police said. Mark, 59, accompanied the police to visit Nizamodeen in Trinidad and Tobago as they were told their mother was buried at the back of the farm. An air exclusion zone will be in place during the dig, with no access to the farm or to a section of public footpath that runs through it The area was searched at the time of the murder, and again in 2022, but nothing new was found (Pictured: Police at Stocking Farm on Monday) In a letter to Ms McKay's family previously, Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin from Scotland Yard said that the operation will be extensive. It will involve specialist search teams, forensic archaeologists as well as forensic experts and a structural engineer to assess safety issues involving the barn under where it is thought she is buried. In response, her family wrote: 'In addition, Nizam has also indicated that he should be at [the farm] to show us where he hid Muriel after she had died. 'Nizam has a valid passport and the family are happy to arrange flights and accommodation so that he can assist the family and police in finding Muriel. For completeness it makes sense for him to be present as he was the last person to see Muriel alive.' The farm was searched at the time of the murder and again in 2022, with 30 police officers, ground penetrating radar and specialist forensic archaeologists used but nothing new was found. Speaking previously, grandson Mr Dyer said he was 'delighted' and 'had to take a deep breath' when he found out that police would conduct the fresh search. He said: 'It's been an incredible effort by our family to prompt and nudge the police but ultimately we are glad they are taking this step. 'It is a success but it is only half a job done. We just want to find my grandmother and bury her at my mother's farm. This ghastly mystery has haunted us all our lives.' Police have been spotted making the final preparations at a farm before starting to dig for Muriel McKay's remains, 55 years after she was murdered The abduction is believed to have involved a case of mistaken identity - with the kidnappers intending to seize Anna Murdoch, first wife of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch (pictured) Muriel's daughter, Dianne (pictured, left), has for years fought to learn the truth of her mother's murder, travelling to Trinidad with her son Mark Dyer (right) to speak with one of her killers, Nizamodeen Hosein (centre) Commander Steve Clayman from The Met previously said officers will search an area where a manure heap once stood, but stressed they had concerns about inconsistencies in Nizamodeen's account. He said: 'I'd like to thank Muriel's family for their patience while we have taken time to really carefully consider all the information gathered in relation to this case. I know it has been a frustrating time for them. 'We have decided we will carry out a further search at the Hertfordshire farm where it is believed Muriel's remains may be. We carried out an extensive search there in spring 2022 but unfortunately it was unsuccessful. 'Our recent inquiries mean other areas have been highlighted as being of potential interest and it is these we will search. 'The main area is where a manure heap once stood - we know now this was probably larger than we previously thought and therefore that area was not entirely searched in 2022. 'While we have concerns about inconsistences in the account provided by Nizamodeen Hosein, for completeness, we want to do this. 'At this stage we have not set a date for the search to begin, but will keep Muriel's family updated and informed. 'The owners of the farm are fully aware and supportive and we thank them for their continuing help and co-operation. 'We all share a hope and desire to find Muriel's remains and bring some closure to her family after all these years. 'We sincerely hope the search is successful. However, we have informed the family that if Muriel's remains are sadly not found, it would not be proportionate to carry out any further searches or investigations.' Police searched the farm in 2022 (pictured), but Hosein claims they searched the wrong area Alick McKay is pictured making an appeal from his home in Wimbledon for the safe return of his missing wife in January 1970, with son Ian and daughters Jennifer (left) and Dianne (right) The owners of the farm said in statement released by The Met: 'Our position has been consistent from the very first request of the family of the late Mrs McKay for a dig at our home. We have always said that this is a police matter - they are the experts in investigating evidence and determining its credibility. 'We have at all times provided the police with access to our land and granted permission to dig when requested by them, including when we have not been obliged to do so. 'We agreed to support the decision of the police, whatever it was. They have now made their decision, which we respect, although we understand from the police that this was a finely judged call considering the unreliability of the evidence provided by the murderer. 'In fact, the evidence is insufficient for the police to apply for search warrant. It now means that once this dig is concluded there will be a close to the debate and that no further searches on our land will happen.' A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: 'The digging has begun at an area inside the barn and an area outside. 'The manure heap was half-way inside the building and the rest in the open air. That's where officers have been working today.' Heavy rain battered the area today but the spokeswoman added it hadn't affected the dig. A small digger began by removing large bucketfuls of earth that were carried away by officers with wheelbarrows, before gloved colleagues carried out the meticulous search. Diana Whitefield, 81, whose house backs onto Stocking Farm, said: 'I will be very surprised if they find any remains after such a long time. I remember the day Muriel disappeared because it was the day my daughter was born. 'I have seen a lot of police activity today while I have been out walking my dog.' President Joe Biden returns to the campaign trail on Tuesday after pausing political operations in the wake of the assassination attempt on rival Donald Trump. Biden heads to Las Vegas, where he will spend two days talking to black and latino voters as he struggles to reset his campaign in the new political reality. As part of the trip, he and his team will be testing the waters on how it can push forward with his candidacy without appearing insensitive to Trump. Several conservatives pointed to Biden's campaign rhetoric as a reason Trump was targeted. Both sides have spoken harshly of the other. There is one worry the president may be able to put to rest: calls for him to step down as the Democrats' nominee. Not a single Democrat has called for him to exit the race since Saturday's shooting. President Joe Biden returns to the campaign trail on Tuesday Members of the party now seem to think replacing Biden would cause even more chaos in the race, which was upended by the assassination attempt on Trump. And still more think the failed assassination attempt shifts the dynamics of the race to Trump's advantage. One Democratic donor told Bloomberg News that they previously believed that Biden should be replaced but it shouldn't happen now as it would contribute to a sense of chaos. And there is an impending sense that victory is Trump's for the taking - no matter who is on the Democratic ticket. Pollster Frank Luntz noted the shooting will 'guarantee that every Trump supporter now will be a Trump voter in November. Trump's voters are energized, Biden's voters are demoralized.' 'It's hard to imagine either Biden or any of the potential Democratic candidates delivering full-throated crowd-pleasing attacks on the former President now, taking away most of their ability to play the Trump card by labeling him a 'threat to democracy' when he just survived a real threat to democracy,' he wrote in a thread on X. 'The 2024 presidential election is now Trump's to lose.' Biden has tried to tamp down on the anxiety that spread across the political sphere after the horrific attempt on Trump's life. He addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Sunday where he called for an end to political violence, noting both Republicans and Democrats have been a target of it. 'You know the political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated. It's time to cool it down,' Biden said. 'Politics must never be a literal battlefield - God forbid a killingfield.' The president said it was time for unity. And he noted he had a 'short but good' call with Trump. Donald Trump arrived in Milwaukee for the GOP convention on Sunday - the day after an attempt on his life And, before Biden leaves for Las Vegas, he'll sit down with NBC's Lester Holt. His campaign, which upended its strategy after Sunday's shooting, is expected to resume operations after Biden tapes the interview. The Democratic National Committee and the campaign 'will continue drawing the contrast between our positive vision for the future and Trump and Republicans' backwards-looking agenda over the course of the week,' a campaign official said. Many Republicans quickly blamed the violence on Biden and his allies, arguing that the political attacks on Trump as a threat to democracy have created a toxic environment. They pointed in particular to a comment Biden made to donors on July 8, saying 'it's time to put Trump in the bullseye.' Trump, however, also has used fighting words and images of violence in his campaign rhetoric. While in Las Vegas, Biden will address the 15th NAACP National Convention on Tuesday and conduct an interview with BET. He'll also participate in an economic summit with Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford. On Wednesday, Biden is the keynote speaker at the UnidosUS Annual Conference at the MGM Grand and then he'll have a campaign event. His Vegas trip was supposed to be the second of two campaign stops this week. But his Monday visit to Austin, Texas, where he was to mark the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, was canceled after the shooting attempt on Trump. His event was meant to be counter programming to the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. A council care worker has won almost 20,000 after his boss told him 'seems you suddenly became a Muslim' when he asked for Fridays off work to visit a mosque. Sahabuddin Molla alleged his boss, Keith Suckram, was a 'vile Islamophobe' who subjected him to 'nothing but a planned psychological torture' during his tenure at the local authority. After requesting Fridays off for religious purposes, Mr Suckram made the 'Islamophobic' remark to his employee which a tribunal concluded was an 'inherently discriminatory' and 'derogatory' comment toward his faith. Mr Molla successfully sued the London Borough of Hackney for race and religious discrimination, harassment and victimisation. He has now been awarded 19,611 in compensation. The tribunal in East London heard Mr Molla started working for the council as a care support worker at Century Court in December 2013. Mr Molla is a Muslim of South Asian ethnicity. Sahabuddin Molla had been a council care worker in Hackney, east London, since 2013 Mr Molla said he was 'shaking on the way home' as a result of his boss's actions at Hackney council In 2017, Mr Suckram was appointed as Mr Molla's Scheme Manager. Problems arose between the pair and during the sueight day tribunal, the panel were shown messages in which Mr Molla complained to his trade union representative that Mr Suckram had subjected him to 'nothing but a planned psychological torture'. On another occasion, he said following a dispute at work, he was 'shaking on the way home' as a result of his boss's actions. At some point in 2019, Mr Molla was involved in a road accident which resulted in undergoing a lengthy period of sick leave. Upon his return, Mr Suckram organised for the care worker to be seen by an occupational health advisor. The advisor recommended a phased return to work for Mr Molla and for him to be assigned 'lighter duties' due to his ongoing symptoms. In November of that year, the social worker attended a return to work meeting with Mr Suckram. An employment tribunal judge awarded Mr Molla 20,000 in compensation after he brought a case against his employer, Hackney council Keith Suckram, Mr Molla's boss at Hackney council, denied making the offensive comment Despite recommendations from occupational health, Mr Suckram did not adjust his duties and said a phased return would 'not be required' as Mr Molla only worked three six hour shifts a week. During this meeting, Mr Suckram also made the 'insulting comment' about Mr Molla's religion. In an email written to a senior member of staff after the meeting, Mr Molla said: 'Also he made an insulting comment about religion while having the meeting. 'Upon my request to him not to give me shifts on Fridays as I have to go to the Mosque for Friday prayers, he made the comment: "Seems you suddenly became a Muslim" and refused to consider my request rather asked me to apply for this concession from the HR.' Mr Suckram denied making the comment but it was heard that his evidence was both 'vague and unpersuasive' so the tribunal found it proven. In a later email, Mr Molla referred to the comment as a 'derogatory and an Islamophobic attack on his faith'. On another occasion, he referred to his boss as a 'vile Islamophobe' and said one of his seniors failed to tackle Islamophobia in the workplace. Mr Molla raised the concerns regarding his treatment to his senior but alleged they were 'ignored' and thus an example of direct race or religion discrimination. The employment tribunal upheld some of Mr Molla's claims. The successful discrimination and harassment allegations related to the 'seems you suddenly became a Muslim' comment, the failure to follow occupational health recommendations and failing to escalate the complaints. Employment Judge Bruce Gardiner said: 'We have found that Mr Suckram did ignore Occupational Health recommendations about a four-week phased return to work in which his hours would gradually increase; and about being placed on light duties due to his ongoing symptoms. 'We have also found that other Century Court care staff who were not Muslims were regularly engaged to work on light duties. 'There was therefore inconsistent treatment between [Mr Molla] and other Care Support Workers in relation to light duties.' They concluded the refusal to follow recommendations was 'influenced' by Mr Molla's faith. Addressing the remark made, Mr Gardiner said: 'The comment Mr Suckram did make is inherently discriminatory against [Mr Molla] as a Muslim. 'He would not have made the comment to an equivalent Care Support Worker who was not a Muslim. 'It is therefore less favourable treatment because of his religion.' The home where the bodies of a mother and her disabled teenage daughter were discovered was raided by counter terror police a week before they died. Jennifer Carrig, 53, and her daughter Ella, 13, were found deceased in two separate bedrooms of their home on Menzies Rd in Marsfield in Sydney's north-west last Thursday. Just eight days before the tragic discovery of their bodies in separate bedrooms, NSW Police officers attached to Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command executed a search warrant at the same home in an early morning raid on July 2. Police arrested Ms Carrig's 19-year-old son Christopher, who had been under investigation since he allegedly graffitied Nazi symbols on the walls of Macquarie University in May, the Daily Telegraph reported. The teen is also accused of intimidating a man on nearby Herring Rd shortly after the alleged vandalism in an incident which was allegedly posted online. Police charged Christopher with six offences related to the alleged vandalism and allegedly seized items related to 'extreme right-wing ideology' during the raid. He was bailed to appear in Burwood Local Court on August 13 facing a string of charges, including destroy or damage property, face blackened or disguised with intention to commit indictable offence, possess graffiti implement, enter prescribed premises without lawful excuse, stalk or intimidate and enter enclosed land without lawful excuse. A 20-year-old woman who was also arrested will face court next week. Jennifer Carrig (pictured left) and her daughter Ella (pictured right) were found dead inside their home last Thursday The home where the bodies were found (pictured) was raided by police a week prior in relation to alleged extremist vandalism Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Christopher Carrig had any involvement in the deaths of his mother Jennifer or sister Ella. NSW Police have launched a major investigation into the deaths of Ms Carrig and Ella, which is ongoing. Police initially revealed that the pair's deaths were not being treated as suspicious. Sources have since revealed that detectives are also investigating whether the deaths may have been the result of a murder-suicide. It remains unclear how the pair died as neither Mr Carrig or her daughter had obvious injuries. 'There was no bullet or stab wounds to the victims,' a police spokesperson said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted NSW Police for comment. The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of tributes to the pair, who had lived at the home for several years. New South Wales Police initially said the mother and daughter's deaths were not being treated as suspicious but are now reportedly investigating a murder-suicide theory Mother of-three Jennifer Carrig (pictured) was described by her friend as the 'best mumma' Ms Carrig has been remembered as the 'best mumma' to her family, including to her daughter Ella, who was disabled and needed full-time care. 'She was the best so caring and thoughtful,' Ms Carrig's best friend Samantha Thomas-Barber told the Daily Telegraph. 'A true treasure and warrior she was the best mumma to her family.' Neighbours in the quiet suburban street were 'absolutely shocked'. Many said they didn't hear or see anything out of the ordinary on Thursday morning until they saw the emergency vehicles in their street. One described the mother-of-three as 'very friendly and kind'. He told Daily Mail Australia that Ella had a disability and that her mother had just recently completed renovations on the home. Another neighbour said Jennifer used to babysit him and he knew her his whole life. 'It's sad,' he said. A family friend added: 'I can't believe this has happened,' Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. An elderly woman in Texas lost consciousness following days of extreme heat after her electricity stopped running. The 89-year-old, who has dementia and congenital heart failure, passed out from heat exhaustion in Houston on July 10 and is yet to wake up, her relatives said. 'My momma got so overheated, her body shut down and she has not waken up yet,' Monica Shaw told KTRK. The family have had to buy two generators to power the air-conditioning and called in a nurse to check on the elderly woman. It comes as the searing heat is set to move Northeast with parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut under excessive heat advisories. An elderly woman in Texas lost consciousness following days of extreme heat after her electricity stopped running Shaw said her mother overheated after going days without electricity to power their air-conditioning. 'Touch her body, she's hot. Checked her temperature, it was 101,' she said. She called a nurse to check on the 89-year-old but she is yet to regain consciousness. Shaw added that her mother's severe health conditions made her a higher risk to heat exhaustion. The scorching temperatures are set to make their way to parts of the Northeast this week with multiple excessive heat advisories issued. Forecasters have warned the humidity could make temperatures feel more like 100 degrees. The heat advisory in New York City began on Sunday and will last until 10pm on Tuesday. The 89-year-old, who has dementia and congenital heart failure, passed out from heat exhaustion in Houston on July 10 and is yet to wake up, according to her daughter Monica Shaw It comes as the searing heat is set to move Northeast with parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut under excessive heat advisories It will be extended to other parts of New York as well as New Jersey and Connecticut, according to the National Weather Service. 'The heat and humidity will continue through Tuesday, and likely continue into Wednesday,' it said in a statement. 'It will remain quite uncomfortable with heat indexes exceeding 100 in places.' National Weather Service John Murray added: 'The dew point will be a little lower, but you are still going to feel warmer.' Temperatures may feel as high as 100 degrees in Northeast New Jersey and New York City on Monday. While on Tuesday, the heat index in these areas could reach as high as 104 degrees. The National Weather said there is an 'an increased risk of heat-related illness' for vulnerable people. Cooling centers and pools have been opened up in New York City until at least Tuesday. People are being warned to take the heatwave seriously and stay cool as temperatures will not drop much during the night New York Governor Kathy Hochul told residents to stay hydrated in order to 'beat the heat'. The Boston office of the National Weather Service issued a warning about the 'dangerous heat' and humidity until Wednesday. The heat index is predicted to reach 105 degrees on Tuesday in Boston and Hartford, Connecticut. 'Its July so this is typically our warmest time of year,' meteorologist Kristie Smith said. 'Weve got a combination of very warm temperatures and very high humidity. It will certainly be uncomfortable.' As temperatures soar across the US, experts are warning of the dangers of deadly heat stroke which can start to develop after just 10 minutes of sitting outdoors in many parts of the country. The human body has a narrow temperature window within which it can carry out vital functions, between roughly between 98 and 100 degrees. Experts have told DailyMail.com that the 'cascade of events' leading to heat stroke start within seconds of being exposed to extreme heat over 90 degrees including sweating, fast heartbeat, and dehydration. In just five to 10 minutes, the heat strips blood away from vital organs like the brain, leading to confusion, dizziness, and passing out. And it takes only 15 minutes for the body to fully enter heat stroke and 'a complete loss of body function.' Jay Slater's best friend has broken his silence for the first time since Spanish police announced they had found a body in the search for the missing teenager. Brad Hargreaves, who was on holiday with the 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer in Tenerife before his disappearance, took to social media to post a tribute. Mr Hargreaves, who had been helping with the search before flying back to Britain last week, posted two snaps of him and his friend alongside a heartfelt message. 'Nothing be the same without you. Rest easy brother. Love you always,' he penned with a flurry of broken hearts and a crying emoji. The Civil Guard said that while a formal identification needs to take place, 'all evidence suggests' the remains are those of Jay, including some of his clothing found in the vicinity. His heartbroken family must now wait for a post-mortem examination to be conducted to confirm whether the body found close to where his phone last pinged in Rural Teno Park is that of Jay's. The teenager from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, had not been seen or heard from since Monday, June 17. Jay Slater's best friend Brad Hargreaves, who he was holidaying in Tenerife with, has released a touching tribute to the teen Alongside a long string of broken hearts and crying emoji, Jay Slater's best friend said there are 'no words' in his poignant tribute Jay Slater's family have been informed that human remains have been found in the mountainous area of the Spanish island after a body was found this morning (pictured: Jay Slater with his mother Debbie Duncan) Jay had jetted off to the Spanish holiday island for an eight-day holiday with his friends Lucy Mae Law and Brad before he vanished. The family were informed that a body has been found in an 'inaccessible' part of Tenerife where the teenager went missing. His family, including mother Debbie Duncan and father Warren Slater, were told about the discovery shortly before the media announcement. The Civil Guard says while a formal identification needs to take place 'all evidence suggests' the remains are those of Jay Slater. Early investigations suggest he may have suffered an 'accident or fall', they added. Jay's clothing and belongings were found alongside the body, which was found near his phone's last known location. Lancashire Police released a statement confirming they had been notified by the Guardia Civil that they have found the body of a man and that the indications are that this is Jay Slater'. 'While at this stage no formal identification has been carried out our thoughts are very much with Jay's family at this time, and we continue to offer them our support,' the statement added. Apprentice bricklayer Jay, 19, vanished after being driven to a remote Air BnB Jay's mother Debbie Duncan and father Warren Slater leaving the Guardia Civil in Playa de las Americas on July 2 Jay had attended the three-day NRG music festival at Papagayo nightclub in Playa de Las Americas before he disappeared. In the early hours of June 17, Jay travelled in a car with two men he had met during the festival to their 40-a-night Airbnb in the remote north-western village of Masca. At 7.30am, Jay posted a Snapchat picture showing him at the doorway of the property, tagging the location Parque Rural de Teno. Some half an hour later, he rang his friend Lucy to say he was making the 10-hour walk back to his accommodation in the tourist hotspot on the southern part of the island. He said he was lost, severely dehydrated and only had one per cent battery on his mobile before it cut out. His disappearance, which has sparked wild conspiracy theories online from cruel trolls, led to a huge search and rescue mission, with Spanish police scouring the mountainous landscape around Masca. It is the latest development in the search for the missing teen which comes after: The 40-a-night Casa Abuela Tina holiday rental near the remote village of Masca where Jay spent his final hours before going missing Volunteers helping in the search for the missing British teenager A 13-day search by police using drones, dogs and a helicopter failed to find any trace of Jay However, the official search was called off after just 13 days, prompting backlash from his desperate family who claimed they had been 'left in the dark'. Today, a spokesman for the Civil Guard said: 'After 29 constant days of searching the body of the young man has been found in the Masca area. 'The discovery has been possible thanks to the tireless and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard over these 29 days. 'Everything is pointing to the body being that of the young British man who disappeared on June 17, pending full identification. 'Initial inquiries are pointing to him having suffered an accident/fall in the area where he was found.' In a fuller statement the force added: 'Officers of the Civil Guard belonging to the Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (GREIM) have located this morning the dead body of a young man in the area of Masca, belonging to the municipality of Buenavista del Norte. 'All indications suggest that it could be the young British man who had been missing for 29 days, who may have died due to an accidental fall in the rough and inaccessible area where he was found. 'Thanks to the unceasing and constant search carried out by the different units of the Civil Guard, in which it has not stopped to look for the young man every day in the area of Masca, where he allegedly had disappeared the GREIM officers have found the dead body of the young person in a very inaccessible area. 'The results of the autopsy are awaiting confirmation that it is an accident.' GREIM officers led the search after Jay disappeared on June 17 after he left an Airbnb in Masca. A visible search involving helicopter and sniffer dogs continued for nearly two weeks before police announced it was being halted. They had not said in public it was continuing and there had been little outward sign of it going on on a more reduced scale. Police said on June 30 after calling in volunteers for a 'last push search' a day earlier: 'The search operation has now finished although the case remains open.' A well-placed source added: 'The daily operation which has been going on in and around Masca close to where Jay was last seen has been brought to an end. 'If any information comes in that merits a new search though it will be acted upon. 'My understanding is Jay's parents have been informed of what obviously is a major development. 'Nothing of any relevance was found during yesterday's large-scale search.' Jay's family released this photo of the missing teenager last month Jay Slater's final Snapchat at the remote Airbnb before he went missing. It is not the same Snapchat as the one where he 'admitted to stealing an expensive watch'. Jay was on his first-ever friends holiday with Lucy Law (pictured) and Brad Hargreaves when he went missing in Tenerife Brad Hargreaves (pictured) also said he spoke to Jay on the phone before he went missing Yesterday, Jay's frantic mother Debbie Duncan criticised the 'awful comments and conspiracy theories' posted on social media, which she branded 'vile' and said were 'hindering' the investigation. Ms Duncan yesterday posted an update on the GoFundMe page set up for her son's search, which has raised more than 53,000. She revealed how the family had called in rescue experts from the Netherlands to help find the teenager after Spanish police ceased their land search. Suitcase 'murder' victims Paul Longworth and Albert Alfonso recently enjoyed a holiday with the man suspected of killing them, according to photographs of the group. Pictures on social media appear to show British 71-year-old Mr Longwith smiling alongside former partner, French national Albert Alfonso, 62, and alleged killer Yostin Andres Mosquera. The trio, who are believed to have visited Mosquera's home country of Colombia, could be seen relaxing on a beach and drinking from cans under a large parasol as workers milled in the background. Another picture appears to show the trio sitting at the back of a boat, wearing life vests, with beautiful views over the bay. Mosquera, 34, was remanded in custody when he appeared before Wimbledon Magistrates Court today charged with murder. Assisted by a Spanish language interpreter, he stood with his arms folded and was smiling when he came into the dock, wearing a grey tracksuit with tidy black hair and a beard. Yostin Andres Mosquera (left) has been charged with two counts of murder after human remains were found in Bristol and London. Police have named the two victims as 62-year-old Albert Alfonso (centre) and 71-year-old Paul Longworth (right) Mosquera (left) is believed to have been on holiday in his native Colombia with Mr Alfonso (centre) and Mr Longworth (right) Court sketch of Mosquera, 34, who appeared before magistrates in Wimbledon today Mosquera (pictured) has been charged with two counts of murder He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday charged with two counts of murder. Detectives made the grisly discovery on Wednesday last week after two suitcases were left on the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol before further remains were found at the victims' flat in Shepherd's Bush, west London, on Friday. Mr Alfonso and Mr Longworth, who was just days away from retiring and going travelling, had previously been in a relationship and still lived together at the flat. They were known to the suspect, who had been staying with them for a short period of time, police said. A woman who lives opposite their flat told MailOnline: 'Albert and Paul were lovely guys. It's devastating. They were both really friendly and polite and smiled a lot. 'I last saw Paul a month or so ago in the pub and he told me that he was retiring. He told me 'I've only got two days left that I have to go to work'. 'He was really happy about it. He said he was also due to go to Pride in Brighton. 'Paul and Albert had lived together for years. They were really quiet. There was never any issues with them. 'The police had never been called to their flat or anything like that. I haven't heard anything out of the ordinary these last few days. It's so sad.' A forensic tent on the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, where human remains were discovered in two suitcases Forensic officers attending an address in Scotts Road, Sherpherd's Bush, west London, after human remains were discovered Avon and Somerset police launched an appeal to find the suspect The Met said evidence in the investigation so far has not pointed to a homophobic motive, but it has been classified as a hate crime under national guidelines. This will be reviewed if clearer evidence emerges, while officers are also working to establish whether there are any linked offences or incidents in the UK or overseas to 'build a full picture of the circumstances', though none has yet been identified. Following the announcement of Mosquera being charged, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said: 'My thoughts are first and foremost with Albert and Paul's loved ones who are coming to terms with this terrible news. 'While we do not believe either of them had any close family, we have identified other next of kin who have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. We are continuing to try and identify any extended family members. 'I know that this awful incident will cause concern not just among residents in Shepherd's Bush but in the wider LGBTQ+ community across London. 'I hope it will be of some reassurance that whilst enquiries are still ongoing and the investigation is at a relatively early stage, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the two murders. 'Officers have worked with the pan-London LGBTQ+ Independent Advisory Group (IAG) since the identity of the two victims and their sexuality was established. Their advice, expertise and support for the investigation has been extremely valuable. 'We will continue to work with them, and with other partners including local IAGs, as the investigation and the policing response continues.' Police were alerted just before midnight on Wednesday by bridge staff about a man acting 'suspiciously' - but by the time officers arrived, the man had fled the scene, leaving his luggage behind. He is believed to have left the bridge in the direction of Leigh Woods with one witness saying he was pursued by a cyclist. Mosquera was arrested in the Bristol area in the early hours of Saturday following a joint operation carried out by the Metropolitan Police and Avon and Somerset Police. Jacob Hopkins has an unusual claim to fame thats unlikely to leave the rest of us envious. In March 2021, he became the first person in the world to allow doctors to infect him with the Covid-19 virus on purpose, all in the name of research. In other words, while millions were doing all they could to avoid catching the pandemic bug that had swept the globe, Jacob wanted to be deliberately exposed to it if it could help doctors win the war against Covid. Im told I was the first, says Jacob, 26, a charity worker from Tamworth, Staffordshire, with a note of pride. Every day, the news was dominated by the rising death toll and the impact the pandemic was having on the country and the rest of the world. In March 2021, Jacob Hopkins became the first person in the world to allow doctors to infect him with the Covid-19 virus on purpose, all in the name of research Jacob, along with another 35 healthy UK volunteers, signed up for the worlds first Covid-19 human challenge study Id been lucky and had managed to avoid getting infected, but lots of people I knew had become ill with it. Covid was killing a lot of people and I just wanted to do whatever I could to help in the fight. There had already been thousands of Covid-related deaths in England and Wales alone (more than 73,000 by the end of 2020) when Jacob, along with another 35 healthy UK volunteers, signed up for the worlds first Covid-19 human challenge study. This unique and potentially dangerous experiment involved deliberately exposing the volunteers to the organism the controversial study, led by scientists at Imperial College London, set out to establish what happened when Covid got into the body, from the moment of initial exposure to the eventual clearance of any symptoms. The participants first had Covid-contaminated drops fed into their nose then they were each kept in isolation for around two weeks as researchers studied how their bodies reacted to the virus. Half of the guinea pigs became infected with Covid, with only mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, fever, fatigue, achy muscles and joints and temporary loss of smell Half became infected with Covid, and many of these suffered only mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, fever, fatigue, achy muscles and joints and temporary loss of smell. The trial lasted only a few weeks but it provided valuable new information about how the virus behaved. It showed, for instance, that most people get symptoms within just two days of contact with the virus; and that their viral load (a measure of how much virus is in their body) peaked on day five of infection. Crucially, it also revealed that the lateral flow tests which millions of us soon relied on to check if we were infected were very accurate at detecting the virus. Now, in the wake of the Covid human challenge study, there are ambitious plans to expand the use of this type of research for developing new vaccines and treatments for a range of deadly diseases some of which will involve purposely exposing healthy recruits to pathogens that kill thousands globally every year. Until now challenge studies have been confined to well-understood and established illnesses, rather than risking peoples health and lives with infection with a little-known virus. One such study, which is already under way, also at Imperial College London, is looking at how the immune system in older people responds to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a chest infection that kills around 4,000 people over 75 every winter in the UK. The hope is the project will identify which parts of the virus scientists might be able to target with treatments. The trial lasted only a few weeks but it provided valuable new information about how the virus behaved Volunteers aged 60 to 75 will spend up to ten days in a research facility, where they will be deliberately infected with RSV and doctors will monitor them round-the-clock, tracking symptoms, taking blood samples and mucus samples from the nose, throat and lungs. In return, recruits get paid up to 3,000 each for their time. Meanwhile, at University Hospital Southampton, another trial is under way to see if a new type of vaccine can protect against whooping cough an infection that mostly strikes in childhood and cases of which have risen sharply in the UK in recent years. The UK Health Security Agency reported last week that the number of cases in England alone had risen to more than 7,500 to the end of May nine times the number seen across the whole of 2023. Nine babies have died in the outbreak since November. One reason is the decline in uptake of the available jab currently running at around 93 per cent of two-year-olds, compared with more than 96 per cent in 2014. But another key factor is that the jab introduced nearly 20 years ago has proved to be less effective than hoped at preventing the spread of infection. For the Southampton study, healthy volunteers between 18 and 50 are being given a nasal spray vaccine, or a dummy spray; three months later, when the immune system has had a chance to respond to the vaccine by producing antibodies that can fight infection, they are exposed to the bacteria (bordetella pertussis) that causes whooping cough, to see if the vaccine works. In recent years, human challenge studies, while potentially risky, have become increasingly popular. Normally, when scientists want to know how a new virus spreads and what exactly it does to human tissue, they have little choice but to rely on what evidence they can gather as it tears through the population. At University Hospital Southampton, another trial is under way to see if a new type of vaccine can protect against whooping cough But that data comes at a heavy price the more people become ill, or die, the more they learn. In whooping cough, for example, this means a new vaccine can only be judged a success or failure after being given to thousands of volunteers and then relying on them coming into contact with a circulating infection, a process scientists have no control over. As well as making the entire process slow and less reliable, it means science is always one step behind the virus. This is especially critical when it comes to a novel virus, such as Covid-19, where in the early days of the pandemic little was known about how it spread, how infectious it was and what organs and tissues it attacked once someone was infected. And this has become a particular issue for new vaccines. Researchers usually inoculate hundreds, sometimes thousands, of volunteers as part of a trial and then must wait to see if they become infected by chance as a virus sweeps through the community. But they have no way of controlling whether those people are actually exposed to the virus or not, which makes it hard to assess how well a vaccine is working. With new vaccines, youre completely reliant on whether enough people catch the infection [in the community] in order to measure how effective it is, says Chris Chiu, a professor of infectious diseases at Imperial College London. He led the Covid-19 challenge study that Jacob took part in and is a leading advocate for their wider use in research. You need tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people to be vaccinated to show it really works and that can take ages. Human challenge studies are a good alternative because they allow researchers to precisely control who gets the virus, so they can monitor how it behaves and how well a vaccine performs. For the Southampton study, healthy volunteers between 18 and 50 are being given a nasal spray vaccine, or a dummy spray They involve recruiting healthy volunteers, placing them in isolation in a research facility and exposing them directly to the harmful organism in question. Theyre then checked round-the-clock to see what impact an infection has on all the major organs. If something goes wrong, measures are in place to ensure volunteers get all the emergency treatment they need and that there is a proven rescue therapy that can save their lives if they do get ill. Professor Chiu adds: Human challenge studies could shorten the process and not just for vaccines. They could also be used more widely or developing new anti-viral and antibiotic drugs, as well as diagnostic tests. He adds that none of the volunteers in the Imperial College Covid-19 challenge study suffered serious adverse events. Nobody was hospitalised due to infection, or had any long-term problems, he says. These studies are designed to be very safe. And they can potentially help speed up the process of research and development. Indeed, 1DaySooner, an international non-profit organisation which lobbies for greater use of human challenge studies, estimated that even reducing the time it took to get an effective Covid jab into circulation by just one day could have saved more than 7,000 lives globally or more than 50,000 a week at the height of the pandemic. Jacob was scrolling through social media in the summer of 2020 when he came across the 1DaySooner website, which was asking people to register their interest in taking part in Covid challenge studies. On Christmas Eve 2020, he got a call to see if he would be willing to take part in the Imperial College trial. Jacob told Good Health: I like taking risks. Its no lie to say I was actually excited to catch Covid for the trial I even avoided work colleagues and stopped using public transport beforehand in case I caught it, which would stop me from taking part. Jacob was in quarantine for 21 days and was paid 4,500, but he says it was never about the money he did not even realise he would get paid when he applied On the day the trial started, in March 2021, Jacob was placed in an isolation room. Then four or five people came in dressed head to toe in PPE and goggles, with a red box that contained the equipment for administering the virus, Jacob recalls. I lay on my back with my head tilted back they poured a drop of the virus liquid into each nostril, counted to ten and put another drop in each, before putting a clip on my nose to stop it leaking out. Throughout the day and night, researchers regularly carried out lateral flow tests, checked his lung function and gave him a scratch-and-sniff card to check his sense of smell. Within a couple of days, he started to show mild symptoms including fatigue and slight fever and a lateral flow test showed he was positive. These symptoms dissipated within a couple of days but a week later and still in quarantine he was hit by more severe flu-like symptoms aches and pains and a sudden loss of smell. I spent 21 days in quarantine, says Jacob. I was the first in and the last out. I got paid 4,500 for my time but for me it was never about the money in fact, when I first applied, I didnt even realise I would get paid. Professor Chiu says the issue of payment for human challenge studies is controversial. Its discussed in great detail by medical ethicists, he says. Volunteers should be compensated for their time, thats only fair. But the payments are very similar to what they would get for non-challenge studies. There is no bonus and we are not paying people extra to take on the additional risk. Some experts fear paying volunteers cash to be deliberately infected with dangerous pathogens is ethically questionable Yet some experts fear paying volunteers cash to be deliberately infected with dangerous pathogens is ethically questionable and that the advantages of challenge studies have been over-hyped. Nevertheless, 1DaySooner says there is no shortage of willing volunteers. To date more than 42,000 people from more than 160 countries have registered with the non-profit organisation as potential recruits for challenge studies. Yet not all are convinced by the use of such trials for new or dangerous pathogens. Professor Charles Weijer, an expert in research ethics at Western University in London, Canada, points out that none of the Covid vaccines that came to the rescue during the pandemic resulted from challenge studies. Instead, he says, they were due to a super-human effort by scientists and drug companies using traditional research methods that produced a vaccine in under a year compared with the ten years it should take. Whats more, he adds, some people were calling for Covid challenge studies even when there was no proven rescue therapy for volunteers should things go horribly wrong. In a recent paper in the journal Research Ethics, Professor Weijer said: Did human challenge trials accelerate the development of Covid vaccines? No, not at all. Yet there was a view that a few could legitimately be sacrificed so that many could be saved. Human challenge studies should not be conducted with infectious agents known to cause severe illness or death in the absence of a rescue therapy. None of which appears to trouble Jacob, who willingly let scientists put a deadly virus into his body and says, without hesitation: I would do it again in a heartbeat. Southern Europe is baking in soaring temperatures, with Italy bracing for a record-breaking heatwave and wildfires being fanned by the 'hellish' conditions and water shortages across parts of the Balkans. Intense heat across Italy has already resulted in at least four deaths, with elderly people collapsing and dying with suspected heatstroke in Bari, Puglia and Rome, amid severe humidity. Cities including the Italian capital and popular tourist destinations such as Florence and Naples are expected to be impacted, with large swathes of the country placed under red alert. It is as the result of an anticyclone - a powerful air bubble that has originated from the Sahara desert and that is 'pumping' hot air onto the Mediterranean, which forecasters say will see muggy conditions. Greece is also in the firing line, with the Met Office there warning people that the mercury could rise to 42C in some parts and that they should be 'prepared' for the extreme weather as 'very high temperatures'. GREECE: Evacuations are underway in Lygia in the Ionian islands amid wildfires there ITALY: Tourists use parasols as they try to stay cool at the Piazza di Spagna amid a heatwave in Rome TURKEY: An aerial view of colorful umbrellas while people cool off on the beach during a hot summer day in Turkiye's Tekirdag MACEDONIA: Firefighters battle a wildfire - one of a number which have prompted the government to declare a crisis situation Evacuations are underway in Lygia in the Ionian islands amid wildfires there, with pictures showing helicopters picking up water from the sea as firefighters work to extinguish them. Meanwhile on the island of Koundouros, dramatic video shows a villa on fire as huge plumes of smoke and flames rise from a hilltop. Popular tourist destinations of Chios and Kos were also hit in recent weeks after a prolonged drought and dry weather caused infernos with strong winds fanning the flames. At the beginning of July, the Mornos reservoir around 200 kilometres (125 miles) west of Athens, the main water source for the Attica region surrounding the capital, levels were down 30 percent from the same period last year. And overall reserves for Attica were down by nearly a quarter over the same period, according to the water utility company EYDAP. Home to more than a third of Greece's population, the region of 3.7 million inhabitants was recently placed on 'yellow alert' by EYDAP, which urged people to reduce consumption to keep reserves at a sustainable level. At the same time, the country's earliest-ever heatwave resulted in the hottest June since 1960, with temperatures reaching 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) in many parts of the country. The heat has also sparked an increase in wildfires, with more than a thousand recorded last month, more than double the number in the same month last year, authorities say. A fire service plane is seen battling the blaze as smoke rises from a hilltop in Greece Video shows flames rising from a villa in Greece, reportedly on the island of Koundouros, as wildfires hit parts of the country As Brits head out on holiday to destinations like Kefalonia and Corfu, the Hellenic National Agency has published an amber weather warning for this week. It explained: 'The southwest current that prevails in the lower levels of the atmosphere on the coasts of Africa and the Central Mediterranean will transport warm air masses to our region and cause very high temperatures in our country, which will be maintained at least until Friday. 'The highest temperatures will occur in the interior of mainland Greece (mainly in the west and north) and in the islands of the eastern Aegean. 'In the coastal areas of the mainland the maximum temperature value will be 2 to 4 degrees lower due to the sea breeze.' The warm air masses are also seriously affecting Italy, where temperatures are expected to increase throughout the week. Antonio Sano, founder of ilmeteo.it, told Italian daily paper La Stampa that this 'will be the hottest summer.' A man shields from the sun with a paper umbrella in front of Rome's Pantheon during a heatwave The sun beats down on tourists visiting Rome's Trevi fountain last week A woman shelters from the sun with an umbrella as she walks near St. Peter's Square during a heatwave in Rome A pharmacy's signboard shows the external temperature as St. Peter's Dome is seen in background during an intensely hot day in Rome, Italy, on July 11, 2024 He explained: 'The African anticyclone will become increasingly powerful and will further sharpen its heat force... the temperatures will persistently continue to rise, remaining, during the day, always above 34 -37 degrees in many cities with peaks of even 42-43C in the internal areas of Sicily.' He warned people to expect the hottest days on Thursday and Friday. Pictures over recent days have shown tourists desperately trying to cool off in Rome. Highs of around 38C are expected in the Italian capital today and throughout the week, with an excessive heat warning in force. A general view of a crowded beach at Varkiza suburb, south of Athens, Greece, on Sunday While the south and centre of Italy faces extreme heat, many areas of northern Italy have been experiencing another facet of the climate crisis, being hit over recent weeks with torrential rain and storms. Huge floods and landslides, have caused considerable damage and disruption, and have resulted in deaths. Meanwhile, wildfires have gripped parts of southern Europe, including seven which swept across North Macedonia on Sunday, officials said, prompting the government to declare a crisis situation. Firefighters spray water on trees as wildfire burns in an attempt to extinguish and prevent further escalation, near Negotino, on July 14 During an overnight emergency government session on Saturday, lawmakers declared a crisis situation - falling short of calling for a state of emergency - 'due to increased occurrence of wildfires'. The fires spread mainly in the central and eastern parts of the country, according to the state's Crisis Management Center, amid a gruelling heatwave. More than 100 hectares of forest had been scorched as of Saturday despite the efforts of firefighters. 'The period of existence of the state of crises on the territory of Republic of North Macedonia is for 30 days,' the government said in a statement. CROATIA: A man splashes himself with water from a fountain, trying to cool down amid a heatwave in the centre of Zagreb CROATIA: A little boy cools off in a fountain amid a heatwave in Croatia last week A small dog swims in a fountain amid a heatwave, in the centre of Zagreb, on July 9, 2024 A state of crises is proclaimed when the public and property face serious risks or dangers, which demands an injection of significant government resources. The government also approved the engagement of the police and army in the fight against the wildfires as well as preparing medical staff. Around 100 soldiers and two army helicopters on Sunday morning were involved in extinguishing a fire near the southern town of Negotino, the ministry of defence said. Since last week, the region has been hit by a heatwave forecasted to extend until the end of the next week. An aerial view of a beach as people spending time to cool off during summer season in Antalya, Turkiye on July 12, 2024 Due to the humidity and hot weather effective in Antalya, people have flocked to the seaside On Friday, the North Macedonia issued an extreme weather alert with temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas. Similar warnings were issued in neighboring Croatia and further east and south. Croatias main tourism resort, the southern Adriatic Sea town of Dubrovnik, recorded 28 C (82.4 F) at dawn, signaling there wont be relief when the sun goes down. Locals in Montenegro have reported having to stay indoors to escape the 'hell outside'. During a heatwave last month, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia and Albania faced major power outages amid the overload and a collapse of a regional distribution line. Earlier this month, a powerful storm swept the region after days of heat. It killed two people and damaged houses while pulling trees from the ground and flooding streets. A missing dog was hoisted to safety in a rubble sack by a mountain rescue team after surviving for seven days on a narrow ledge of a cliff face. Loki, a nine-and-a-half-stone Cane Corso, was reunited with its ecstatic owners after a week spent on the rocky ledge with just rainwater to drink. The much-loved pet had not been seen since July 7 when it ran off from a campsite near Kinlochbervie, Sutherland, and extensive searches had turned up no sign of him. But on Sunday a passer-by heard plaintive barks from below a cliff edge and a rescue operation was launched. A team from Assynt Mountain Rescue was scrambled to the scene after being alerted by Police Scotland and found Loki on the ledge. The much-loved pet had not been seen since July 7 when it ran off from a campsite near Kinlochbervie, Sutherland, and extensive searches had turned up no sign of him Loki was trapped on a narrow ledge below a cliff near Kinlochbervie for a whole week The dog was lifted to safety using an empty one ton aggregate sack and, remarkably, was uninjured and appeared to have suffered no serious ill effects from his ordeal Ms Mcdonald had appealed for help in finding Loki after the pet ran away from the Sheigra beach campsite, writing on social media: 'We desperately want him home safe' The dog was lifted to safety using an empty one ton aggregate sack and, remarkably, was uninjured and appeared to have suffered no serious ill effects from his ordeal. His delighted owner Christine Mcdonald was reunited with her pet on Monday and said her family were 'forever grateful' to the team for saving Loki. She added: 'I have so many thank yous to share.' Ms Mcdonald had appealed for help in finding Loki after the pet ran away from the Sheigra beach campsite, writing on social media: 'We desperately want him home safe.' Members of the local community joined the search and a drone was used to try and locate him. No sightings were reported and it was feared that the powerful dog could have strayed 'much further afield'. But it emerged it had gone over a cliff edge north of Sheigra beach and became trapped. It was eventually found when his barks were heard by a visitor to the area. Dramatic pictures showed the dog on the ledge high above the water and being comforted by rescuers after being lifted to safety by torchlight. Assynt Mountain rescue managed to bring the dog to safety in a rubble sack.His delighted owner Christine Mcdonald was reunited with her pet on Monday and said her family were 'forever grateful' to the team for saving Loki No sightings were reported and it was feared that the powerful dog could have strayed 'much further afield'. But it emerged it had gone over a cliff edge north of Sheigra beach and became trapped Loki spent over a week on the ledge with just rainwater to drink. It was eventually found when his barks were heard by a visitor to the area A spokesperson for Assynt Mountain rescue said: 'The team was called out by Police Scotland to rescue Loki, a 60kg Cane Corso dog, from the cliffs to the north of Sheigra beach, close to the harbour village of Kinlochbervie. 'Despite extensive search efforts by the dog's owners and members of the local community, he had remained missing for seven days. 'Loki had been found on a rocky ledge by a man visiting the area who had been alerted by barking from below the cliff edge. 'Miraculously, the dog appeared to be uninjured and in reasonable condition given he had only had rainwater to survive on for the past 170 hours. 'A small group of team members were deployed to the area who met with the gentleman that had found Loki. 'Upon risk assessing the situation, a simple technical rescue involving an empty 1 tonne aggregate sack was executed. 'At around half past midnight Loki was safely at the top of the cliff and on his way down to await collection by his owners in the early hours of this morning.' Hilarious video footage shows the moment a Barbie lookalike shouts 'I won't last in jail' after crashing her BMW into a Popeyes restaurant. The blonde-haired woman, dressed in a short pink dress and white heels, is filmed stepping out of the luxury vehicle and dramatically fleeing the scene in a now-viral TikTok. Nearby strangers offered to help her out of the car while one asked 'How'd the f*** did that happen?' He then urged her to 'run and leave the car.' As she ran away, the woman said: 'I can't get charged with that. I gotta' go quickly. Let's go. Let's go.' The accident happened on Sunday, but it is not clear which Popeye's location and if the fast-food chain was open for business during the smash. The driver of the vehicle has not yet been identified but appeared rattled and fled the scene The woman is filmed gathering her belongings from the car as shattered glass is seen on the hood and front of the car. A piece of the vehicle was also seen on the grassy section by the building. She told the man filming: 'Thank you so much. I appreciate so much for real,' before she utters the words, 'I can't go to jail.' She continued: 'I won't last there you now. I won't last there.' One of the men said: 'Leave that car there. C'mon. Leave that car.' Another added: 'Let me help you out of the car.' She stepped out of the vehicle unscathed with not a hair out of place or a mark on her dress. During her escape, her phone rings and the woman is heard telling the caller, 'Hello, I just crashed. I gotta go later. Bye.' The man asks her, 'do you want to ride with me I got my own set of wheels.' She responds without hesitation, 'Where do I go? as she follows behind him. The man told her 'You're gonna get charged with that. Damn,' as she panicked. The driver of the vehicle has not yet been identified. It is unclear if the fast -food chain was open at the time of the crash and the exact Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen location. The Barbie lookalike is gathering her belonging from her wrecked vehicle The video now has 5.9 million views on TikTok and has been flooded with comments from amused viewers. Many pointed out that leaving the vehicle with the registration plate intact will make her easily identifiable. One wrote: 'Leaving with strangers is crazy.' Another quipped, 'cuh does she not realize that plate is finna lead right back to her,' with a hysterical laughing emoji next to it. 'He convinced her to flee and didn't help her out,' added another. Someone else chimed in: 'Leaving the scene of an accident is a felony.' While others appeared more interested in critiquing her clothing. 'Those shoes with that dress Is a crime too,' said another 'The way she closed the door like she just parked it at the house,' added another. DailyMail.com reached out to the company but they did not respond to our request for comment. Jill Biden spoke with Melania Trump in the wake of the attempted assassination on Donald Trump. The two spoke by phone on Sunday afternoon, a White House official told DailyMail.com. No other details about the call were available. President Joe Biden spoke with Donald Trump on Saturday night, shortly after the horrific attempt on his life. He called it a 'short but good' call. Jill and Melania are believed to have a cordial relationship. They have exchanged birthday cards in the past. They also have attended events together in their role as first ladies, such as the funeral of Rosalynn Carter. Jill Biden spoke with Melania Trump by phone on Sunday afternoon Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old gunman, fired several rounds from an automatic weapon at Trump at his rally on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was on a rooftop just outside the rally's security perimeter. The Secret Service have denied they diverted resources from Donald Trump to protect Jill Biden, who was speaking at an event in Pittsburgh that same evening. Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, responded to speculation on X that the agency had to divert agents and resources. 'We did not divert resources from FPOTUS Trump & protection models don't work that way,' he wrote. Meanwhile, Melania Trump spoke of the horror when she realized her and son Barron's life were on the brink of 'devastating change' after the hearing the news about her husband. The former first lady called the gunman a 'monster' and described the moment she watched the bullet strike her husband's ear at a Pennsylvania rally in front of thousands of his adoring fans. 'A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald's passion - his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration,' Melania said in an emotional statement on X on Sunday morning. 'When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron's life, were on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.' She called for people to 'reunite' and said she is thinking of her fellow Americans. 'This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence,' her statement continued. 'The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide - thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.' Melania Trump has not appeared much on the campaign trail but will attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee A bullet grazed Donald Trump's right ear Melania Trump has stayed off the campaign trail - unlike Jill Biden who campaigns frequently for her husband. She notably skipped the first presidential debate in Atlanta. Donald Trump walked off the stage alone while Joe Biden was accompanied by Jill Biden. She will attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee but will not address the delegates. Melania Trump has appeared publicly with her husband for campaign events just three times: his campaign kickoff in November 2022 at their Mar-a-Lago home, in March when she accompanied her husband to vote in the Florida presidential primary, and in April when she appeared at his side at a high-dollar fundraiser in Palm Beach. In March, as she walked into the polling place, Melania was asked then if she would join the former president on the campaign trail. Her response: 'Stay tuned.' Zombies have been a part of pop culture for decades, their relentless hunt for human blood sending shivers down the spines of horror fanatics across the globe. But, in the world of fiction, it appears the walking dead spare no man - even someone as powerful as Vladimir Putin. A seemingly innocent book about an infected pink mouse caught in a zombie apocalypse has spooked the Kremlin, resulting in its ban across the Russian Federation. Why? The rose-hued rodent, it turns out, escapes from a Russian institute working on a serum to make President Putin immortal. The book has since been accused of spreading false messages about acts of terrorism, with Russia's general prosecutor demanding it be removed from sale on the grounds that it threatens public order. Mouse, written by Ivan Filippov, is about an infected mouse who escapes from a Russian institute that is developing a serum to make President Putin immortal, which leads to a zombie apocalypse A screenshot of the demand condemns the novel for posing a 'threat of harm to the life and health of citizens, property,' and could disrupt the functioning of critical infrastructure, including banks and transport systems. Publisher Georgy Urushadze confirmed that authorities are seeking to ban the book within Russia, according to The Times. In a sarcastic Facebook post, Urushadze expressed mixed emotions, stating, 'I'm sorry, comrades, but as a literary-centred person I am very glad. In no other country does literature have such power. Banks are in danger!' Filippov, a Russian journalist residing in Georgia, noted that the book had temporarily vanished from Ozon, one of Russia's largest online shops, after complaints from nationalist "Z" bloggers. Filippov, who runs a Telegram channel opposing Putins invasion of Ukraine, was one of several journalists who were designated as foreign agents in April. He insists said the book adheres to Russian laws, features a foreign agent disclaimer on its front cover, did not violate extremism laws and carries an 18+ rating on Ozon. Despite complying with legal standards, "Mouse" has faced backlash from Putins supporters, particularly for its depiction of real figures such as propaganda chief Margarita Simonyan and Patriarch Kirill meeting untimely deaths. The book had been enjoying significant success, according to Filippov, until the recent crackdown. Vladimir Putin has banned the controversial novel as it promotes extremism and 'threatens public order' (stock image) Boris Akunin, a renowned Russian novelist based in London, criticised the authorities' decision, stating they have 'completely lost their minds' in banning a book they irrationally consider a threat. Online book retailers, including BABook and Ekho Books, have received demands from Roskomnadzor, the communications watchdog, to stop selling "Mouse." In an act of defiance, BABook announced: 'With enormous pleasure, we will not fulfil this demand. Let them block us. That will be interesting.' Alternatively, Ekho Books has responded to the demand by providing a link for customers to buy the book rather than selling it directly. Meanwhile, Russian intelligence services have once again set their eyes on the US election in an attempt to install ex President Donald Trump in the White House, a new report alleges. Several US officials with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in Washington confirmed the existence of the Russian plan when speaking to The Wall Street Journal. It is a missing persons investigation which has been dominated by unanswered questions and wild conspiracy theories. But 29 days after Jay Slater vanished on the Spanish island of Tenerife, possessions and clothing belonging to the missing British teenager have today been discovered with a body. Although Spanish police are awaiting full identification, they say that 'everything is pointing to it being a young British man' who could have 'suffered an accident or fall in the inaccessible area where he was found'. Missing persons charity LBT Global revealed the body was discovered close to the last known location where Jay's mobile pinged near the remote village of Masca, north-west Tenerife. Jay, an apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, in Lancashire, was enjoying the final night of the three-day New Rave Generation music festival with friends in the Playa de las Americas party resort on June 17. Tragically, it would be the last time they ever saw him. A body has been found in the search for missing British teenager Jay Slater (pictured) Various videos show Jay partying the night away at the Papagayo Beach Club on Tenerife's infamous Veronicas Strip. His friends Lucy Law and Brad Hargreaves left but Jay stayed out. At around 5am on June 17, Jay left the strip and got into a Seat Leon hire car with convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim, 31, and Qassim's unnamed friend, who he had met earlier on the holiday. While in the car Jay sent a Snapchat message to his friends boasting that he had just stolen a 12,000 Rolex watch from a reveller and was going to sell it for 10,000. Jay Slater timeline Sunday June 16: Jay and his friends, including Lucy Mae Law, party at the final day of the NRG music festival at Papagayo night club in the resort of Playa de las Americas, Tenerife. Monday June 17: Between 3am and 6am BST, Jay goes back to an Airbnb with two men after they leave Playa de las Americas in a car. 7.30am: Jay shares a photo on his Snapchat account, which shows him standing at the doorway of a house with the location Parque Rural de Teno. Between 8.30am and 9am: Jay calls Lucy and says he is 'lost in the mountains with one per cent battery and no water' and has missed a bus back south and was attempting to walk. It would take 11 hours. The call cuts out and the phone's last location is a path in the rugged Rural de Teno national park, which is popular with hikers. Grainy CCTV, released on June 24, shows a possible sighting of Jay at Santiago at around 6pm - nearly ten hours after his mobile phone last pinged in the Rural de Teno Park at around 8.50am. The CCTV is taken close to a church, San Fernando Rey, where Jay's mother told MailOnline a man has come forward to say he saw someone matching her son's description sitting on a bench with two men. Tuesday June 18: Friends search the area but there is no sign of Jay and he does not return to his accommodation. Local police and mountain rescue teams start hunting for Jay - and his mother Debbie flies to Tenerife. Wednesday June 19 - Spanish police use drones, dogs and a helicopter but Jay is not found. They change their search to Los Cristianos because of a possible sighting, but it is ruled out and they return to Rural de Teno. Thursday June 20: Guardia Civil, mountain rescue, firefighters and volunteers continue to search the national park. Friday June 21: Lancashire Police offer support but it is declined by the Spanish police. Saturday June 22: Search teams continue scouring the national park and Debbie says: 'We just need you home.' Sunday June 23: Police examine outbuildings at the bottom of a ravine where his phone last pinged. Monday June 24: MailOnline learns Spanish police are investigating whether Jay's past is relevant. Jay's family focus on the area of Santiago de Teide - where the grainy CCTV they think is Jay was taken. Tuesday June 25: Jay's mother issues a heartbreaking plea for her son to come home as more friends fly out to Tenerife. TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas is seen outside Airbnb Jay went to. Wednesday June 26: Mr Williams-Thomas tells the two men that Jay went back with to 'come forward with crucial information' Thursday June 27: Jay's mother says she is in talks to withdraw some of 36,000 from GoFundMe to help with rescue efforts and living expenses. Friday June 28: Police in Tenerife call for an army of volunteers to help them scour the rugged terrain. Saturday June 29: Only six volunteers show up to help with the search. Investigators also say the two men Jay went back with have 'no relevance' to the case. Sunday June 30: Spanish police officially end the search for Jay Slater. They say the investigation 'remains open', however. Monday July 15: A body is found in the hunt for Jay Slater. His possessions and clothing are discovered next to human remains. Spanish cops say it points to an 'accidental fall' Advertisement Quite why Jay went from Playas de Americas where he was already renting a holiday apartment and travelled the hour it took Qassim to drive 19 miles to the Airbnb in the Rural de Teno park, close to Masca village is unclear. While at the remote cottage, he posted photos on Snapchat - including one of him having a cigarette on the doorstep. Jay left the Airbnb after less than 90 minutes there to catch the bus back to his own accommodation. The last person to see him alive was cleaner Ophelia Media Hernandez, who told him that the next bus wasn't due for another two hours. Ophelia told MailOnline she saw Jay set off on foot 'quickly' 15 minutes later but crucially the wrong way up the hill towards the gorge instead of downhill towards Playa de las Americas. Mystery still surrounds the exact time that Jay was reported missing to police. His friend Lucy Law, who was on holiday with him in Tenerife, said she lost contact with him at 8.50am on June 17 when he phoned her to say he was 'lost in the mountains, needed a drink and had one per cent on his battery'. Then the line went dead. Lucy says she called police at 9am to report him missing. However, police have told MailOnline that Jay was officially reported missing 'in the late afternoon early evening of June 17'. Jay's mother Debbie Duncan, his brother Zak and his father Warren all then flew out to Tenerife to help with the search effort. The investigation has sadly been subjected to horrible conspiracy theories - which Jay's family have condemned. Trolls, amateur sleuths and psychics sparked a carnival of hysteria and chaos by spreading wild and even malicious theories about his disappearance on social media. Conspiracy theorist David Icke also waded in making unfounded claims on Facebook about people traffickers and a 'bonkers' cover up claim about it being linked to a power cut at Manchester Airport, while others have levelled unsubstantiated allegations about possible mafia involvement. There were also theories about a white car seen in a picture and on Google Streetview - and ridiculous suggestions including he had run away to join ISIS. Vile social media trolls even compared Jay's mother to Karen Matthews - an evil mother who staged her daughter's kidnap to claim a 50,000 reward. Jay's employer also hit out at the trolls after they were bombarded with messages and said: 'The picture being painted of Jay is just not true. We stand by him'. Critics also blasted a GoFundMe set up by Lucy, which raised more than 53,000 for the search effort and living costs. Spanish police, helicopters and sniffer dogs started searching for Jay in the Masca valley after he was reported missing. On June 24 - a week after Jay disappeared - the family shared a grainy image which they believed was a sighting of the teen near a church in Santiago del Teide around 10 hours after he was reported missing. A day later, specialist search dogs were drafted in from Madrid to help with the search that was gaining huge coverage on social media each day. The case was then thrown into confusion on June 26 when a Tenerife mayor said Spanish police were probing claims that the missing raver had been spotted watching Euro 2024 matches 'on the coast'. On June 28, Jay's friend Brad Hargreaves appeared on This Morning and claimed he video-called him the morning he went missing and saw him slipping down a hill slightly. He described seeing him 'gone over a little bit - not a big drop - but a tiny little drop'. Following the bombshell update today, Brad - who went on holiday with him and flew back last week, paid a poignant tribute. Uploading a picture of the two of them with a string of red broken hearts and a crying emoji, he said: 'No words. Nothing be the same without you. Rest easy brother. Love you always.' With the family and police desperate to find Jay, the Civil Guard called for a mass army of volunteers to help scour the mountains on June 29 - but only six people turned up. Spanish police also said that the two men that Jay went back with were 'not relevant' to their investigation. The next day, police in Tenerife stunned Jay's mother and wider family by suspending the search on June 30 - despite having found no trace of him. Parties of police officers, rescue workers and volunteers had spent that period repeatedly scouring the mountainous area near to where the 19-year-old was last seen. They searched caves, ravines and paths, looking for any indication of what happened to Jay - and were supported in the hunt by helicopters, drones and dogs. Announcing the shock decision, the Guardia Civil said that the investigation would remain open and that any relevant new information would be looked into - but active seeking would cease with immediate effect. This was despite an ongoing offer from police in Jay's native Lancashire to deploy officers to assist. When Spanish police officially ended their search, TikTok sleuths and private investigators continued to help the family. One of the most credible people helping was detective-turned-investigator Mark Williams-Thomas who last week handed 'significant new information' to police investigating the mystery disappearance. The family released this photo of Jay Slater on July 2 Jay's mother Debbie Duncan and father Warren Slater leaving the Guardia Civil in Playa de las Americas Ayub Qassim (pictured) rented the Airbnb which missing raver Jay Slater visited just before he disappeared The 40-a-night Casa Abuela Tina holiday rental near the remote village of Masca where Jay spent his final hours before going missing Jay Slater's final Snapchat at the remote Airbnb before he went missing. It is not the same Snapchat as the one where he 'admitted to stealing an expensive watch'. Volunteers search for Jay in Masca as the teenager remains missing That came after he claimed that during Jay's car journey with the two men to the property, Jay posted a video on social media boasting about the theft of a 12,000 Rolex watch. MailOnline was the first media outlet to identify the man who rented the AirBnB as Qassim - a convicted drug dealer. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Qassim - who was later revealed as the mystery 'Johnny Vegas' man, said: 'The only comment I have to make is that Jay came to the house alive, and he left the house alive. 'I let the geezer stay at mine because he had nowhere else to go, his friends had all left him. 'I know Jay, through friends, I'm not going to bring someone back to mine if I don't know them. 'I'm doing the geezer a favour and now my face is all over the news. It's a bit mental. I haven't even done anything.' After the search was called off, updates were few and far between. But on July 6, the civil guard said that the family was welcome to employ their own search teams after a row over Brits turning up to help. On July 15, almost a month to the day that Jay went missing, a body was found. A spokesman for the police said: 'The mountain rescue and intervention group of the Civil Guard has located the lifeless body of a young man in the Masca area after 29 days of constant search. 'Given the complexity of the case, the discovery has been possible thanks to the incessant and discreet search carried out by the civil guard during these 29 days, in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with curious onlookers. 'All evidence indicates that it could be the young British man who has been missing since June 17 in the absence of full identification. Hope was renewed when Jay's family shared this grainy CCTV image which they thought was the missing teen - 10 hours after he vanished Jay was on his first-ever friends holiday with Lucy Law (pictured) and Brad Hargreaves when he went missing in Tenerife Brad Hargreaves (pictured) also said he spoke to Jay on the phone before he went missing Jay's friend Brad Hargreaves - who went on holiday with him and flew back last week - paid a poignant tribute on Instagram today. He wrote: 'No words. Nothing be the same without you. Rest easy brother. Love you always' He also added a line of broken hearts with another picture of them together 'The first investigations reveal that he could have suffered an accident fall in the inaccessible area where he was found. We are awaiting the results of the autopsy.' A further statement from missing person's foundation the Lucie Blackman Trust reads: 'LBT Global is saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater. 'It is understood the body was found close to the site of his mobile phone's last location. Although formal identification is yet to be carried out, the body was found with Mr Slater's possessions and clothes.' The case has sparked a huge amount of media interest - but underpinning this has been an even greater appetite for news from the general public. This has been particularly fuelled by social media discussion - with Facebook particularly seeing huge numbers of people join in speculative discussions about the mystery. Volunteers gathering ahead of the final 'massive search' for Jay Slater, which was called off by Spanish police the following day This started with a 'Find Jay' Facebook group and has since spawned other variations. This in turn has led to each new development being analysed and debated by the groups that have formed around the case. In this sense the investigation around Jay's disappearance has echoes of the case of Nicola Bulley. The young mother went missing while walking her dog by the River Wyre in Lancashire last January -creating a mystery that captivated the UK for days before her body was finally found. She had drowned. Huge swathes of the UK are expected to be drenched in thundery downpours at the Met Office issue stark new warnings to brace for flooding and travel chaos. Wet and stormy weather is expected across South West England and South Wales with a 'danger to life' warning issued. Britons should expect possible flooding, power cuts and travel disruption in Bangor, Cardiff and even Liverpool throughout the day. A yellow weather warning for rain is in place from 8am today until 11.59pm for parts of England, including tourist hotspot Cornwall, and Wales with 'thundery downpours' forecast. Up to 40mm could fall within a three hour soaking that could cause power outages to homes, as well as trains and buses to be cancelled or delayed, the Met Office warned, as the summer washout misery continues. A yellow weather warning which includes travel disruption, flooding and power cuts has been issued as thundery downpours are expected across southern England LONDON -- People shelter under their umbrellas in Westminster as the rain pours down on July 7 BERKSHIRE -- A van splashes through floodwater in Windsor after a night of torrential downpours on July 6 A yellow weather warning for rain is in place from 8am today until 11.59pm for parts of England, including tourist hotspot Cornwall, and Wales and extending up to Liverpool Up to 40mm could fall within a three hour soaking that could cause power outages to homes and trains and buses to be cancelled or delayed 'Outbreaks of rain, some heavy and thundery, will spread steadily north across the area during Monday,' the Met Office said. 'Some torrential downpours are likely in places with 15 to 20mm falling in less than an hour and as much as 30 to 40 mm in three hours. 'This is likely to lead to localised flooding, slower travel times and a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded.' The warning covers Cheshire, Halton, Merseyside, and Warrington in north-west England, all of Wales, and Devon, Somerset, Bristol, and Cornwall in the south-west. It's better news for those in the north with the mercury set to reach a cosy 21C in Manchester and York. On Tuesday, the weather will turn 'heavy and thundery', especially in the east. Outbreaks of rain and strong winds are forecast for Wednesday with it expected to be drier on Thursday afternoon and Friday. It comes after last week's deluge of thunderstorms, which saw people sheltering under their umbrellas in Cambridge and London, briefly came to a halt with a glimpse of the glorious summer sunshine. According to traditional folklore, the weather experienced on St Swithin's Day (July 15) will continue for the next 40 days - meaning parts of the country could be in for a wet rest of the summer if the superstition holds true. The proverb of St Swithin says: 'St Swithin's Day if thou dost rain, for forty days it will remain, St Swithin's Day if thou be fair, for forty days will rain na mair.' the wet forecast follows a soggy seven months so far which has seen rain derail stay-cation summer plans for many. Tourists sheltering from the rain as they queue outside the Natural History Museum on July 9 Shoppers on Oxford Street carry umbrellas to shelter from the rain last week A taxi splashes through a large puddle as heavy rain drenched the capital on July 9 Summer plans have been derailed for many due to the constant wet weather. Pictured: Tennis-lovers sheltering under umbrellas, watching Wimbledon on the Hill Stay-cations and weekends away have been scuppered by a wet start to the year which is set to continue this week. Pictured: Tourists huddling under umbrellas while punting along the River Cam in Cambridge Grahame Madge, of the Met Office, has explained why the UK is currently experiencing a miserable summer. He said: 'In a typical summer, the jet stream moves to the north of the UK, allowing areas of high pressure to develop in the meanders, bringing more settled and often warm weather. 'However, this summer the jet stream has been largely more south-shifted, meaning we are on the cold side of the jet. 'Areas of low pressure associated with the jet stream have also brought more unsettled conditions to influence, bringing bouts of wind and rain. 'This isn't an unprecedented weather picture for summer by any means, but this pattern looks as though it will remain in the forecast for some time to come.' The Met Office has warned home owners caught in the deluge to make plans and secure their homes in the event of flooding. They have advised drivers to check conditions before setting out and choose the safest route but to be aware of possible disruption. A 10-year-old TikTok star died just days after she was put in a medically-induced coma, her parents confirmed. Bella Thompson, known to her fans as Bella Brave, was born with three debilitating genetic conditions and became an internet sensation for her inspirational videos. The 10-year-old was placed in a medically-induced coma after contracting a viral infection in her lungs, her mother Kyla said on Wednesday. Kyla broke the news that her daughter passed away Sunday afternoon in a devastating social media post. 'Our brave girl left her legacy here on earth to dance on streets of gold,' Kyla said. 'Bella passed peacefully in our arms.' TikTok star Bella Brave, 10, has died just days after she was put in a medically-induced coma after contracting an infection in her lungs @kylact Our brave girl left her legacy here on earth to dance on streets of gold July 14th 2024 at 4:19pm ET Bella passed peacefully in our arms. Please keep her name on your lips, her memories alive and her bravery in your hearts. Please share with us every detail of how she touched your life or kept you brave. Bella would want you to remember; God is love, be brave and you are never too old to bring a stuffy. #bellabrave Never Enough - Loren's Version - Loren Allred 'Please keep her name on your lips, her memories alive and her bravery in your hearts. Please share with us every detail of how she touched your life or kept you brave. 'Bella would want you to remember; God is love, be brave and you are never too old to bring a stuffy.' Kyla, a former public school teacher who became her daughter's full-time caretaker, began posting about Bella's journey in 2014. Bella was placed into a coma after she contracted a virus, and may have developed Bronchiolitis Obliterans - a condition that results in the obstruction of the smallest airways of the lungs due to inflammation. Doctors said there had been a rapid deterioration of Bella's lungs, which they believed could be an immune response. She was diagnosed with three genetic conditions shortly after she was born, including Hirschprung's disease - which causes problems passing stool - and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID). Kyla previously explained that Bella's severe medical needs became apparent when she was just three-days-old. 'We were told that Bella suffered from a bowel disease called Hirschsprung, where parts of the colon are dead,' she recounted in 2022. Bella's parents confirmed her death in a social media post saying she passed away in their arms Sunday afternoon She was diagnosed with three genetic conditions shortly after she was born, including Hirschprung's disease and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Bella became an internet sensation for her inspirational videos when her mother Kyla (left) began posting about her journey in 2014 'The condition is caused by a genetic mutation and in the first eight months of her life, Bella had three operations to remove the dead parts of her bowel.' At 11 months, Bella's parents were told she also has SCID - which meant she could die from just catching a common cold. Again the result of a genetic mutation, after spending two months in isolation in hospital, because she could not risk catching an infection, at 15 months old, she had a bone marrow transplant. Her third genetic condition, a form of dwarfism called cartilage hair hypoplasia, was also diagnosed around that time. The bone growth disorder which also causes sparse hair growth and light-colored skin means she still has the physical build of a one-year-old. To help with the Hirschprung's disease, Bella has had a number of bowel surgeries - including one just last year that her mother said she thought 'was supposed to be the last medical trauma she would ever have to endure.' Fire crews' rescue of a baby seagull from a telegraph pole in a seaside town has left neighbours divided over the use of taxpayers' money. Some passers-by in Rhyl, North Wales, applauded when they saw the stranded bird safely taken down from the 30ft pole in a plastic bucket. But others were less than impressed, with a man from nearby Prestatyn saying: 'Complete waste of taxpayers' money. Should have just shot the vermin.' The young gull was seen struggling on telegraph lines last Wednesday, yelping in distress. A passer-by dialled 999 and a fire crew responded at around 11.30am, raising a ladder to scale the pole and rescue the bird. Firefighters on Marsh Road, Rhyl, Denbighshire during the rescue of the baby seagull on July 10 The rescue of the seafulls have sparked a fierce debate in the town with some claiming it was a waste of money (Gull on Llandudno Pier, North Wales) In a town with some of the highest child and food poverty rates in Wales, some residents questioned whether the money it took to rescue the bird could have been better spent. Many of the residents also complained that the birds were a nuisance in the town and there have even been past schemes to reduce gull numbers. Responding to a picture of the rescue online, one person said: 'They're vermin, all they do is defecate everywhere.' Another person said: 'Probably do good to let a few go since there's so many of them. 'Perhaps it'd be an idea to relocate them somewhere they won't bother people.' But some people supported the fire crews' efforts and came to the young gull's defence. One person said: 'People really are horrible creatures. 'Where's your compassion? Listen to yourselves.' Another person said: 'Some of you need to give your head a wobble. 'They hardly left people burning in a building to save the seagull.' Gull attacks peak during the breeding season when adults become protective of their young (Stock image of a seagull with a stolen ice cream cone) A spokeswoman for North Wales Fire Service said: 'Our response to such incidents is under constant review, and as always the priority is the safety and wellbeing of our communities.' Councillors and businesses have tried to tackle problem gulls in Rhyl for several years but the birds are a protected species and cannot be culled. A 20,000 scheme meant to target gull eggs was abandoned after opposition from animal rights campaigners. In April this year shopper Frank Jordan, 71, was attacked in Rhyl by a dive-bombing seagull outside a Sainsbury's store in the town and the bird stole his block of cheese. Gull attacks peak during the breeding season when adults become protective of their young. Rhyl, Prestatyn or other coastal towns in North Wales don't top the UK rankings for gull attacks on people. Brighton leads the way, with Aberystwyth topping the Welsh list. Anti-Trump protesters have vowed to wreak havoc at the Republican National Convention despite the attempted assassination of the former President over the weekend. Up to 10,000 activists are expected to descend on the gathering in Milwaukee starting today, including several who have previously been caught up in FBI terror probes. Those plotting to disrupt the showpiece event have promised to 'get in people's faces' and 'really mess things up'. Organizers of the Coalition to March on the RNC have said that the shooting of presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump on Saturday would not affect their plans. 'I think Trump breeds a lot of hate and the shooting had nothing to do with us,' said Omar Flores, a coalition spokesman. 'We're going to continue with the march as we planned.' Law enforcement officers stand in the Fiserv Forum as preparations are underway for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Omar Flores, an organizer of the Coalition to March on the RNC, has said that the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on Saturday has not affected the group's plans to protest Tom Burke (left), of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Hatem Abudayyeh (right), of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, have been planning protests at the RNC this week. Both had their homes raided as part of an FBI terror probe in 2020. Neither was charged. More than 120 groups have joined the coalition and organizers have put expected attendance at anything between 5,000 to 10,000. Among those who have been involved in planning the march include Tom Burke, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Burke, whose home was raided by the FBI in a terror probe in 2010, told activists at a virtual training event last month that if they came across Republicans at the conference they should 'get in their faces', The Free Press reported. 'It's looking like Trump is going to win at this point,' he said. 'But our protests can have an impact on things - we can really mess things up for these rich people, you know?' Also planning to protest in Milwaukee is Hatem Abudayyeh, another who was caught up in the FBI probe in 2010. On Sunday, Abuddayeh said the Coalition was 'going full steam ahead' with their protests. 'Regardless of any increase in tension, we still are calling on local and federal police to do their job, which is to not infringe on our protest rights,' he said. Abuddayeh is also chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, a group that described the deadly October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas as 'self-defense operations'. The 2010 FBI investigation sought to uncover possible links to 'designated foreign terrorist organizations', including Hezbollah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. No one was charged as a result of the probe. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle (above) said security plans for the Convention had been 'reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday's shooting Police wait outside the security area near the Fiserv Forum during the 2024 Republican National Convention Law enforcement officials began final preparations on the eve of RNC where Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is expected to formally receive the GOP nomination for the 2024 U.S. Presidential election People speak at Red Arrow Park near the Fiserv Forum during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention On Sunday, Secret Service officials in Milwaukee suggested that they would not change their security plan in response to the attack in Pennsylvania. But early this morning, the director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, said plans had been 'reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday's shooting.' She did not specify what had changed. 'As the conventions progress, and in accordance with the direction of the president, the Secret Service will continuously adapt our operations as necessary in order to ensure the highest level of safety and security for convention attendees, volunteers and the city of Milwaukee,' Ms. Cheatle said. No threats against the RNC or any RNC attendees had reached the attention of the FBI, Milwaukee Field Office Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Hensle said Sunday. Milwaukee's leaders reiterated their confidence in security plans Sunday as delegates, activists and journalists started arriving in town. An estimated 30,000 people are expected. Trump arrived in Milwaukee on Sunday. The Coalition to March on the RNC agitates for a range of causes, including abortion and immigration rights, LGBT issues and the war in Gaza. It has touted today's demonstrations as 'family friendly.' Before the shooting in Pennsylvania, the activist coalition had been at odds with the city and law enforcement for months over a march route. Activists lost a lawsuit over restrictions on where they could demonstrate and had raised concerns about their message being stifled. Jesse Nevel was charged in a federal probe last year over allegations he conspired with an FSB agent to spread pro-Kremlin propaganda. He is now plotting to disrupt the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago this summer But on Friday they announced a 'handshake agreement' over their route that includes allowing a city representative to accompany their protest to 'make sure things go without a hitch.' City officials and federal authorities have repeatedly said their priority is safety and insist they've made free speech accommodations. The city has allowed protests at two parks near the convention. One, Haymarket Square Park, is visible from the convention site. There is to be a city-provided stage in the vicinity and speakers will get 20 minutes apiece. A city sign-up lists more than 100 people with a wide range of agendas, including anti-abortion rights activists, veterans groups and political candidates. The other park, Zeidler Union Square, is just under a mile away. Many activists are using the experience in Milwaukee to prepare for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month. That event is expected to draw even more people, and Chicago police have been undergoing training on constitutional policing and preparing for the possibility of mass arrests. DailyMail.com has previously revealed that extremists plotting to unleash chaos in Chicago include a Missouri man charged with spying for Russia. READ MORE: Politician lifts the lid on the dark side of State of Origin as she reveals shocking findings about the big game and domestic violence He allegedly led police on an hour-long chase A man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing his partner to death and leading police on an hour-long pursuit. Mother-of-two Kierra-Lea Jensen, 28, was found with multiple stab wounds at a home on Flinders Drive in the Ipswich suburb of Leichhardt - south-west of Brisbane - on Monday morning after concerned relatives asked police to conduct a welfare check. The grim discovery of her body sparked an urgent search for her partner Kitchel Shillingsworth, 36, who was allegedly seen leaving the home earlier that morning. After being spotted, Shillingsworth allegedly led police on an hour-long chase - including the use of a Polair helicopter - that ended when police used tyre spikes to stop his vehicle at Ipswich Boonah Road at Peak Crossing. Shillingsworth has since been charged with murder (domestic violence) and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and will appear at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Two crime scenes were established in relation to Ms Jensen's death - one at the Leichhardt home and another where Shillingsworth's car was stopped. Queensland Police also searched Wyaralong Dam for a knife suspected to be used in the alleged attack. Emergency responders found Ms Jensen suffered several critical stab wounds in a what detective Acting Superintendent Garry Watts described as 'very traumatic' scenes. The body of Kierra-Lea Jensen (pictured) was found at a home on Flinders Drive in Leichhardt south-west of Brisbane on Monday morning Ms Jensen's partner Kitchel Shillingsworth (pictured) will face court on Tuesday charged with murder and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle 'I can assure members of the community that the Queensland Police Service takes [alleged] incidents of domestic and family violence very seriously,' Supt Watts said. 'And we investigate those incidents as best we can and take action where appropriate.' 'Our hearts go out to all involved in this tragedy, especially the family of the victim.' Shillington's vehicle was towed away from the scene of his arrest for forensic examination. Supt Watts also revealed that police attended the Leichhardt home last week but 'no offences were detected' or action was taken at the time. Ms Jensen was the 49th Australian woman allegedly killed in a domestic violence incident in 2024. Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). A young woman playing as a 'devout and pious Muslim' has been convicted for failing to report her boyfriend, a drill rapper, to the police when she knew he was planning a mass casualty terror plot. Tasnia Ahmed, 21, knew her boyfriend Al-Arfat Hassan was intending to carry out an attack involving weapons or a bomb. Woolwich Crown Court heard that Ahmed was flattered when rapper Hassan, 21, took notice of her. He was known as 'Official TS' to his 2.5million followers on social media. As well as pursuing a rapping career, Hassan bought chemicals online to construct an improvised explosive device and had videos showing how to kill a prisoner with knives. Hassan and his friend Sameer Anjum, 17, used 'cupcakes' and cupcake emojis as code for bombs and 'calories' as code for how explosive they were. Tasnia Ahmed (pictured) knew her boyfriend was intending to carry out an attack involving weapons or a bomb Al-Arfat Hassan (left) was planning a mass casualty terror plot. He and his friend Sameer Anjum (right) used cupcake emojis as code for bombs The friends had been exchanging extremist messages, graphics and voice notes almost daily over a number of months, Woolwich Crown Court heard. Jurors were shown detailed messages in which Anjum's mum Nabeela, 48, pleaded with her son to stop communicating with Hassan and told him 'please get rid of everything from your phone.' Nabeela Anjum, of Roundhay, Leeds, will be sentenced later for two offences of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism. Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'Nabeela Anjum sought to protect her son, but in trying to do so, she found herself armed with knowledge about terror activities she knew needed to be reported.' Ahmed was earlier convicted of two counts of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism. Judge Christopher Kinch KC is due to sentence her later today. Mr Price continued: 'These two women jeopardised the safety of the public by blindly choosing not to report acts of terror openly being discussed and planned by those known to them. 'Tasnia Ahmed in particular knew of Hassan's extremist beliefs. He had repeatedly told her of his intention to carry out a knife or bomb attack- she indulged this and spoke about it as if it was normal behaviour. 'The fact that these women have been brought to justice should act as a deterrent to anyone with knowledge of terrorist activities. 'The CPS will not hesitate to work with the police to bring prosecutions against those who break the law in this way.' Known as Official TS, Al-Arfat Hassan (pictured) was a popular drill rapper with 2.5million followers on social media Hassan (pictured) aka Official TS wrote lyrics which showed 'growing immersion in Islamic ideology and extreme violence perpetrated by terrorist groups' Ahmed, from Tower Hamlets, had been in a relationship with Hassan since October 2021. They exchanged more than 85,000 text messages over three months - some of which revealed Hassan's desire to carry out a terrorist attack. He told her in a message: 'I have to get it done, I know the perfect spot where millions, millions of people are'. Ahmed told him he would be dying 'for a good cause' adding: 'I'll support you if that's what you really want.' She also offered to buy him a better knife. In messages to her cousins she referred to Hassan as 'bomb man' and a 'terrorist.' Speaking of Ahmed, Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC said: 'She created and adopted a persona in which she played a devout and pious Muslim woman in order to attract and keep attention and to enter into a relationship with him.' Mr Sandiford referred to Ahmed telling Hassan over a prison phone-call on 10 February 2022 that he 'made her life not boring'. The lawyer continued: 'Her motive in adopting a persona appears to be her desire, at least at some points, to have engaged in a relationship with someone who appeared to be dangerous.' Kirsty Brimelow KC, defending Ahmed, said she was a 'victim' of Hassan, who she described as a 'predator'. Ms Brimelow continued: 'She was vulnerable, she was isolated, she was flattered by his attention. She argued Ahmed exhibited 'no terrorism or extremist mindset' and that conversations between the two largely consisted of 'very banal and childish communications'. Al-Arfat Hassan (pictured) was sentenced to five years in a Young Offenders Institution with an extended license period of two years Sameer Anjum (pictured) became friends with Hassan online Hassan's lyrics showed 'growing immersion in Islamic ideology and extreme violence perpetrated by terrorist groups'. According to the prosecution his 'music and his social media posts led to him becoming engaged in text conversations with young fans. 'He appeared to become increasingly obsessed with the idea of dying as a martyr by killing himself and others by carrying out a suicide bombing.' His friend Anjum had assisted him with the creation of one of his music videos, the court heard. They became friends online and both became radicalised. On 16 February 2022 Hassan contacted the 17-year-old suggesting he was about to undertake a suicide bombing. Anjum attempted to persuade him not to go ahead and asked his mother to buy him a train ticket to London but did not tell the police. Hassan later recorded a video of himself dressed all in black with a knife in a seat where he said 'need to go out looking good though, final moment, life took a very great turn.' He was arrested on 27 February 2022 at Heathrow Airport as he was about to board a flight to Bangladesh. Hassan, of Enfield, north London, earlier admitted possession of acetone and hydrogen peroxide for the purposes of terrorism between 12 January and 4 March 2022. He denied but was convicted of possession of a video called 'You Must Fight Them' likely to be useful for preparing or committing an act of terrorism. The video included instructions for planning a terror attack, how to kill people with knives and how to make explosives including using acetone and hydrogen peroxide to make acetone peroxide or TATP using lightbulbs as a detonator. Hassan was earlier sentenced to five years in a Young Offenders Institution with an extended license period of two years. Hassan contacted Anjum (pictured) suggesting he was about to undertake a suicide bombing Sameer Anjum (pictured) admitted failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism by failing to tell police information about Hassan After reading about Hassan's arrest on the news Anjum deleted messages between them and 140 extremist videos. He was arrested at his home on 12 March 2022. Anjum, of Leeds, admitted failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism by failing to tell police information about Hassan. He was sentenced to two and a half years in a Young Offenders Institution with an extended license period of one year. The hearing continues. Ronald Reagan's daughter has revealed how her family changed following the assassination attempt of the 40th president of the United States- just days after former President Donald Trump was nearly killed. Patti Davis, 71, detailed the traumatic day John W. Hinckley Jr. shot her father, then 70, as he was leaving the Washington Hilton hotel on March 30, 1981. In an op-ed for The New York Times, Davis said she was in therapy when 'the longest day of her life' took place after hearing that her dad was shot with a .22-caliber revolver. Although Reagan survived the attempt on his life, Davis said that the event has forever changed her family. 'Having a loved one shot changes you, regardless of whether that loved one is famous. It unravels you in the first horrible, chaotic moments, and it rearranges you in the days and years afterward,' she wrote. Patti Davis, 71, explained how the day her father was nearly killed on March 30, 1981, has changed her family forever. (Pictured: Ronald Reagan being protected by Secret Service agents during the shooting) 'Having a loved one shot changes you, regardless of whether that loved one is famous. It unravels you in the first horrible, chaotic moments, and it rearranges you in the days and years afterward,' she wrote Reagan was saved by his lead Secret Service agent, Tim McCarthy, who took a bullet for him, and medical staff at George Washington University Hospital. She added that her late father- who died on June 5, 2004, after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer's- thought that he was saved for a reason. 'My father believed that God spared him for a very specific reason, to end the Cold War with the Soviet Union, to try to reach some kind of agreement on nuclear weapons,' Davis wrote. Davis wrote directly to Trump's family, explaining that she understands the shock they must be feeling in the days after the horrific incident. 'I dont know where Donald Trumps family members were when bullets were fired at his Pennsylvania rally, injuring him, killing one attendee and seriously injuring two others,' she said. 'I think I do know the shock that theyre feeling.' At a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday evening 20-year-old registered Republican and Biden donor, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire on the presidential candidate. Blood is seen coming from Donald Trump's ear, where he was shot on Saturday at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania Registered Republican and Biden donor, Thomas Matthew Crooks , opened fire on the presidential candidate. He was later killed by Secret Service agents A bullet struck Trump in the ear as Secret Service agents circled around to shield him. Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old retired fire chief for Buffalo Township, was killed. Two other men were left in critical condition. Secret Service agents could be heard shouting 'the shooter is down' in the ensuing chaos and the gunman was later confirmed dead. Davis explained that even though there is a lot of security detail and planning around a president or candidate, they are still human. 'They are flesh and blood, they are human beings just like the rest of us, and their lives can change in a split second. It takes only one bullet to bring that fact home. 'Thats the other part of being reminded of your fragility as a human being: You are reminded that time is precious and its imperative to use its gift in the most meaningful way you can. 'But how any individual interprets that realization is impossible to predict,' she added. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, McCarthy spoke about the recent assassination attempt on Trump in comparison to Reagan's in 1981. He explained that the shooting on Saturday was a 'failure' that has to be corrected 'so it doesn't happen again.' McCarthy admitted that he also considers the day Reagan was shot to be a failure. 'Because if a protectee of the Secret Service is injured, it's not a victory, it's a failure.' He added: 'There is no security anywhere in this world that is fool-proof.' Davis explained that Trump's near-assassination occurred during a time where the country is 'far more angry and far more violent' than it was when her dad was attacked. Reagan was saved by his lead Secret Service agent, Tim McCarthy, who took a bullet for him, and medical staff at George Washington University Hospital. (Pictured: McCarthy and Press Secretary James Brady on the ground after being shot) 'I dont know if this event will soften any of that. I dont know if the Trump family will have the same experience I did that of a nation setting politics aside and simply responding in a human and humane way. 'I also dont know how, or if, this experience will change Mr. Trump,' she said. She specifically remembers the 'America that wrapped itself' around her family after Reagan was shot, and she hopes that same response can be found again in the US. On Sunday Trump's wife Melania broke her silence on the shooting of her husband. The former first lady called the gunman a 'monster' and described the moment she watched the bullet strike her husband's ear at the rally in front of thousands of his adoring fans. The former first lady called the gunman a 'monster' and described the moment she watched the bullet strike her husband's ear at the rally in front of thousands of his adoring fans. (pictured: Trump, Melania and their son Barron in 2017) 'A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald's passion - his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration,' Melania said in an emotional statement on X. 'When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron's life, were on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their own lives to protect my husband.' The former first lady called for people to 'reunite' and said she is thinking of her fellow Americans. 'This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence,' her statement continued. 'The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you. I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide - thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or a woman with a loving family.' A UK woman has been arrested for allegedly trying to rape a younger British woman in a bar toilet on the Greek island of Rhodes. The alleged attacker, 35, is said to have followed a younger woman, 20, into the toilets of a bar in the town of Ialysos at around 1.30am on July 14, according to several local media outlets. The 20-year-old woman, who reported the incident to local police that night, claimed that the older woman approached her, before subduing her and trying to force herself onto her. Cops called the alleged perpetrator, who voluntarily came to the town's police station with her own partner, whose role in the incident is not currently known. While the defendant denied the charges and presented her own version events, the alleged victim handed the police her underwear, which is expected to be sent to a laboratory for examination. The alleged attacker, 35, is said to have followed a younger woman, 20, into the toilets of a bar in the town of Ialysos (File image) Prosecutors have also taken a DNA sample from the alleged attacker, which will be send to the Forensic Investigations Division of the Hellenic Police, Greece's central law enforcement body. The results of the tests are expected in the coming days, which will determine any upcoming legal actions. Last year, a 21-year-old British tourist accused a Greek man more than twice her age of raping her in her hotel room. The 21-year-old said she was attacked at around 2am in Pefkos and made a complaint to the local police hours later, prompting a case to be opened. According to Greece's ANT1News, the young woman's lawsuit claimed the older man took her from a 'health care store' in Lindos, found on the south of the island, to a hotel in Pefkos - the main city on the island that sits around 15 miles from Turkey. There, the outlet reports, the woman claims the man forced her to have sex with him through threats of physical violence. Upon making her complaint, the police asked a medical examiner to carry out an assessment, ANT1News said. The British Rolls-Royce designer stabbed to death in Germany may have been killed by a car thief targeting his 3million mansion, police suspect as questions continue to mount around the mystery killing late last week. Ian Cameron, 74, was discovered at his home in Lake Ammersee in Upper Bavaria on Friday evening, with local media reporting he had been stabbed. Investigators now believe the elusive assailant rang the doorbell to Mr Cameron's home and attacked him when he opened the door, forcing his wife, Veronika Kloos, to flee to safety over a wall. Suspicions were raised that the designer was deliberately targeted when it emerged the cables to CCTV cameras over the garages where his high-value vehicles were kept had been cut. Police have made swift progress in their manhunt, drawing on witness testimonies and footage from a supermarket that they believe shows the killer shortly before the murder. 'We are following all possible leads and are confident that the suspect will be apprehended soon,' said a police spokesperson. Ian Cameron, a former top designer for Rolls-Royce, was killed at his home last week Police understand that the killer rang the doorbell at Mr Cameron house in Herrsching am Ammersee before attacking him Some 30 officers have been deployed to assist in the ongoing hunt for the attacker, whose motives remain unknown. Neighbours provided a description of the perpetrator, which police will compile with other emerging evidence. They recalled that the suspect was between 1.80 and 1.90 meters tall (5ft 9in - 6ft 2in), wearing light-colored trousers and a dark blue hooded sweatshirt. Before the crime, the killer is said to have been shopping in the Edeka supermarket on Seestrae. Surveillance cameras caught the suspect at the store, just 0.8 miles from the designer's house, shortly before the attack took place. CCTV footage emerged of the killer in the supermarket shortly before the killing carrying a red rucksack and green-yellow gloves. After police sent drones and even a police helicopter to search for the murderer, they found the rucksack, which is now being analysed for usable DNA traces, a crucial step that could provide a breakthrough in the case. Super-recognisers, specialists with the ability to recognise faces even in poor-quality images or when perpetrators wear masks, are also being brought in to help identify the suspect. The investigation team has now extended the manhunt to the whole of Germany. Officials hope that new evidence from the rucksack and CCTV footage will soon lead to the arrest of the perpetrator. Despite the developing leads, the search had initially faced setbacks. Due to heavy rain on Friday evening, the police helicopter could not take off immediately, leading the search to be conducted with drones instead. The day after the crime, divers and dog handlers scoured the area, so far without success. Police understand that the killer rang the doorbell of the house in Herrsching am Ammersee before attacking him on Friday evening. When Cameron opened the door, the stranger attacked him. Cameron's wife fled over a wall to evade the attacker, finding refuge with neighbours who called the emergency services. A short time later, the designer was found dead. Verena Kloos managed to get to their neighbour's house and phone the police Mr Cameron and his wife, Veronika Kloos, lived in a 3m home in Herrsching, Bavaria (File) Investigators discovered that the CCTV cameras above the garages to the house had been disabled, with the wires having been cut. An officer told The Sun it is 'extremely rare' that a burglar who prepares enough to disable CCTV then 'stabs and kills' a person. Police labelled it a 'violent crime' and said the attacker fled on foot from the house. Ian Cameron was a revered figure in the automotive industry, having left a lasting legacy at Rolls-Royce with his groundbreaking designs. Before retiring from the company in 2013, he was championed for his work on luxury cars, including the 3 Series, Z8, Phantom and Ghost. His untimely death has shocked the small, quiet community on the shores of Lake Ammersee. An alleged double killer has been remanded in custody after he appeared in court on Monday accused of killing two men he lived with and dumping their remains in suitcases on Clifton Suspension Bridge. Yostin Andres Mosquera, 34, has been charged with the murders of 62-year-old French national Albert Alfonso and his British ex-partner, 71-year-old Paul Longworth. Detectives made the grisly discovery on Wednesday after two suitcases were left on the iconic bridge in Bristol before further remains were found at the victims' flat in Scotts Road, west London, on Friday. Their lodger Mosquera, a Columbian national, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court wearing a grey tracksuit with tidy black hair and a beard. The defendant, assisted by a Spanish interpreter, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth in a short hearing. Cristiana Ruez, chairing a bench of three magistrates, remanded Mosquera in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday. A court sketch of murder-accused Yostin Andres Mosquera as he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon Yostin Andres Mosquera (left) has been charged with two counts of murder after human remains were found in Bristol and London. Police have named the two victims as 62-year-old Albert Alfonso (centre) and 71-year-old Paul Longworth (right) Mosquera (pictured with Albert Alfonso and Paul Longworth) was arrested in Bristol in the early hours of Saturday, July 13 She told him: 'You are remanded in custody as this court has no powers to consider bail. 'Your next hearing will be on Wednesday July 17 at 10am at the Central Criminal Court.' Police officers were alerted to a man acting suspiciously on the bridge last Wednesday and attended to find the two suitcases. Mosquera was arrested in Bristol in the early hours of Saturday, July 13. He was charged on Monday morning and brought to court from Wandsworth Police Station. The two victims were previously in a relationship but still lived together, for a short period. Prosecutor Jack Williams said: 'There's not very much that can be done in the magistrates' court with a murder case. All that needs to be done really is to list the bail application in the Central Criminal Court.' Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Met Andy Valentine said: 'My thoughts are first and foremost with Albert and Paul's loved ones who are coming to terms with this terrible news. 'While we do not believe either of them had any close family, we have identified other next of kin who have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. We are continuing to try and identify any extended family members. 'I know that this awful incident will cause concern not just among residents in Shepherds Bush but in the wider LGBTQ+ community across London. 'I hope it will be of some reassurance that whilst enquiries are still ongoing and the investigation is at a relatively early stage, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the two murders. 'Officers have worked with the pan-London LGBTQ+ Independent Advisory Group (IAG) since the identity of the two victims and their sexuality was established. Their advice, expertise and support for the investigation has been extremely valuable. 'We will continue to work with them, and with other partners including local IAGs, as the investigation and the policing response continues.' Mosquera (pictured) appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court charged with two counts of murder A manhunt was launched after suitcases containing human remains were found on Clifton Suspension Bridge (pictured) Police also discovered remains at a flat in Shepherd's Bush, west London Neighbours of the former couple whose body parts were found in the suitcases have been left 'devastated' by their shock deaths. A woman who lives opposite their flat told MailOnline: 'Albert and Paul were lovely guys. It's devastating. They were both really friendly and polite and smiled a lot. Timeline of grim discovery Wednesday July 10: At 11.57pm, Avon and Somerset Police receive reports of a man acting suspiciously - including allegedly dumping a suitcase on Clifton Suspension Bridge. Police officers arrive within 10 minutes and find a second suitcase nearby. The suspect had already fled. Thursday July 11: Police release a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident. Detectives confirm human remains were found in suitcases. Friday July 12: Police confirm remains belong to two adult men - as Met take over manhunt. Officers search a property in Shepherd's Bush, west London, before a 36-year-old man is arrested and released without charge. Police say more human remains are found at the flat in Shepherd's Bush. Saturday July 13: Met Police arrest a 34-year-old man in at Bristol Temple Meads Station. Monday July 15: Yostin Andres Mosquera is charged with two counts of murder and victims are named as Albert Alfonso and Paul Longworth. Advertisement 'I last saw Paul a month or so ago in the pub and he told me that he was retiring. He told me 'I've only got two days left that I have to go to work'. 'He was really happy about it. He said he was also due to go to Pride in Brighton. 'Paul and Albert had lived together for years. They were really quiet. There was never any issues with them. The police had never been called to their flat or anything like that. I haven't heard anything out of the ordinary these last few days. It's so sad.' Mr Longworth was a regular at the Shepherd and Flock pub close to his flat. A member of staff told MailOnline: 'He used to sit at the end of the bar. He told me recently that he had just retired and was looking forward to travelling more.' Mr Longworth was British and Mr Alfonso was originally from France but had obtained British citizenship. Avon and Somerset Police officers were first alerted to a man acting suspiciously on Clifton Suspension Bridge on Wednesday night. They swooped on the scene within 10 minutes, where they found two suitcases containing human remains. The suspect, who had travelled there by taxi, had already fled the scene. A 36-year-old man was arrested in Greenwich, south-east London, on Friday but was released without charge. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said: 'My thoughts are first and foremost with Albert and Paul's loved ones who are coming to terms with this terrible news. 'While we do not believe either of them had any close family, we have identified other next of kin who have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. A forensics tent set up on Clifton Suspension Bridge where suitcases full of human remains were found A picture of the moment staff on Clifton Suspension Bridge uncovered the grisly contents of the cases Forensic investigators in white suits seen working behind a police cordon on Clifton Suspension bridge Forensic officers remove evidence from a property in west London last week Police on the scene at Scotts Road in Shepherd's Bush, west London, last week 'We are continuing to try and identify any extended family members. 'I know that this awful incident will cause concern not just among residents in Shepherds Bush but in the wider LGBTQ+ community across London. 'I hope it will be of some reassurance that whilst enquiries are still ongoing and the investigation is at a relatively early stage, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the two murders. 'Officers have worked with the pan-London LGBTQ+ Independent Advisory Group (IAG) since the identity of the two victims and their sexuality was established. Their advice, expertise and support for the investigation has been extremely valuable. 'We will continue to work with them, and with other partners including local IAGs, as the investigation and the policing response continues.' A body found in the hunt for missing British teenager Jay Slater has now been airlifted by helicopter from an 'inaccessible area' close to where his mobile phone is believed to have lost reception 29 days ago. The 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, vanished on the morning of June 17 on the island of Tenerife, prompting a huge search to try and find him. Spanish police called off the official search after 13 days, but today announced they had discovered a body. While a formal identification has not yet taken place, officers say that 'everything is pointing to it being' Jay. Police said in a statement that he may have died after 'suffering an accident or fall in the inaccessible area where he was found', but that an autopsy would provide further details. A helicopter - believed to belong to a regional government emergency and rescue group - was used to recover the body using a winch because the ground was so steep, with officials coordinating with Civil Guard mountain rescue experts. It is thought specialists on the ground winched the body up to the waiting helicopter overhead after securing it. They also found possessions and clothes belonging to the teenager. Missing persons charity LBT Global revealed said the remains were found close to to the last known location where Jay's mobile pinged near the remote village of Masca in the north west of Tenerife amid an arid landscape of rocky ravines lined with cacti. Jay's friend Brad Hargreaves - who went on holiday with him and flew back last week - paid a poignant tribute on Instagram today. Uploading a picture of the two of them with a string of red broken hearts and a crying emoji, he wrote: 'No words. Nothing will be the same without you. Rest easy brother. Love you always.' Slater's body (not pictured) was airlifted by helicopter from an 'inaccessible area' close to where his mobile phone last pinged 29 days ago. Pictured: A search crew member being airlifted into the ravine Police say Slater's body was found following a 'tireless and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard over these 29 days' Police today released footage showing the final moments of the agonising 29-day search for missing Jay Slater in mountains near the Tenerife village of Masca The video showed police mountain rescue experts moving through difficult terrain on foot, scaling mountains and picking their way through thick undergrowth Jay Slater with his mother Debbie Duncan, who has been searching for him ever since he went missing on June 17 Jay was last heard from on June 17, when he called a friend to say he was lost in a mountainous area and had 1 per cent battery on his phone Officers search for Jay in Masca, the rugged and inaccessible area where he went missing Jay's friend Brad Hargreaves - who went on holiday with him and flew back last week - paid a poignant tribute on Instagram today. He wrote: 'No words. Nothing be the same without you. Rest easy brother. Love you always' The post included a string of red broken hearts Search teams are seen scouring the rocky terrain in the effort to find Jay Slater The police video released today showed mountain rescue experts moving through difficult terrain on foot, scaling mountains and picking their way through thick undergrowth Pictured is a search crew member being airlifted into the ravine Jay was partying with friends on the last night of the three-day NRG music festival in the Playa de Las Americas resort before going back to a 40-a-night Airbnb in Masca - around an hour's drive away - with two older British men he met out there. After leaving the Airbnb at around 8am, Jay started trying to walk back to his accommodation in the southern part of the island, which would have taken around 11 hours on foot. The teenager then called a friend to say he was lost, severely dehydrated and only had one per cent battery on his phone. His disappearance, which has sparked wild conspiracy theories online from cruel trolls, led to a huge search and rescue mission, with Spanish police scouring the mountainous landscape around the Rural de Teno national park in Masca. The tragic development comes after: Jay Slater timeline Sunday June 16: Jay and his friends, including Lucy Mae Law, party at the final day of the NRG music festival at Papagayo night club in the resort of Playa de las Americas, Tenerife. Monday June 17: Between 3am and 6am BST, Jay goes back to an Airbnb with two men after they leave Playa de las Americas in a car. 7.30am: Jay shares a photo on his Snapchat account, which shows him standing at the doorway of a house with the location Parque Rural de Teno. Between 8.30am and 9am: Jay calls Lucy and says he is 'lost in the mountains with one per cent battery and no water' and has missed a bus back south and was attempting to walk. It would take 11 hours. The call cuts out and the phone's last location is a path in the rugged Rural de Teno national park, which is popular with hikers. Grainy CCTV, released on June 24, shows a possible sighting of Jay at Santiago at around 6pm - nearly ten hours after his mobile phone last pinged in the Rural de Teno Park at around 8.50am. The CCTV is taken close to a church, San Fernando Rey, where Jay's mother told MailOnline a man has come forward to say he saw someone matching her son's description sitting on a bench with two men. Tuesday June 18: Friends search the area but there is no sign of Jay and he does not return to his accommodation. Local police and mountain rescue teams start hunting for Jay - and his mother Debbie flies to Tenerife. Wednesday June 19 - Spanish police use drones, dogs and a helicopter but Jay is not found. They change their search to Los Cristianos because of a possible sighting, but it is ruled out and they return to Rural de Teno. Thursday June 20: Guardia Civil, mountain rescue, firefighters and volunteers continue to search the national park. Friday June 21: Lancashire Police offer support but it is declined by the Spanish police. Saturday June 22: Search teams continue scouring the national park and Debbie says: 'We just need you home.' Sunday June 23: Police examine outbuildings at the bottom of a ravine where his phone last pinged. Monday June 24: MailOnline learns Spanish police are investigating whether Jay's past is relevant. Jay's family focus on the area of Santiago de Teide - where the grainy CCTV they think is Jay was taken. Tuesday June 25: Jay's mother issues a heartbreaking plea for her son to come home as more friends fly out to Tenerife. TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas is seen outside Airbnb Jay went to. Wednesday June 26: Mr Williams-Thomas tells the two men that Jay went back with to 'come forward with crucial information' Thursday June 27: Jay's mother says she is in talks to withdraw some of 36,000 from GoFundMe to help with rescue efforts and living expenses. Friday June 28: Police in Tenerife call for an army of volunteers to help them scour the rugged terrain. Saturday June 29: Only six volunteers show up to help with the search. Investigators also say the two men Jay went back with have 'no relevance' to the case. Sunday June 30: Spanish police officially end the search for Jay Slater. They say the investigation 'remains open', however. Monday July 15: A body is found in the hunt for Jay Slater. His possessions and clothing are discovered next to human remains. Spanish cops say it points to an 'accidental fall' Advertisement Today, a spokesman for the Civil Guard said: 'After 29 constant days of searching the body of the young man has been found in the Masca area. 'The discovery has been possible thanks to the tireless and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard over these 29 days. 'Everything is pointing to the body being that of the young British man who disappeared on June 17, pending full identification. 'Initial inquiries are pointing to him having suffered an accident/fall in the area where he was found.' In a fuller statement the force added: 'Officers of the Civil Guard belonging to the Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (GREIM) have located this morning the dead body of a young man in the area of Masca, belonging to the municipality of Buenavista del Norte. 'All indications suggest that it could be the young British man who had been missing for 29 days, who may have died due to an accidental fall in the rough and inaccessible area where he was found. 'Thanks to the unceasing and constant search carried out by the different units of the Civil Guard, in which it has not stopped to look for the young man every day in the area of Masca, where he allegedly had disappeared the GREIM officers have found the dead body of the young person in a very inaccessible area. 'The results of the autopsy are awaiting confirmation that it is an accident.' GREIM officers led the search after Jay disappeared on June 17 after he left an Airbnb in Masca. Visible searches involving helicopter and sniffer dogs continued for nearly two weeks before police announced it was being halted. Police said on June 30 after calling in volunteers for a 'last push search' a day earlier: 'The search operation has now finished although the case remains open.' A well-placed source added at the time: 'The daily operation which has been going on in and around Masca close to where Jay was last seen has been brought to an end. 'If any information comes in that merits a new search though it will be acted upon. 'My understanding is Jay's parents have been informed of what obviously is a major development. 'Nothing of any relevance was found during yesterday's large-scale search.' In a statement, missing persons charity LBT Global said: 'LBT Global is saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater. It is understood the body was found close to the site of his mobile phone's last location. 'Although formal identification is yet to be carried out, the body was found with Mr Slater's possessions and clothes. 'A post-mortem examination and forensic enquiries will follow. 'LBT Global are supporting the family at this distressing time and ask for everyone to afford them space and privacy to come to terms with the news.' Jay was last seen by a local resident in Masca in north-west Tenerife just after 8am on June 17 walking northwards along the road out of the village after stopping to ask her for directions as he tried to get back to his accommodation in southern Tenerife. His phone last pinged near to a look-out point where search teams gathered on June 29 to begin the last day of the operation. The investigation has been subjected to wild speculation online, through platforms such as TikTok - while a number of internet sleuths also flew to Tenerife to help the search. Jay's mother Debbie Duncan had yesterday criticised the 'awful comments and conspiracy theories' posted on social media, which she branded 'vile' and said were 'hindering' the investigation. Ms Duncan yesterday posted an update on the GoFundMe page set up for her son's search, which has raised more than 53,000. She revealed how the family had called in rescue experts from the Netherlands to help find the teenager after Spanish police ceased their land search. Apprentice bricklayer Jay, 19, vanished after being driven to a remote 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 Jay Slater's final Snapchat at the remote Airbnb before he went missing. It is not the same Snapchat as the one where he 'admitted to stealing an expensive watch'. A 13-day search by police using drones, dogs and a helicopter failed to find any trace of Jay Jay's mother Debbie Duncan and father Warren Slater leaving the Guardia Civil in Playa de las Americas on July 2 Jay's family released this photo of the missing teenager last month Jay was on his first-ever friends holiday with Lucy Law (pictured) and Brad Hargreaves when he went missing in Tenerife Brad Hargreaves (pictured) also said he spoke to Jay on the phone before he went missing In a statement posted on the GoFundMe page, Ms Duncan thanked the 4,300 people who had donated for their 'kindness' and said the family were 'only able to fund this with the generosity of all those who donated'. She said: 'As you all know the Guardia Civil gave up the land search after 12 days. We have been actively working with search and rescue teams and we can now confirm that we have a team of experts flying in over the weekend from the Netherlands, who will carry on the search with their specialist dogs. 'We are only able to fund this with the generosity of all those who donated. The team are the Signi Zoekhondon and this has taken lots of planning to get them over so thank you so much for your kindness.' Turning to comments from trolls, Ms Duncan said: 'He is a loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend to so many. 'We have been inundated with requests for interviews, documentaries and even as far as a movie. In reality, we are just a normal family from Lancashire desperate to find our beautiful boy.' Lancashire Police said in a statement: 'We have today (Monday 15 July) been notified by the Guardia Civil [Civil Guard] that they have found the body of a man and that the indications are that this is Jay Slater," the statement says. 'While at this stage no formal identification has been carried out our thoughts are very much with Jays family at this time, and we continue to offer them our support.' With time ticking down to the announcement of Donald Trump's running mate, DailyMail.com can reveal that no one has yet been offered the gig. The party convention in Milwaukee is expected to reveal the former president's choice of vice president on Monday. But a source familiar with the process said late on Monday morning: 'No one has had it offered to them yet.' Insiders say he has whittled it down to a choice from three: Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, or Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakotoa. Fox News anchor Bret Baier said the president had told him he would be announcing his decision today. Trump arrived in Milwaukee on Sunday evening for the Republican National Convention. But Trump is well known for making last-minute decisions and keeping his audience guessing. At the same time, he must decide whether to reexamine the process after Saturday's shocking events, when an assassin's bullet came within an inch of killing him. Would it make Vance's hardline MAGA rhetoric less palatable amid Trump's own calls for unity? Does it make Rubio's decades in politics and Senate knowhow more useful? Would Burgum's experience running a state make him better suited to stepping in to take over the top job if an assassin succeeds? Or could Trump throw a curveball, selecting a candidate from his long list, such as Rep. Byron Donalds or Sen. Tim Scott. Or could he be mulling an entirely new name? Either way, he is bucking recent history. Most presidential candidates have announced their pick before the start of the convention. Trump has reportedly warmed on Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota in recent weeks But he has also noticed Sen. J.D. Vance's recent weight loss and remarked on how well his suits fit now. 'He's one handsome son of a b*tch,' he told insiders Former Donald Trump survive an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on Saturday Whoever it is, they are due to address the convention on Wednesday. And Trump will close the four-yearly jamboree a day later after being crowned the nominee for the November election. He has repeatedly shrugged off the idea that he would pick someone who might help him win the election by nailing a region or a demographic group. Instead he said he would pick someone who could take over if necessary. 'You need somebody that can be good just in case, that horrible just in case,' he said in May. In a sign of how Saturday's shooting changed the narrative, Trump has rewritten his convention speech to account for the new political environment. 'The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger,' he told the Washington Examiner. 'Had this not happened, this would've been one of the most incredible speeches aimed mostly at the policies of President Joe Biden. 'Honestly, it's going to be a whole different speech now,' he added. Trump and convention organizers insist the convention will go ahead as planned. 'In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social website. A suave Boston lawyer who was once named one of People magazine's 50 most eligible bachelors was sentenced on Monday to serve up to a decade behind bars after he was convicted of raping a woman in 2020. Gary Zerola, 52, who has been accused of rape by as many as a dozen women over a 25-year period, will serve five to ten years in state prison. Last month, the disgraced attorney was convicted of raping a woman after a night of partying in November 2020. Zerola, who had previously faced other rape charges, was acquitted of the greater charge of aggravated rape and burglary. Gary Zerola, 52, who was once named one of People Magazine's most eligible bachelors was sentenced on Monday to serve up to a decade behind bars after he was convicted of raping a woman in 2020 Last month, the disgraced attorney was convicted of raping a woman after a night of carousing in November 2020 In 2001, the urbane attorney was named one of People Magazine's top 50 eligible bachelors because of his dashing good looks and his work in foster care. But since as early as 1996, Zerola has faced persistent accusations of rape in nearly identical assaults. In November 2020, prosecutors said that the lawyer took his girlfriend and her 21-year-old friend out for a night of drinking. He paid for the drinks, and by the end of the night, the friend had become intoxicated, prosecutors stated. 'Zerola paid the entire $2,000 bar tab and tipped staff generously while saying he planned to have a "threesome" with the two women, although they expressed no such interest,' the prosecutors wrote, according to the Boston Globe. In 2001, the urbane attorney was named one of People Magazine's top 50 eligible bachelors because of his dashing good looks and his work in foster care The friend had to be helped back to her apartment in Beacon Hill, where Zerola allegedly attempted to help 'undress the victim and tuck her into bed.' Zerola's girlfriend, however, allegedly stopped him from doing so. At this point, the prosecutors said, he sent his girlfriend home in an Uber and then returned to the victim's house alone. Without the victim's permission, Zerola entered her home and began having intercourse with her while she was asleep, according to prosecutors. Around 2 am, the victim awoke to him raping her. At the time of the assault, the victim was only 21, and Zerola was 49- more than double her age. In 2016, Zerola was accused of raping a 23-year-old woman on a couch. The woman testified that the lawyer had had sex with her despite her protests. She further testified that he did not stop until she woke her friend, who was dating Zerola at the time. In 2008, two different juries found Zerola not guilty of rape and attempted rape Last summer, he was acquitted of the charges after a four-day trial. And in 2008, two different juries found Zerola not guilty of rape and attempted rape. Additionally, the deep-pocketed lawyer had sexual assault charges dropped in Miami Beach and New Orleans. For at least three of the allegations against Zerola, the statute of limitations has expired, according to the Boston Globe. Before he went into private practice, the Boston lawyer worked for a year as a prosecutor in Essex County. He also did a three-month stint as a prosecutor in Suffolk County for two months in 2000. Zerola's victim made it clear just how traumatized she is in her impact statement, which was read by prosecutor Ian Polumbaum. For several months after the rape, she said she 'experienced nightly recurring nightmares reliving the assault,' 25 News reported. The assault, she stated, has led to her 'paranoia trusting men.' 'Even today I still have nightmares of someone breaking into my apartment and trying to assault me. I had never experienced a nightmare in my life before this. Ive lost many nights of sleep,' the victim continued. 'Every time I'm in my apartment, my door is deadbolted, and I live in constant fear that someone will enter without my permission and hurt me again.' Labour raked in almost five-times as much cash as the Tories to fund its successful election campaign, new figures revealed today. The Electoral Commission reveled Sir Keir Starmer's party was handed almost 10million during the five-week campaign period as business and luvvies flocked to back it. Private donations to the party totaled more than 9.5million, compared to the Conservatives' 1.8million. The Tories' dismal fundraising campaign saw it given less than 200,000 more than the Liberal Democrats. Sir Ed Davey's party would go on to win its most seats in 100 years. Figures released on Monday showed former professional poker player Derek Webb donated 250,000 to Labour. Mr Webb leads the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which campaigned successfully to reduce the impact of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs). Trade unions the GMB and the Fire Brigades Union each gave 100,000. Your browser does not support iframes. Figures released on Monday showed former professional poker player Derek Webb donated 250,000 to Labour. Mr Webb (centre) leads the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which campaigns against Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs). The largest donation to the Conservatives was 50,000 from Westminster Development Services, a property company set up by a consortium led by the Hinduja family. Prakash Hinduja was jailed last month in Switzerland for mistreating domestic staff Labour received more than twice the amount of donations than the Conservatives in the final week of the General Election campaign. The party raised 465,600 in private donations in the last week before polling day, with the Conservatives raising just 225,587. The largest donation to the Conservatives was 50,000 from Westminster Development Services, a property company set up by a consortium led by the Hinduja family. Figures published on Monday show Westminster Development Services, a consortium responsible for redeveloping the Old War Office on Whitehall into a Raffles hotel, made the donation to the Tories on July 1. According to Companies House, Westminster Development Services is up to 50 per cent owned by AMC Project Services, which itself lists Prakash Hinduja, the chairman of the Hinduja Group and one of Britain's richest men, as its owner. Some 10 days earlier, on June 21, Hinduja and three members of his family had been jailed by a Swiss court after being convicted of exploiting domestic workers at their mansion in Geneva. Hinduja and his wife Kamal received sentences of four years and six months, while their son Ajay and his wife Namrata were jailed for four years. The court said the four were guilty of exploiting workers and providing unauthorised employment, but dismissed more serious charges of human trafficking. The Hindujas' lawyers said the defendants planned to appeal against the decision. The Conservative Party has been approached for comment. Labour's largest donations came from Lord David Sainsbury (2.5million), the Unison trade union (1.49million) and Autoglass tycoon Gary Lubner (900,000). Another large donation came from a firm run by a former Bafta chairman who produced hit films including Love Actually and Four Weddings and Funeral. Duncan Kenworthy's Toledo Productions handed over 500,000 shortly after the election was called. It was the largest individual private donation at the time and accounted for more than half of the donations the party received in the first seven days of the campaign, according to the Electoral Commission. Mr Kenworthy, 74, was the chairman of Bafta, the British film organisation, between 2004 and 2006. As well as his film credits he helped create Fraggle Rock alongside Muppets creator Jim Henson. The Liberal Democrats managed to raise 1.7 million over the course of the campaign, boosted by a 100,000 donation in the final week from food business GADF Holdings. Reform UK raised a total of 1.6 million over the campaign, including 45,000 in the final week thanks in part to a 20,000 donation from businesswoman Margaret Hepburn, who lives in Monaco. Political parties are required to provide weekly reports of donations of more than 11,180, after the Government increased the threshold from 7,500 in January. Parties still have 30 days after receiving a donation to check that it is from a permissible source and decide whether to accept it. Speaker Mike Johnson said it was a great relief and a great day for justice after Judge Aileen Cannon tossed out the federal classified documents case against former President Donald Trump. I think its a great result, its a great relief to us, Speaker Mike Johnson told DailyMail.com exclusively in his first on-camera interview after the decision which came down on day one of the Republican National Convention. Special Counsel Jack Smith was beyond the bounds of what you should be doing, said Johnson, so I'm grateful that Judge Cannon recognized that. Well see what effect this has on the other cases, but its certainly a great day for justice. And after the attempted assassination of Trump on Saturday, Johnson said that God had given Trump a chance to unify the country. Johnson said it was a great relief and a great day for justice after Judge Aileen Cannon tossed out the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump He sees the divine hand of providence involved in that and I do, as well all of us do. He also sees and he's saying this in his own words that God has given him a chance to unify our country. And I think he can be a unifying figure. Johnson predicted Republicans would now win the White House, House and Senate. We're looking forward to this result of this election outcome where we have unified government meaning we have the Republican Party in charge of the White House and both houses of Congress, but it can also be a unifying moment for the country. Johnson promised aggressive oversight in Congress to get to the bottom of the momentous security breach at a Butler, Pa. Trump rally. Within hours of the event. I had Secretary Mayorkas on the telephone Department of Homeland Security asking him some very pointed questions. He did not have all the answers at that moment, Johnson went on. Donald Trump arrived in Milwaukee for the GOP convention on Sunday - the day after an attempt on his life 'The guy has spun around was jammed between the benches and a head shot here. There's lots of blood and he had brain matter,' the man told CBS News Our responsibility in Congress is oversight. We're very aggressively pursuing that right now. And you'll see a lot of developments of that over the coming weeks. In a dramatic and controversial move on Monday, federal Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the classified documents case against Donald Trump in a bombshell ruling. The move comes on the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where thousands of Republicans are gathering to officially nominate Trump for president. The former president was accused of taking highly sensitive national security documents to Mar-a-Lago when he left the White House. The FBI agents seized a trove of material during a search in August 2022. Judge Cannon threw the case out based on 'violations' of the Constitutions Appointments Clause and Appropriations Clause. It comes just two days after the former president narrowly avoided an assassination attempt with a bullet grazing his ear at a rally in Butler, PA on Saturday evening. Blood could be seen pouring from the side of his head as he was rushed from the stage. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot and killed by a counter sniper seconds after the shots rang out. The FBI is leading the investigation into how the shooter was able get so close, just 130 yards away, from where a former president and presumptive presidential nominee was speaking. Republicans in Congress have launched an investigation into the 'security failures' that led to a horrific assassination attempt. They say a frightening lapse meant that a gunman was able to get so close to Trump and unleash a barrage of bullets that hit his ear and killed an attendee in the rally crowd. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, also reacted exclusively to the Trump classified documents case being tossed. 'I think the judge absolutely made the right decision here, 100 percent' she told DailyMail.com at the Republican National Convention. 'As an appropriator in Congress, it certainly is a violation of the appropriations clause...and it's a true victory for justice for [Trump].' Yearbook images have surfaced of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who opened fire on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania Hinson added: 'I think we've all seen the political prosecutions play out over this country and we Americans know exactly what we're seeing happen.' She predicts the Supreme Court's landmark presidential immunity decision earlier this month will lead to even more cases against the former president getting tossed. Democrats - on the other hand - weren't so pleased with the outcome. 'This breathtakingly misguided ruling flies in the face of long-accepted practice and repetitive judicial precedence,' he said Monday. 'It is wrong on the law and must be appealed immediately. This is further evidence that Judge Cannon cannot handle this case impartially and must be reassigned.' Jack Black's bandmate made a tasteless comment about the assassination attempt against Donald Trump just hours after the former president was nearly shot dead in Pennsylvania. The actor's comedy band Tenacious D was on stage in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday when Black brought a birthday cake for bandmate Kyle Gass and asked him to make a wish. Gass, 64, replied: 'Dont miss Trump next time.' The crowd mostly responded with cheering and laughing, with just a few disappointed reactions. Last month, Black, 54, delivered a speech at a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles for president Joe Biden, where he said 'democracy was at stake' in November. The actor's band Tenacious D was on stage in Sydney , Australia, on Sunday when Black brought a birthday cake for bandmate Kyle Gass (in yellow) and asked him to make a wish. Gass said: 'Dont miss Trump next time' The event, which raised more than $30million, was also attended by former president Barack Obama, George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand. Black has joked in the past that Trump, like his band, believes they are 'the greatest' in the world, as reported by Yahoo! News. He told Conan OBrien in 2017: 'Now, when we go out and perform Tenacious D, I always have like, a little twinge of guilt, because its like this evil f***ing warlock stole our magic, but just took out all the irony. And it worked and now hes destroying the universe.' Many on social media have taken issue with Gass' comments, arguing it was too soon to joke about the attempted assassination of Trump. X user Collin Rugg said: 'Maybe, just maybe, these people are actually the evil ones.' Last month, Black, 54, delivered a speech at a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles for president Joe Biden , where he said 'democracy was at stake' in November Black and his band are currently on Spicy Meatball Tour. (L-R) Kyle Gass, Jack Black and bassist John Spike Conservative editor Brandon Morse wrote: 'And with that, any love I had for Jack Black and Tenacious D is gone.' Thomas Matthew Crooks Ring-wing commentator Charlie Kirk added: 'These people are more twisted and vile than we realized. And shame on all of the people in the crowd who thought this "joke" was funny.' Black and his band are currently on Spicy Meatball Tour, which kicked off in May and is set to wrap on July 26, 2024. In the wake of the shooting that killed one spectator on Saturday, investigators were hunting for any clues about what may have drove Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, to carry out the shocking attack. The FBI said they were investigating it as a potential act of domestic terrorism , but the absence of a clear ideological motive by the man shot dead by the Secret Service led conspiracy theories to flourish. The FBI said it believes Crooks, who had bomb-making materials in the car he drove to the rally, acted alone. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is taken from the stage Investigators have found no threatening comments on social media accounts or ideological positions that could help explain what led him to target Trump . Trump said on social media the upper part of his right ear was pierced in the shooting. But advisers said he was 'great spirits' ahead of his arrival Sunday in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. Two spectators were critically injured, while a former fire chief from the area, Corey Comperatore was killed. Pennsylvanias governor said Comperatore, 50, died a hero by diving onto his family to protect them. The assassination attempt on Donald Trump could be replicated against politicians in Europe, Dutch populist leader Geert Wilders has warned, because of 'hatred' towards right-wing figures. The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) leader, who is a power player in the Dutch coalition government, has been the target of violence throughout his career and says he receives multiple death threats every day. Wilders joined fellow European politicians and Trump allies - including Reform UK MP Nigel Farage and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico - in blaming the liberal media for inciting hatred towards the former US president. 'The hate rhetoric from many leftish politicians and media, who label right-wing politicians as racists and Nazis is not without consequences,' Wilders said. 'They are playing with fire.' His comments come as politicians of all political stripes in the UK and across Europe face increased threats while out in public or on the campaign trail, with the dangers posed to British MPs highlighted during the recent election. The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) leader, who is a power player in the Dutch coalition government, has been the target of violence throughout his career Former US President Donald Trump is rushed off stage by secret service after the shooting on July 13 On the situation in his country, Wilders said on X: 'What happened in the US can also happen in the Netherlands. Don't underestimate it. 'The hatred towards right-wing politicians is also unprecedented in our country. Their security should be significantly increased where necessary.' The PVV leader, who has long been described as a 'Dutch Trump' due to his nationalistic views and appearance, went on to issue his latest endorsement of the Republican presidential candidate. 'I love America. The strength and perseverance of the American people is unprecedented,' he said. 'I trust the 45th President will become the 47th President. No one deserves it more than President Trump.' Wilders, who is known for his anti-Islam and anti-immigration stance has been an MP in the Netherlands for more than 20 years, is no stranger to threats against his life. He received at least half of the total 1,125 death threats made against Dutch politicians in 2022, according to the Threatened Politicians Team at The Hague. Fellow European populist Fico narrowly survived an assassination attempt earlier this year, when he was shot multiple times in the abdomen by an activist and government critic. Fico accused Trump's enemies of inciting the attack on him, saying his 'political opponents try to shut him up and when that fails, they antagonise the public so much that some loser picks up a gun.' Slovakian PM Robert Fico narrowly survived an assassination attempt earlier this year Responding to the news in the UK, newly elected MP Farage, a close friend of Trump, blamed what he called the 'mainstream media' for spreading 'a narrative of hatred' against him. Appearing on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Farage said: 'I was very upset and I'm still upset. 'I'm obviously pleased that my friend Donald has got away with it, only just, but he's got away with it. 'But one person is dead. Two more are fighting for their lives in hospital so it's an absolutely horrendous incident and yet somehow I'm not shocked by it.' Farage, who had a milkshake and wet cement thrown at him during the election campaign, said Trump and politicians in the UK now have to balance security with meeting voters. 'The problem with this is, how do you go out and campaign? Think of John Major 30 years ago, a soap box in market squares, you couldn't do that today,' he said. Farage (right), who had a milkshake thrown at him during the election campaign, said Trump and politicians in the UK now have to balance security with meeting voters 'So we finish up with our political leaders never meeting a voter, never meeting the public. I suspect knowing Trump as I do, he will carry on regardless.' Attacks on politicians in Europe have come from both left and right-wing extremists in recent years, and at representatives of all political persuasions. It emerged earlier this year that three female MPs - including members from Labour and the Conservatives - had been given bodyguards amid growing concerns over politicians' safety. During the election, Labour MP Rushanara Ali told the BBC that she needed police protection during her re-election bid. Back in 2016, Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right extremist in her constituency of Birstall, West Yorkshire. Speaking about the attempt on Trump's life, the late MP's husband Brendan Cox said there was 'zero justification' for the shooting but that Trump had 'incited and inflamed political violence himself.' Back in 2016, Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right extremist in her constituency of Birstall, West Yorkshire 'I feel sympathy, I feel pain for the fear his family must have felt at that moment... He also has some culpability in creating an environment where violence is more likely,' he told LBC on Sunday. Meanwhile Commons Leader Lucy Powell warned on Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that there has been a rise in violence against politicians in the UK as well as in the US. 'Clearly we have seen a rise in intimidation and attacks on serving politicians or people who want to be politicians in this country too,' she said. Commons Leader Lucy Powell warned that there has been a rise in violence against politicians While the Labour MP said the election was one of the 'great things about our democracy', she added: 'But we have to remember that underneath that, there has been this growing sense of insecurity and hate and attacks.' 'It is something that we need to take action on,' she said. She added that some colleagues had 'real difficulties' while campaigning, telling Sky: 'They have seen intimidation in the streets when campaigning, they have seen some intimidatory activity around and nearby polling stations. 'We have seen some deepfakes being shared online about individuals that have turned out to be completely wrong, we have seen misinformation shared that fuels hatred and has a dehumanising effect on individuals.' Authorities have launched a desperate hunt for a missing Briton who vanished in the Sardinian countryside on Saturday. Michael, 25, was reported missing on Sunday afternoon as firefighters and the Forest Guard began a frantic search near Luogosanto, his mother Cristina Pittalis said in a plea on Sunday. She urged that while authorities are 'stepping up their search' the area is 'too wide' to scour on their own, and called on the public to check their land and homes. 'He is a very sweet boy, you can approach him without fear, please, if you see him stop him, talk to him, but don't leave him alone,' Ms Pittalis said. She described her son a 5ft 7" with long, brown hair and shaved sides - fearing he had disappeared into the countryside, confused and with no possessions, late Friday afternoon. Michael's mother shared a picture of him taken last week in a plea for help in local searches Michael vanished on the island of Sardinia on Saturday, before police were informed Sunday Michael is believed to have disappeared near Luogosanto in Valdicorru on Saturday at 5:18pm after stripping himself of belongings. 'He is confused, thinner than in the photos,' his mother said in her desperate appeal for help. She said that the photo of Michael on a beach - pictured above - was taken only last week, 'so very current'. Ms Pittalis called on locals to assist in her search as she prepares to travel from England to Sardinia to help search efforts. She said that police were alerted to Michael's disappearance at 1pm on Sunday, but that now 'your help is crucial'. 'If you get a chance, please go and help with the [investigation],' she wrote on Facebook. 'But don't go alone, blindly... talk to fire groups, or civil protection, offer your support, ask what and how you can help.' Firefighters and the Forest Guard are currently 'doing their best' to help find Michael. Michael was one of three people who have been missing since Sunday in northern Sardinia, Italian media has reported. An elderly Italian tourist also disappeared on holiday in Valledoria, and an elderly woman vanished in Stintino. The missing tourist in Valledoria was identified only as a tourist with health problems, holidaying in the region. The tourist in Stintino was identified as Carla Visentin when her family alerted authorities. She was reported to have disappeared from the area of Cala Lupo on Sunday. She also has health problems and moves with difficulty, according to local media. Authorities have been engaged in a 'non-stop' search for the three missing people since Sunday evening, La Repubblica reported. The investigations stretch police resources with temperatures rising across the continent. Greece was most recently hit by a spate of tragic disappearances, with Petros Vassilakis, the police spokesman for the Southern Aegean, claiming there was a 'common pattern' of tourists going for a walk amid high temperatures. By June 26 it was reported six people had been found dead from heat-related incidents, with authorities urging caution in the heat wave. Michael went missing in northern Sardinia on Saturday before authorities began searches Michael's mother said that police were alerted to Michael's disappearance at 1pm on Sunday, but that now 'your help is crucial' Daily Mail columnist Michael Mosley was found dead on the island of Symi, another Aegean islands, on June 9 after a four-day search operation by land, sea and air. He had taken a walk alone in high temperatures before going missing. And authorities investigating the disappearance of Briton Jay Slater, 19, today recovered the remains of a body on Tenerife, nearly a month since his disappearance. Although Spanish police are awaiting full identification, they say that 'everything is pointing to it being' Jay, who they said could have 'suffered an accident or fall in the inaccessible area where he was found'. Despite concerns about the weather, most missing people are found or return within the first few days of going missing, according to the Metropolitan Police. Flourishing port development reveals China's reform and opening up in new era 13:38, July 15, 2024 By Ye Qi, Luo Shanshan ( People's Daily Ports serve as the gateways through which China opens up to the outside world. As China continues to deepen reform across the board, a vast majority of ports in the country have flourished, from the north to the south, from the east to the west, and from border regions to inland areas. Thousands of vehicles are ready to be exported via Yantai Port in Yantai, east China's Shandong province, June 2, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Tang Ke) For instance, Alashankou Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region sees around 60 trains and 350 vehicles passing through on a daily basis. Thanks to the development of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), a trade and logistics passage jointly built by provincial-level regions in western China and ASEAN members, Xinjiang is becoming a core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt though far away from China's coastline. In southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, a smart port project at the Youyi Pass, or Friendship Pass, is currently under construction on the China-Vietnam border, which will turn the vision of intelligent and modern cross-border transportation into reality. Port activity is a barometer of the national economy. On the west coast of Bohai Bay, giant vessels are frequently seen arriving and leaving the coal terminal of Huanghua Port in Cangzhou, north China's Hebei province. Huanghua Port serves as a crucial link for transporting coal from west and north China to the eastern and southern regions of the country. The port handles more than 200 million tons of coal every year, but its development was hindered by dust pollution in the past. To solve the problem, the new philosophy of innovative and green development was adopted by the port, and an intelligent whole-process dust suppression system has been developed to control coal dust throughout the entire process of port operations. Today, the port is completely free of coal dust, with wastewater effectively recycled and reused. In China, traditional ports are embracing the intelligent, digitalized, low-carbon and green development of the shipping industry, providing strong support for high-quality economic development. Photo taken on July 3, 2024 shows a busy scene at the highway port of Erenhot in north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. (People's Daily Online/Guo Pengjie) At Yangshan Port, east China's Shanghai, bridge cranes are bustling with activities while large vessels come and go at a high frequency, demonstrating the dynamic and robust Chinese economy to the world. In recent years, Shanghai has been actively pushing for the clustering of shipping service companies, the integration of industrial chains, and the development of market-oriented factors. Fujian province in southeast China is striving to build a large-scale, intensive, and specialized port cluster that serves the whole country and faces the world. Based on ports in the Beibu Gulf, Guangxi is making every effort to build a cooperative network of port cities between China and ASEAN countries. In the first half of this year, China's coastal and inland waterway ports saw over 15.21 million arrivals and departures of vessels, with total cargo throughput reaching 9.18 billion tons, representing year-on-year increases of 14.35 percent and 4.85 percent respectively. To address the obstacles in customs clearance processes, efficiency, and costs, China's ports and customs authorities have been innovating their management approaches and continuously deepening reforms to streamline administration, delegate power, improve regulation and upgrade services. At a multimodal transport center of a national logistics hub port in Alashankou, Xinjiang, the average customs clearance time has been reduced from 34.5 hours last October to just 5 hours. In the first half of this year, the number of inbound and outbound freight vehicles through the highway port of Alashankou increased by 42.6 percent year on year. The "green channels" for fast customs clearance of agricultural and sideline products now cover all highway ports between China and Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The sixth port area of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang province, has adopted a unique approach known as "single declaration, single inspection, single release" to handle export containers on sea-rail intermodal trains, helping commodities made in Yiwu reach global markets more efficiently. The Hekou Port on the China-Vietnam border in Hekou county, southwest China's Yunnan province, sees booming cross-border tourism. Photo shows tourists posing for a picture outside the port, May 2, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Xue Yingying) China has been promoting high-standard opening up, steadily expanding institutional opening up with regard to rules, regulations, management, and standards, and building new systems for a higher-standard open economy, creating more space for China's development and providing new opportunities for global growth. While pursuing its own development, China has also been making greater contributions to global development. In particular, the rapid development of Chinese ports has provided essential support for the country's high-standard opening up. China has launched special freight trains for importing bananas from Southeast Asia. Many high-quality products of ASEAN countries, such as Lao Beer and Angkor Beer, now have their Chinese distributors. An ILSTC tourism promotion alliance has been established. Rapid construction is underway for the modern agricultural industrial park in Lao capital Vientiane. At the Horgos International Border Cooperation Center on the China-Kazakhstan border in Xinjiang, citizens from both countries can engage in face-to-face negotiations and transactions within the enclosed cross-border economic and trade cooperation zone. So far, the center has attracted over 3,500 businesses. Today, the China-Europe freight train service reaches over 200 cities in 25 European countries, while the Silk Road Maritime shipping routes link more than 100 ports in 43 countries worldwide. As the major trading partner of over 140 countries and regions, China is making steady progress on the path of high-standard opening up. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu) Dominican Republic authorities got the last laugh following the arrest of influencer, who posted an assassination threat to President Luis Abinader on TikTok. Starlin Silvestre, who goes by 'Starlin HD,' told police he was just seeking to bask in the moment after former United States President Donald Trump was shot by a bullet at a campaign event on Saturday. In a video, which has been viewed more than 725,000 times, the 23-year-old can be seen sitting on his bed and claiming that Abinader could suffer the same fate as the Republican candidate. 'Abinader, you saw what happened to Donald Trump, right?' he said in Spanish. 'We're going to blow your head off, do you listen.' Silvestre then appears to make a reference to the millions of dollars in loans that the Abinader administration has taken out to cover public projects: 'A brick falls in the country and you ask for 200 million. You got us tired, Abinader, you mother****.' Dominican influencer Starlin Silvestre went viral for the wrong reasons Saturday after he posted a video on TikTok threatening to assassinate President Luis Abinader. The 23-year-old turned himself in at a police station in the southern city of San Cristobal on Sunday Starlin Silvestre told a CDN television reporter that he was only an 'influencer' and 'comedian' who wanted to be 'cool' by posting a TikTok video threatening to assassinate Dominican President Luis Abinader. He said he came up with the idea after seeing viral photos and videos of the assassination attempt of former United States President Luis Abinader However, he was singing a different tune as he was escorted through a police station in Haina, a city in the southern province of San Cristobal, on Sunday and toned down his rhetoric as he pleaded for President Abinader's forgiveness. 'I'm an influencer, you know,' Silvestre told a CDN television reporter. 'Since I was into the news, I created content. I regret this a lot. I apologize to Mr. President.' Silvestre explained that after learning of the failed assassination attempt of the Republican presidential nominee, he saw photos and videos circulating on the social media platform and decided to add in his two cents. 'I went on TikTok and saw that all of that was viral,' he said. I did a video, but not with the intention of making harm.' Silvestre understood the gravity of his actions. 'Us content creators always want to be cool,' he said. 'What I did was an error. What I am is an influencer, a comedian.' Dominican Republic Vice President Raquel Pena (left), President Luis Abinader (center) and First Lady Raquel Arbaje Starling Silvestre told a reporter a reporter that 'content creators always want to be cool. What I did was an error. What I am is an influencer, a comedian,' after he turned himself in at a police station in Haina, Dominican Republic on Sunday, a day after he posted a video on TikTok threatening President Luis Abinader. He said he was inspired the former President Trump's assassination attempt Silvestre was still in custody Monday and had yet to be charged. President Abinader, who has received five death threats since 2021, didn't address the incident. But Vice President Raquel Pena appeared issued a stern warning to content creators and vowed that Silvestre would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law while talking with a throng of reporters Monday following a meeting with Cibao region business leaders. 'We do not have that culture of aggressiveness. So let's not invent, let's not get really creative because that's not us,' Pena said. 'I mean, that for me was an isolated case.' A series of pictures and videos that were obtained by DailyMail.com showed how close Thomas Matthew Crooks came to killing Trump at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The 20-year-old shooter settled on the roof of an industrial manufacturing building, about 150 yards from the stage where Trump was talking to supporters, before he opened fire with his father's R-15 rifle. Fifty-year-old father of two and volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore has been named as the audience member who died trying to shield his family from the gunfire. Two other audience members who were hit, 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, were both in stable condition on Sunday. As the 2024 Republican National Convention kicked off in downtown Milwaukee, a group of anti-Trump and anti-GOP organizers began a showing conservatives how unwelcome they really are. The self-proclaimed anti-fascists, pro-Palestinians protestors, LBGTQ advocates, communists and more gathered blocks away from the RNC HQ at Fiserv Forum for the 'March on RNC 2024,' Monday afternoon. Attendees at the event revealed exclusively to DailyMail.com they were there to highlight their disagreements with the Republican platform and to make Republicans feel alienated less than 48 hours after 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to take the life of Trump. I hate the Republican party, Ill say that, Anthony, an attendee from the Milwaukee area, exclusively told DailyMail.com. When pressed on what he hates most, Anthony said how the party champions capitalism, adding, Most of the people in the country aren't on your side, anti-human. Ray, a communist, showed up at the 'March on RNC 2024' to protest Republicans and their capitalist agenda. He revealed that he has been a communist since he was 16-years-old and has hope for a red revolution in the U.S. Anthony shared he was a communist and his comrade and fellow attendee, Ray, joined him at the march to spread the word about communism and bash the GOP. Well, me, personally, I want the dictatorship proletariat, Ray told DailyMail.com. I want socialist revolution. When pressed on the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump over the weekend, Ray was indifferent. I'm not shedding any tears over Trump, but I think the attack was a completely unprincipled attack. He then, without expressing any remorse for what happened, admitted the assassination attempt failed because it was done under the wrong circumstances. We're just not in the conditions right now where that sort of assassination is going to work out, Ray said. One protestor dawned a orange jumpsuit and Donald Trump mask at the event Anthony, Ray's friend, is also a self-proclaimed communist from the area who wanted to make Republicans feel unwelcome in Milwaukee Hundreds of protestors arrived at the event, many of them are seen in the shade of the trees as temperatures during the march reached the high 80's Another attendee, Lapis, a self-proclaimed communist from the Chicago area, said she was against both Trump and Joe Biden despite the event being explicitly anti-Republican. We're out there with a lot of beautiful people resisting the fascism, resisting the horrors of this country, and we're here to say, No fascist Trump, no genocide, Joe, the whole damn system's got to go, Lapis said. So we're saying we need, and we demand, a revolution for a whole new way to live, a fundamentally different system, a real revolution to overthrow the system of capitalism, imperialism, and replace the US Constitution, with the Constitution for the new socialist republic in North America. 'In relationship to the incident at Trump rally in Pennsylvania, we say that was wrong and we do not support or condone that,' Lapis said, quickly adding, 'No further comment.' Trump clearly did not lack detractors at the event. Volunteers abounded handing out signs for attendees to carry that bashed the former president. Other organizers handed out political literature to recruit support for Gazans, the communist party, or transgender rights. Inside at the RNC, attendees enjoyed the cool air conditioning and excitement over Trump's freshly minted vice presidential pick, Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. 'My personal motivation for coming here is just to protest the RNC, in particular, how the Republican Party the past few years, the past half decade,' Julian told DailyMail.com. 'With former President Donald Trump, they've really thrown away their their traditional values of American conservatism and just rallied behind a con man for their own political agenda.' 'I hope that this demonstration shows that people still think American democracy is worth fighting for,' Julian continued. Julian came to the anti-RNC march to express his distaste for Trump's leadership atop the Republican party. He says Trump has degraded the party's conservative standing An event speaker delivers remarks on LGBTQ advocacy 'Stop Trump & Racist Republicans' signs were handed out by organizers to attendees He condemned the attack on the former president in no uncertain terms. 'Of course, political violence is never acceptable in any in any democratic society,' he said striking a different tone than the communists. 'That is not how we resolve our differences.' There was also a large pro-Palestinian contingent at the event, many having traveled to come to the anti-Trump march. 'I joined the contingent for a free Palestine, we bussed out here to protest a lot of different policies that the Republicans have implied in the past in the rhetoric that they're pushing during this current campaign,' another protestor, Liz, told DailyMail.com. 'The white supremacist rhetoric that the Republican Party has long stood for is exactly what caused lots of things, including the war on Gaza.' 'It's what causes incarceration people of black and brown people,' she continued. 'And so that's why I'm out here with my Cabal.' After listening to speeches for roughly an hour, the event began proceeding towards Fiserv Forum, though they were stopped well before making it to the RNC as police stopped them from getting too close. Activists gather at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee to protest Trump The event's organizers had gone back and forth with the city for weeks to decide whether their march route would be permitted. Over the weekend the city and organizers reached a deal allowing the march to go as planned Monday afternoon. A 'devoted' mother-of-one died after a stolen BMW that was driving the wrong way down a dual carriageway near Hull ploughed into her vehicle in a horrifying crash, an inquest jury has heard. Alison Clark, 42, suffered catastrophic injuries in the head-on collision on the A63 on November 22, 2021, as she was returning home from a swim training session, Hull Coroner's Court was told. The keen triathlete had set up a bereavement walking club in the wake of her father's death and had taken part in a walking event on the day she was killed, the hearing was told on Monday. The inquest heard that the three occupants of the white BMW - Sam Connors, 19, William Harty, 20, and Lawrence James, 21 - also died as result of the crash. At the beginning of the 10 day hearing, Assistant Coroner Ian Sprakes gave the jury brief details of how police had followed the BMW until the stolen car went up the wrong slipway, towards the westbound carriageway of the A63 near North Ferriby. Alison Clark was killed while returning from a swim training session in a head-on collision with a stolen BMW on the A63 near Hull The devoted mother-of-one had been a keen triathlete and had recently lost her father. She had taken taken part in a bereavement walking event the day of the crash Mr Sprakes said the BMW went 1.3 miles towards Hull on the wrong side of the road before colliding with the Peugeot being driven by Mrs Clark, who was from Elloughton, East Yorkshire. The inquest heard that the catastrophic crash happened near a BP service station, which is close to the turn-off for the Humber Bridge. The coroner said the BMW had been stolen in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on November 12, 2021 and came to police attention in Hull on the evening of November 22 because it was displaying false plates. The coroner said Mr Connors, Mr Harty and Mr James were believed to have been involved in the theft of catalytic converters from cars. He briefly described the police attempts to follow and stop the vehicle as it travelled out of Hull on the A63 'at speed' and turned into an industrial estate at North Ferriby, where it came into contact with a patrol car which was trying to prevent it from leaving a dead end outside Melton police station. Mr Sprakes said the police abandoned the authorised pursuit when the BMW went the wrong way around a roundabout and up the slip road towards the westbound carriageway of the A63 and headed east towards Hull. The coroner told the jury the inquest may consider a number of issues, including the police tactics around the pursuit of the BMW and whether Humberside Police 'caused or contributed to' the fatal collision. He said another question for the inquest may be to determine which of the three men in the BMW was driving at the time of the crash. Allison Clark put her 'heart and soul' into her local community, especially the local church in Elloughton, her husband Rob told an inquest jury Mr Sprakes warned the jury of five women and six men that some of the evidence they will hear may be distressing. In statements read to the court by family friend Geoff Ogden, Mrs Clark's husband, Rob, said his wife was devoted to their daughter, Emily, who was nine at the time of the crash. He said his wife, who worked in finance, was born in north London and was brought up in Bristol, but the couple moved to the Humberside area in 2006. Mrs Clark put her 'heart and soul' into her local community, especially the local church in Elloughton and chairing the Friends of Elloughton School Association, her husband said. Mr Clark said in his statement: 'As a person of charity and community she touched many.' He added: 'So many are in pain. I've heard her called 'my best friend' so many times.' Mr Clark said his wife's death has had a profound effect on their daughter, leaving 'an immeasurable hole in her young life'. He added that 'Emily was Alison's life' and the brutal way in which she was 'taken from me' will 'haunt me for the rest of my life'. No relatives of Mr Connors, Mr Harty and Mr James, all from Leeds, were present in court on Monday and they are not represented at their inquests. The wife of a man charged with murder for allegedly leaving their two-year-old in a hot car until she died has called for his temporary release. Calling her daughter's death 'a big mistake,' Arizona anesthesiologist Erika Scholtes begged a Tuscon judge to reconsider holding her husband Christopher Scholtes until his next hearing in August. The state had already requested a $1 million bond for the suspect, who, less than a week before, left young Parker locked in a car outside the family home on W. Paytons Court for roughly three hours. Worsening matters was an ongoing heat wave affecting the area, which brought temperatures to as high 111F outside and at least 140F inside the vehicle. Despite this, the judge reportedly upheld the doctor's request - agreeing to release the suspect until his next hearing next month so he can 'start the grieving process' with his still-living relatives. Scroll down for video: Erika Scholtes, 35, works as an anesthesiologist at the same hospital her daughter was rushed to on Tuesday. She successfully called for her husband's temporary release on Friday, hours after his arrest. He is charged with murder Parker is seen here with her parents and two older sisters in March 'I'm just asking if you can allow him to come home to us so we can all start the grieving process,' said 35-year-old Erika during a remote appearance at her husband's scheduled hearing. She explained it would be 'so that he can bury our daughter with us this upcoming week, and [so] that we can go through this poor process together as a family.' 'This was a big mistake and I think that it doesn't represent him,' the mom-of-two continued. 'I just want that the girls to see their father so that I don't have to tell them tonight that they're going to endure another loss.' The defense proceeded to point out how Scholtes, 37, lacked a criminal history - aside from a DUI charge from 15 years ago. His occupation, as of writing, remains unknown, but Erika, again, works as an anesthesiologist - at the same hospital her daughter was rushed to Tuesday. She would succumb to her dehydration shortly thereafter, after which her dad told cops he left the girl sleeping in her car seat upon his arrival as not to wake her, with the air conditioning on. He claimed he left her in the vehicle for no more than two hours, after which he said his wife arrived home and found the car was no longer running. Scholtes told cops that when he arrived home, Parker (pictured together) was asleep in the back seat and he didn't want to wake her, making him elect to leave her in the car despite the extreme heat Erika, seen here with Parker and her two sisters at the front of their home in Tucson a few feet from where she died, arrived hours later to find the car off and the toddler still inside Erika found the girl was unresponsive, spurring her to call 911. She performed CPR until paramedics arrived, as her husband said he left the air-condition on. She would call him an 'amazing father' a few hours later, while arguing for his pretrial release Cops in the Tucson-area town of Marana quickly poked holes in this story, though, citing how security footage showed the father pulling up more than an hour before. When Erika arrived, '9-1-1 was called,' police wrote in a subsequent statement, recounting how the mother 'performed CPR' until first-responders arrived. There, officials 'performed life-saving measures,' and Parker was transported to Banner University Medical Center, cops said. Upon arrival, 'the child was pronounced deceased' - leading officers to obtain and exact a search warrant on the residence that night, during which they secured the surveillance footage from surrounding homes. At that point, investigators discerned the girl was left inside the boiling-hot car for about three hours, spurring Scholtes's arrest Friday. He was later booked into Pima County Adult Detention Center, where he appeared virtually for his arraignment that night. Erika, at that point, spoke on his behalf, after which a not guilty plea was entered on the suspect's behalf by the judge. The jurist went on to order his release to pre-trial services, based on the belief he does not pose a threat to his community. During her husband's hearing Friday, Erika (not pictured) spoke on his behalf, after which a not guilty plea was entered on the suspect's behalf by the judge. The jurist went on to order his release to pre-trial services, based on the belief he does not pose a threat to his community Parker was left in this blue Honda Acura SUV seen behind the police tape earlier that same day. The conditions of his release include that he stay away from alcohol or illegal drugs, as well as any firearms Another stipulation is that he not spend any unsupervised time with his two children, who he will be allowed to oversee otherwise until his preliminary hearing August 1 KVOA reported he was released with no bond, while The New York Post reported the judge set a $25,000 secured bond. The conditions of his release include that he stay away from alcohol or illegal drugs, as well as any firearms. Another stipulation is that he not spend any unsupervised time with his two remaining children, who he will be allowed to oversee otherwise until his preliminary hearing August 1. During this span, Erika told the court she is taking an extended leave from her post at Banner University Medical Center. She added during the virtual hearing how 'Chris wants to stay here. 'Hes an amazing father and a pillar of the community,' she said. A Seattle journalist is being condemned for her tactless tweet over the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. The former president, 78, survived the attempt on his life when the bullet missed him by less than an inch on Saturday afternoon, at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Corey Comperatore, the retired fire chief of Buffalo Township, was killed in the shooting and two others were taken to hospital in a critical condition. Shortly after the attack, Ashely Nerbovig, a journalist for Seattle's alternative biweekly newspaper The Stranger, posted a shocking message on X. 'Make America aim again,' Nerbovig said. Critics have slammed Seattle journalist Ashley Nerboving for posting 'Make American aim again' in the wake of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump The former president, 78, survived the attempt on his life when the bullet missed him by less than an inch on Saturday afternoon Critics immediately began to slam the journalist across social media for her revolting remarks. 'As a member of the media, this was not responsible or even okay,' said one person. 'Absolutely disgusting. And unforgivable,' said Seattle radio host Jason Rantz. 'This woman needs fired. I encourage everyone to let your thoughts be known to her and her employer. Regardless of who your candidate is, you cant be a journalist and say this kind of s**t,' a third person said. 'Who employs this evil hate filled person? She needs to be fired immediately. This behavior is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,' another said. The Stranger responded by condemning political violence and Nerbovig's author page has been removed from the website. DailyMail.com reached out to The Stranger and Nerbovig for comment. Her employer, The Stranger, responded by condemning political violence and Nerbovig's author page has been removed from the website Nerbovig was previously arrested in Montana for breaking into her ex-boyfriend's house and trying to steal the dog they once shared Nerbovig was previously fired from her job at the Montana Television Network after she was arrested on felony burglary charges, reported KMMS. Although the charges were dropped, court documents said she broke into her ex-boyfriend's house and tried to steal the dog they previously shared. Warped liberals joined in sharing their disappointment in the shooter's aim, insinuating that they wished Trump had been fatally shot. 'We were a second away, we were a centimeter away from half of the problem being gone and you missed,' cried on TikToker. Another screamed, 'How do you miss that? We don't miss those! Come on man! F***! Paris Hilton was forced to personally apologize to a TikTok user after a damning review of her Walmart kitchen knife collection went viral. A shopper named Kathleen took to the video sharing app to complain about Hilton's 'sticky and gross' knives which she claimed were 'unusable' after being washed. Kathleen explained that the knives' 'pink, clear gem handles' reacted badly to soap and warm water. The 10-piece Paris-branded knife set retails for $69.99 at Walmart and features cut-out hearts on golden blades with sparkled handles. The clip has amassed over 4 million views and even warranted a response from Hilton's own TikTok account. The socialite said: 'I'm sorry that happened. I'm going to ask my team to speak to the manufacturer as that's clearly not acceptable. Let me know if I can send you something as an apology. P.' Kathleen posted a video on July 11 showing off what she claimed were 'unusable' knives she had bought online from the Paris Hilton kitchen collection @kathleen.kathleen Tragic - my paris hilton knives are unusable @Walmart @ParisHilton #parishilton #walmart #pinkhome also are they even gonna accept the return if i mail it back or do i have to go in person to walmart??? original sound - kathleen Kathleen said that she looked at the kitchen collection because she occasionally enjoyed a 'little accent' in her home. She was attracted to the knives after she noticed the hearts on the blade. The shopper ordered the product online, but once they arrived, she could see the pink handles were in good condition. She said in the clip posted July 11: 'I don't know what this is... Resin or acrylic or whatever... Soap and warm water shouldn't do this.' She added that the handles 'didn't smell like anything,' but she still planned to return them, and go back to using her 'boring knives.' However, she was quick to forgive the socialite after receiving a personal apology from her. In a reply to Hilton's comment, Kathleen said: 'Omg my new BFF (best friend forever) Paris. Speaking to your manufacturers' is all I need. But if youd like to design a knife with heart cutouts with a different handle, Im in the market to buy.' The knife set is described as 'beautiful and durable' and adds 'a touch of style' to one's kitchen, according to the Walmart website. The pink 2-piece Stainless Steel Santoku Knife Set is one of several items in the Paris Hilton kitchen collection for Walmart. The set is described as 'beautiful and durable' and adds 'a touch of style' to one's kitchen, according to the Walmart website. Both knives have ergonomic handles, which can reduce the risk of injury while improving efficiency. To properly clean knives, stores suggest shoppers to hand wash their knives for the best results, which is included in the product description. Several Walmart customers who purchased the product did not have the same experience as Kathleen and left rave reviews about the product on the store's website. Walmart customers have left positive and negative reviews over the knives that Kathleen purchased. One shopper admitted they have 'little faith in the handle' 'Don't sleep on these y'all. Absolutely wonderful. I have ordered more Paris Hilton stuff. I hope these, and her other stuff, hold up,' a shopper wrote last month. Another Walmart customer wrote: 'This item looks too good to use but its very sharp, comfortable to use, and glamorous! It's not poorly made either it's perfect and adorable.' Unfortunately, not all Walmart shoppers positively reviewed the knives. 'So these are kind of cute and go really great with French chic, or whatever pink or femme themed kitchen decor,' a shopper wrote in June. 'I have very little faith in the handle, as it seems like it's going to come off easily.' Hilton commented on Kathleen's TikTok video, and apologized for what happened with the knives One commenter who didn't think highly of Hilton's products trashed the 'super cheap' collection and claimed she had problems with the handles. 'The handle on the pot burns super easily if not placed correctly and lets off a burning plastic smell. They broke super quickly too.' 'My Paris Hilton knives arent clear, and I didnt even know they had a clear version. We got the one with the heart knife block,' a TikToker wrote. 'Im sad for you. Our knives are one of the best parts of my kitchen.' GoFundMe have revealed what will happen to the 54,000 donated to Jay Slater's fundraiser as new donations pour in after a body is found in the search. Questions have been raised about what will happen to the money given by generous strangers after a body was found following a month of searching. Although not yet formally identified as the 19-year-old, it is believed to be the apprentice bricklayer, who may have died due to an 'accidental fall in the steep and inaccessible area'. There has been a flurry of new donations today, with over 1,000 raised in the seven hours since the tragic news was announced. This brings the total to over 54,500 of the 30,000 target - which was reached within three weeks of the teenager disappearing. A GoFundMe spokesperson told The Sun it is in 'regular contact' with Jay's family to work out the next steps for dealing with the money over the next few weeks. GoFundMe have revealed what will happen to the 54,000 donated to Jay Slater's fundraiser as new donations pour in after a body is found in the search Questions have been raised about what will happen to the money given by generous strangers after a body was found following a month of searching A helicopter arriving at the search site where a body, believed to be Jay's, was found Jay Slater with his mother Debbie Duncan, 55, pictured before he went missing Jay's father Warren Slater and brother Zak on the mountain track where Jay's phone was last located, two weeks after he went missing The Masca forest area where Spanish Civil Guard has located the body of a young man which could be missing teenager Jay The Telegraph reported that the money will be used towards the funeral and repatriation costs. The family began to withdraw money two weeks ago to help with the search. Jay's mother Debbie previously said the money was also being used to support mountain rescue teams, her own accommodation and food costs. The cash was used to fly in a team of specialist rescue volunteers yesterday as five people and four dogs were deployed, with a sixth person joining today. The group were sent by the non-profit organisation Signi Zoekhonden, based in the Netherlands, who have about 20 years experience in searching for missing people. Signi Zoekhonden contacted Mr Slater's family after reading about the case and told the BBC would use drones as part of their search, subject to flight permission being granted by local authorities. It came after Tenerife's Guardia Civil called off the search for the apprentice bricklayer at the end of June after helicopters, drones and search dogs were deployed to find him. Volunteers search for Jay in Masca before the discovery today A 13-day search by police using drones, dogs and a helicopter failed to find any trace of Jay Former British army reservist Chris Pennington walks the Masca mountains with Daily Mail's Fred Kelly in search of the teenager In a statement posted onto the GoFundMe page previously, Ms Duncan thanked the 4,300 people who had donated for their 'kindness' and said the family were 'only able to fund this with the generosity of all those who donated'. She said: 'As you all know the Guardia Civil gave up the land search after 12 days. We have been actively working with search and rescue teams and we can now confirm that we have a team of experts flying in over the weekend from the Netherlands, who will carry on the search with their specialist dogs. 'We are only able to fund this with the generosity of all those who donated. The team are the Signi Zoekhondon and this has taken lots of planning to get them over so thank you so much for your kindness.' Marieke Krans, one of the specialist volunteers, told the BBC: 'We are very committed to come and we are confident in the dogs and in ourselves. Our dogs are trained to find people, both alive or dead, and have more skills. 'They can search underwater, and up mountains, whatever it may be.' Jaym of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared after setting off to walk back to his accommodation on the Spanish holiday island on June 17. Brandon Hodgkin, Jay Slater and Lucy Mae Law by the pool at the Hard Rock Cafe hotel, Tenerife, before Jay's disappearance A local man and his dog Caperucita came to the mountain to help with the search Search and rescue teams are pictured during the search for Jay The money raised by the GoFundMe appeal was used to deploy five people and four dogs to the area, with a sixth person due to join them today Yesterday, Ms Duncan said she was aware of the 'vile' conspiracy theories about her son and claimed they were 'hindering' rescue efforts to find him. In a statement released through British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global, Ms Duncan said the family was 'desperate to find our beautiful boy'. She said: 'As we approach four weeks of our beautiful Jay's disappearance, we cannot put into words the heartache we are suffering as a family. 'Jay is a typical young man who loves life, with a bright future ahead of him. This month will mark the end of his three-year apprenticeship with the world at his feet. 'He is loved by everyone and has a close bond with his family and many, many friends.' Jay's friend Brad Hargreaves - who went on holiday with him and flew back last week - paid a poignant tribute on Instagram today. He wrote: 'No words. Nothing be the same without you. Rest easy brother. Love you always' The post included a string of red broken hearts on the image Police today released footage showing the final moments of the agonising 29-day search for missing Jay Slater in mountains near the Tenerife village of Masca Ms Duncan criticised the 'awful comments and conspiracy theories' posted on social media, which she branded 'vile' and said were 'hindering' people trying to help locate the teenager. LBT Global chief executive Matt Searle said 'horrific things are being posted online, and even sent directly to family and friends' as he called for an end to 'the constant barrage of conspiracy theories and wild speculation'. The search in the village of Masca, near Mr Slater's last-known location, took place in a steep rocky area, including ravines, trails and paths. Mr Slater had attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island - which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. He had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca and the two men said to have rented the property were later ruled 'not relevant' to the case, according to reports. Masca is an hour from the Papagayo nightclub in the heady resort of Playa de las Americas where Jay was last seen with the two British men following the end of the New Rave Generation three-day festival. The girlfriend of Jay Slater's brother has posted an emotional message after Spanish police announced they had found a body in the search for the missing teenager. Police on the island of Tenerife today confirmed human remains had been found in the area of Masca. Although formal identification has yet to take place, the Spanish Civil Guard has said 'all evidence suggests' the remains are those of Jay, including some of his clothes and belongings found nearby. Jessica Rogers, the girlfriend of Jay Slater's brother, took to social media today to pay tribute to the teenager. She posted a photograph of Jay with a blue love heart, accompanied by the words: 'Will love you forever'. Jay's heartbroken family must now wait for a post-mortem examination to be conducted to confirm whether the body found close to where his phone last pinged in Rural Teno Park is that of Jay's. Jessica Rogers shared this image on social media of Jay with the caption: 'Will love you forever' Human remains have been found in the search for British teen Jay Slater who went missing almost a month ago on the island of Tenerife Spanish police today released footage showing the final moments of the agonising 29-day search for the missing Brit in mountains near the Tenerife village of Masca Brad Hargreaves, who was on holiday with the apprentice bricklayer in Tenerife before his disappearance, took to social media to post a tribute earlier today. Mr Hargreaves, who had been helping with the search before flying back to Britain last week, posted two snaps of him and his friend alongside a heartfelt message. 'Nothing be the same without you. Rest easy brother. Love you always,' he penned with a flurry of broken hearts and a crying emoji. The Civil Guard said that while a formal identification needs to take place, 'all evidence suggests' the remains are those of Jay, including some of his clothing found in the vicinity. The 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, had not been seen or heard from since Monday, June 17. Jay Slater's best friend Brad Hargreaves, who he was holidaying in Tenerife with, has released a touching tribute to the teen Alongside a long string of broken hearts and crying emoji, Jay Slater's best friend said there are 'no words' in his poignant tribute Jay Slater's family have been informed that human remains have been found in the mountainous area of the Spanish island after a body was found this morning (pictured: Jay Slater with his mother Debbie Duncan) Jay had jetted off to the Spanish holiday island for an eight-day holiday with his friends Lucy Mae Law and Brad before he vanished. The family were informed that a body has been found in an 'inaccessible' part of Tenerife where the teenager went missing. His family, including mother Debbie Duncan and father Warren Slater, were told about the discovery shortly before the media announcement. The Civil Guard says while a formal identification needs to take place 'all evidence suggests' the remains are those of Jay Slater. Early investigations suggest he may have suffered an 'accident or fall', they added. Jay's clothing and belongings were found alongside the body, which was found near his phone's last known location. Lancashire Police released a statement confirming they had been'notified by the Guardia Civil that they have found the body of a man and that the indications are that this is Jay Slater'. 'While at this stage no formal identification has been carried out our thoughts are very much with Jay's family at this time, and we continue to offer them our support,' the statement added. Apprentice bricklayer Jay, 19, vanished after being driven to a remote Air BnB Jay's mother Debbie Duncan and father Warren Slater leaving the Guardia Civil in Playa de las Americas on July 2 Jay had attended the three-day NRG music festival at Papagayo nightclub in Playa de Las Americas before he disappeared. In the early hours of June 17, Jay travelled in a car with two men he had met during the festival to their 40-a-night Airbnb in the remote north-western village of Masca. At 7.30am, Jay posted a Snapchat picture showing him at the doorway of the property, tagging the location Parque Rural de Teno. Some half an hour later, he rang his friend Lucy to say he was making the 10-hour walk back to his accommodation in the tourist hotspot on the southern part of the island. He said he was lost, severely dehydrated and only had one per cent battery on his mobile before it cut out. His disappearance, which has sparked wild conspiracy theories online from cruel trolls, led to a huge search and rescue mission, with Spanish police scouring the mountainous landscape around Masca. It is the latest development in the search for the missing teen which comes after: The 40-a-night Casa Abuela Tina holiday rental near the remote village of Masca where Jay spent his final hours before going missing Volunteers helping in the search for the missing British teenager A 13-day search by police using drones, dogs and a helicopter failed to find any trace of Jay However, the official search was called off after just 13 days, prompting backlash from his desperate family who claimed they had been 'left in the dark'. Today, a spokesman for the Civil Guard said: 'After 29 constant days of searching the body of the young man has been found in the Masca area. 'The discovery has been possible thanks to the tireless and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard over these 29 days. 'Everything is pointing to the body being that of the young British man who disappeared on June 17, pending full identification. 'Initial inquiries are pointing to him having suffered an accident/fall in the area where he was found.' In a fuller statement the force added: 'Officers of the Civil Guard belonging to the Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (GREIM) have located this morning the dead body of a young man in the area of Masca, belonging to the municipality of Buenavista del Norte. 'All indications suggest that it could be the young British man who had been missing for 29 days, who may have died due to an accidental fall in the rough and inaccessible area where he was found. 'Thanks to the unceasing and constant search carried out by the different units of the Civil Guard, in which it has not stopped to look for the young man every day in the area of Masca, where he allegedly had disappeared the GREIM officers have found the dead body of the young person in a very inaccessible area. 'The results of the autopsy are awaiting confirmation that it is an accident.' GREIM officers led the search after Jay disappeared on June 17 after he left an Airbnb in Masca. A visible search involving helicopter and sniffer dogs continued for nearly two weeks before police announced it was being halted. They had not said in public it was continuing and there had been little outward sign of it going on on a more reduced scale. Police said on June 30 after calling in volunteers for a 'last push search' a day earlier: 'The search operation has now finished although the case remains open.' A well-placed source added: 'The daily operation which has been going on in and around Masca close to where Jay was last seen has been brought to an end. 'If any information comes in that merits a new search though it will be acted upon. 'My understanding is Jay's parents have been informed of what obviously is a major development. 'Nothing of any relevance was found during yesterday's large-scale search.' Jay Slater's final Snapchat at the remote Airbnb before he went missing. It is not the same Snapchat as the one where he 'admitted to stealing an expensive watch'. Jay was on his first-ever friends holiday with Lucy Law (pictured) and Brad Hargreaves when he went missing in Tenerife Brad Hargreaves (pictured) also said he spoke to Jay on the phone before he went missing Yesterday, Jay's frantic mother Debbie Duncan criticised the 'awful comments and conspiracy theories' posted on social media, which she branded 'vile' and said were 'hindering' the investigation. Ms Duncan yesterday posted an update on the GoFundMe page set up for her son's search, which has raised more than 53,000. She revealed how the family had called in rescue experts from the Netherlands to help find the teenager after Spanish police ceased their land search. Donald Trump picked Ohio senator J.D. Vance as his running mate on Monday afternoon, choosing a grassroots favorite ahead of more seasoned political operators. The former president left it until the last possible moment, using all his showman skills to leave the world guessing, before opting for 39-year-old Vance Trump made his announcement on Truth Social, dropping it just as delegates were rubber stamping his nomination as presidential candidate at their convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 'As Vice President, J.D. will continue to fight for our Constitution, stand with our Troops, and will do everything he can to help me MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,' he wrote in a statement that cited his career as a Marine, bestselling author, and in business. Vance arrived on the convention floor two hours later to a hero's welcome for the official nomination vote. Sen. J.D. Vance arrived on the convention floor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, two hours after being named by Donald Trump as his pick for running mate Vance is a former Marine and bestselling author. He was elected to the U.S. in 2022 The Biden campaign immediately went on the attack, picking over Vance's hardline record on abortion and saying he would do the bidding of billionaires and corporations. Vance swept to national attention when he published his bestselling memoir 'Hillbilly Elegy,' in 2016, the year Trump was elected president. He has been a senator for less than two years but has established himself as one of the fiercest defenders of Trumps 'Make America Great Again' agenda, especially when it comes to foreign policy, trade and immigration. The former venture capitalist and U.S. Marine had initially been critical of Trump. He didn't vote for Trump in 2016 and around that time tweeted: 'My god what an idiot.' But insiders said he became increasingly politicized as he watched the nation's elite institutions turn on the Trump presidency even as he delivered on his promises. Since then he become personally close with the former president and his son Donald Trump Jr. His feisty appearances on Fox News impressed Trump, as has his recent weight loss. Last week, Don Jr. told DailyMail.com: 'You make a lot of acquaintances in politics, but J.D. is a great and loyal guy who has become a genuine friend. 'His entire life story is the embodiment of the American dream, but he never forgets where he came from.' Donald Trump revealed Vance as his pick with a statement on Truth Social on Monday afternoon that read like a resume, listing his career achievements Some delegates wrote in 'Vance' on their Trump signs after the announcement was made Trump noticed J.D. Vance's recent weight loss, calling him a 'handsome son of a bitch.' The role of VP has taken on even greater significance in the past 48 hours, after an assassins bullet hit the former president's ear on Saturday. His running mate will have to be ready to step up to the top job at short notice. 'J.D. has had a very successful business career in technology and finance, and now, during the campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American workers and farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond,' said the former president in his statement. Vance will also now be expected to enthuse Trump's base and inject some millennial energy into the race. His blue-collar Ohio roots will could also help beat President Joe Biden in his so-called 'blue wall' states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan. House Speaker Mike Johnson said: 'President Trump needs a vice president with innovative ideas and the ability to articulate them to every single American voter and Senator J.D. Vance fits that mold perfectly. 'It is time to unite our nation and we are eager to grow our House majority and get to work with this ticket to restore Americas greatness once again.' Don Jr., the former president's eldest son, who is very close to Vance, paid tribute to beaten 'finalists' Doug Burgum and Marco Rubio J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Vance wave to supporters after his winning his primary race in Ohio in 2022 Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and one of the voices lobbying for Vance, said: 'A great choice by Trump. Lets win this thing.' Insiders said the two other 'finalists' were Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota. Burgum was heavily backed by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who wanted a more moderate, restraining voice close to Trump. It was not enough. Even as a string of attack pieces surfaced in the media last week, betting markets declared Vance the clear frontrunner. After the announcement, Don Jr. paid tribute to 'incredible patriots' Burgum and Rubio. 'Biden is stuck with the worst VP in the history of our nation,' he posted on X. 'President Trump has one of the most dynamic, young leaders in the country in JD Vance. Jen OMalley Dillon, chair of the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign, attacked Vance's record and said he had been picked because Trump knew he would do what Mike Pence balked at: 'Bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it means breaking the law and no matter the harm to the American people.' The search for missing Jay Slater appears to have come to an end after Spanish police discovered remains in the remote park where his mobile phone lost reception nearly one month ago. Slater, 19, vanished on the Spanish island of Tenerife on June 17 after enjoying the final night of the three-day New Rave Generation music festival with friends in the Playa de las Americas party resort. He was last seen as he set out to walk from Masca, a village in the northwest of the Canary Island, to where he had been staying in Los Cristianos in the south. It was a trip that would have taken about 11 hours on foot over rugged terrain. Twenty-nine days after Slater vanished, police discovered a body believed to be Slater. The teen's possessions and clothing were found near the remains. The investigation into the disappearance of Slater, an apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, in Lancashire, has been dominated by unanswered questions and wild conspiracy theories. Now, MailOnline has unpacked six key questions that the community is asking about the high-profile missing persons case. Jay Slater, 19, vanished on the Spanish island of Tenerife on June 17 after enjoying the final night of the three-day New Rave Generation music festival with friends in the Playa de las Americas party resort The search for Slater appears to have come to an end after Spanish police discovered remains in the remote park where his mobile phone lost reception nearly one month ago. Pictured are mountain rescuers searching for Slater in mountains near the Tenerife village of Masca Pictured is the 40-a-night Casa Abuela Tina holiday rental near the remote village of Masca where Jay spent his final hours before going missing The investigation into the disappearance of Slater, an apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, in Lancashire, has been been widely followed Where were the human remains discovered? A body believed to be that of missing Slater was found on Monday in a remote area near the village of Masca on the island of Tenerife, Spain. Authorities have not yet released the exact location in which they found the body. 'The Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group of the Civil Guard has located the lifeless body of a young man in the Masca area after 29 days of constant search,' according to the statement. 'All indications indicate that it could be the young British man who has been missing since last June 17.' Slater, 19, was last seen as he set out to walk from Masca, a village in the northwest of the Canary Island, to where he had been staying in Los Cristianos in the south. It was a trip that would have taken about 11 hours on foot over rugged terrain. Slater frantically called his friend, Lucy Law, the morning of his disappearance and said he was 'lost in the mountains, he wasn't aware of his surroundings, he desperately needed a drink and his phone was on 1 per cent,' she said. Slater had attended a music festival the day before his disappearance. Video released by police today shows how mountain rescue experts scoured through 'inaccessible' terrain, scaled rock faces and picked their way through scrub and thick undergrowth as they carried out the search Why did Spanish police call off the search after 12 days? Spanish police called off the search for the missing apprentice bricklayer at the end of June after helicopters, drones and search dogs were deployed to find him. But in its statement on Monday, the force said teams had not stopped searching for Slater every day. The search for Slater had been carried out 'under a secrecy order from the court in charge of the investigation', LBC reported. Officials had been 'carrying on with the search, unbeknownst to anyone' in a bid to stop internet sleuths from searching themselves. 'The discovery was possible thanks to the incessant and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard during these 29 days, in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with onlookers,' its statement read. Slater, 19, vanished on the Spanish island of Tenerife on June 17 after enjoying the final night of the three-day New Rave Generation music festival with friends in the Playa de las Americas party resort. He is pictured with his best friend Brad Hargreaves, who he was holidaying in Tenerife with Jay Slater's final Snapchat at the remote Airbnb before he went missing. It is not the same Snapchat as the one where he 'admitted to stealing an expensive watch'. Spanish police search for missing Jay Slater using drones, dogs and a helicopter Volunteers are pictured helping in the search for the missing British teenager How come it took rescuers so long to find a body? Rescuers on Monday discovered human remains in the ravine where Slater's mobile phone lost reception 29 days ago. The body was found in an 'inaccessible' and very remote part of the island, which the BBC reported is part of the reason it 'took so long to find any evidence'. The terrain is described as 'dense' and is understood to be full of uneven ground and shrubland. There is also no sign of any emergency services in the nearby village. Video released by police today shows how mountain rescue experts scoured through 'inaccessible' and dense terrain, scaled rock faces and picked their way through scrub and thick undergrowth as they carried out the search. Footage of the area shows a ravine surrounded by steep cliffs and jagged mountain slopes. Rescuers were seen climbing rocks and battling through scrub as they carried out the search. Video also showed two members of the search team being winched out of the area by helicopter after the body had been found and recovered. The Spanish Civil Guard said the body was discovered in a very remote area near the village of Masca. A mountain rescuer is pictured during the search The video showed police mountain rescue experts moving through difficult terrain on foot, scaling mountains and picking their way through thick undergrowth A helicopter - believed to belong to a regional government emergency and rescue group - was used to recover the body using a winch because the ground was so steep, with officials coordinating with Civil Guard mountain rescue experts. Pictured are search team members being winched out of the area by chopper One rescuer was making frantic hand signals and appeared to be attached to another search team member. Detective Peter Bleksley, who previously worked on Scotland Yard's high-profile investigations team, told The Sun that if Spanish police 'had been able to mobilize a battalion of a thousand soldiers, for example, then I suspect the answers could have been discovered much earlier'. He added: 'But given the resources that they had, and doubtless other priorities that the Guardia Civil have on Tenerife, like keeping the peace and detecting, I think they probably deployed all the resources that they reasonably felt they could do at that time.' What will happen to the GoFundMe money? The GoFundMe appeal Get Jay Slater Home has raised more 54,000 as of Monday night. Slater's mother Debbie Duncan recently said the funds would be used to support volunteers hunting for her son in the mountains near to where his last phone call was traced. She thanked the 'vast' generosity of donors, saying her family are 'grateful for all of your support and kindness during this unimaginable time'. But now questions have been raised about what will happen to the money given by generous strangers after a body was found following a month of searching. Questions have been raised about what will happen to the money given by generous strangers after a body was found following a month of searching A helicopter arriving at the search site where a body, believed to be Jay Slater's, was found Jay Slater with his mother Debbie Duncan, 55, pictured before he went missing Jay's father Warren Slater and brother Zak on the mountain track where Jay's phone was last located, two weeks after he went missing The Masca forest area where Spanish Civil Guard has located the body of a young man which could be missing teenager Jay Jay Slater timeline Sunday June 16: Jay and his friends, including Lucy Mae Law, party at the final day of the NRG music festival at Papagayo night club in the resort of Playa de las Americas, Tenerife. Monday June 17: Between 3am and 6am BST, Jay goes back to an Airbnb with two men after they leave Playa de las Americas in a car. 7.30am: Jay shares a photo on his Snapchat account, which shows him standing at the doorway of a house with the location Parque Rural de Teno. Between 8.30am and 9am: Jay calls Lucy and says he is 'lost in the mountains with one per cent battery and no water' and has missed a bus back south and was attempting to walk. It would take 11 hours. The call cuts out and the phone's last location is a path in the rugged Rural de Teno national park, which is popular with hikers. Grainy CCTV, released on June 24, shows a possible sighting of Jay at Santiago at around 6pm - nearly ten hours after his mobile phone last pinged in the Rural de Teno Park at around 8.50am. The CCTV is taken close to a church, San Fernando Rey, where Jay's mother told MailOnline a man has come forward to say he saw someone matching her son's description sitting on a bench with two men. Tuesday June 18: Friends search the area but there is no sign of Jay and he does not return to his accommodation. Local police and mountain rescue teams start hunting for Jay - and his mother Debbie flies to Tenerife. Wednesday June 19 - Spanish police use drones, dogs and a helicopter but Jay is not found. They change their search to Los Cristianos because of a possible sighting, but it is ruled out and they return to Rural de Teno. Thursday June 20: Guardia Civil, mountain rescue, firefighters and volunteers continue to search the national park. Friday June 21: Lancashire Police offer support but it is declined by the Spanish police. Saturday June 22: Search teams continue scouring the national park and Debbie says: 'We just need you home.' Sunday June 23: Police examine outbuildings at the bottom of a ravine where his phone last pinged. Monday June 24: MailOnline learns Spanish police are investigating whether Jay's past is relevant. Jay's family focus on the area of Santiago de Teide - where the grainy CCTV they think is Jay was taken. Tuesday June 25: Jay's mother issues a heartbreaking plea for her son to come home as more friends fly out to Tenerife. TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas is seen outside Airbnb Jay went to. Wednesday June 26: Mr Williams-Thomas tells the two men that Jay went back with to 'come forward with crucial information' Thursday June 27: Jay's mother says she is in talks to withdraw some of 36,000 from GoFundMe to help with rescue efforts and living expenses. Friday June 28: Police in Tenerife call for an army of volunteers to help them scour the rugged terrain. Saturday June 29: Only six volunteers show up to help with the search. Investigators also say the two men Jay went back with have 'no relevance' to the case. Sunday June 30: Spanish police officially end the search for Jay Slater. They say the investigation 'remains open', however. Monday July 15: A body is found in the hunt for Jay Slater. His possessions and clothing are discovered next to human remains. Spanish cops say it points to an 'accidental fall' Advertisement There has been a flurry of new donations today, with 700 raised in the five hours since the tragic news was announced. This brings the total to over 54,000 of the 30,000 target - which was reached within three weeks of the teenager disappearing. A GoFundMe spokesperson told The Sun it is in 'regular contact' with Jay's family to work out the next steps for dealing with the money over the next few weeks. The family began to withdraw money two weeks ago to help with the search. Duncan also previously said the money was also being used to support mountain rescue teams, her own accommodation and food costs. The cash was used to fly in a team of specialist rescue volunteers yesterday as five people and four dogs were deployed, with a sixth person joining today. The group were sent by the non-profit organisation Signi Zoekhonden, based in the Netherlands, who have about 20 years experience in searching for missing people. Signi Zoekhonden contacted Slater's family after reading about the case and told the BBC it would use drones as part of their search, subject to flight permission being granted by local authorities. What is the cause of death and was it an accident? Members of a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard discovered a body near the village of Masca in their search for Slater on Monday. Missing persons charity LBT Global said that, while formal identification has not yet taken place, the remains were found with the 19-year-old's clothes and possessions near his last known location. The force said Slater could have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area where he was discovered. Tenerife's Guardia Civil said on Monday that officers are waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination to confirm that Slater died as a result of an accident. Detective Bleksley, speaking to The Sun, also noted that the undetermined cause of death is likely due to the condition of the remains. He said that establishing the exact cause of death would take time, citing the remote location in which the body was found and the time it cold take for officials to complete a forensic analysis. Who is the second British man he spent final hours with? A convicted drug dealer drove Slater to a remote Tenerife AirBnB just before he vanished last month, MailOnline previously revealed. The mystery 'Johnny Vegas' was Ayub Qassim, 31 - who was tracked down last week and said Slater 'arrived alive and left alive' at the apartment following an end of festival after party. TV sleuth Mark Williams-Thomas interviewed Qassim and coaxed out more details from him to flesh out the mystery which include him confirm the nickname Johnny Vegas is his. It is understood that Slater was driven away by Qassim and another man who have been deemed 'irrelevant' by Spanish police investigating his disappearance. MailOnline found Qassim at his flat in East London last month after a comprehensive investigation. Former Met Police officer Williams-Thomas, who exposed Jimmy Savile, told MailOnline last week: 'In the last 24 hours I have spoken in detail with Ayub Qassim, who is also known as Jonny Vegas. 'He told me he was on the (Veronicas) Strip in Playa de las Americas and said that Jay wanted to carry on partying and that he hadn't anywhere to stay, so he (Qassim) invited him back to his rental. 'In the car they played music all the way, they stopped once to get a can of fizzy drink, and there was three of them in the car, Jay in the back and Qassim's friend in the front. 'Once at the property, his friend opened the door, and went to the left and went straight to sleep. 'Jay walked in, and Qassim walked in behind him, went upstairs, and got him a red blanket.' Williams-Thomas added: 'Qassim said 'Yo bro, the sofa's for you there' and he gave him a towel if he needed a shower. 'Jay also asked for a cigarette and Qassim gave him a Camel cigarette and left it on the side. 'Jay then asked for a charger and then went into Qassim's friend room, while he was sleeping and got the charger.' Ayub Qassim, 31, (pictured far left with British rapper Potter Payper) was tracked down last month and said apprentice bricklayer Jay Slater, 19, 'arrived alive and left alive' Qassim is understood to have driven Slater to a remote Tenerife AirBnB the night before he disappeared. Pictured is an interior of the rented holiday home Qassim booked the Airbnb, which Jay went back to with him and another man, under the name Ayub Abdul Williams-Thomas said that Qassim told him he then went to sleep and woke up to the sound of the door buzzing. He added: 'Qassim opened the door and spoke to a woman and man and they told, him to move his car, which he did and he said he could see Jay chatting to a woman. 'He said that after moving the car, he came back and saw Jay had his trainers on and he told Qassim that the woman had said he could get a bus 'every ten minutes'. '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." Williams-Thomas added: 'Qassim says the next think 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'. Qassim would not tell Williams-Thomas the identity of the second man who was with him and refused to discuss an alleged theft of a Rolex which might have contributed to Jay's disappearance. Last week the TV detective, who has probed a string of missing persons cases, also said Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, had been 'anxious and scared' when he left the property. Qassim who has spoken to Spanish police was jailed in 2015 for nine years for being the ring leader of a London-based gang dealing heroin and crack cocaine in Cardiff. Jay Slater was seen partying at a rave in Tenerife just hours before he disappeared A social media post on Snapchat showed Jay Slater wearing a grey and green t-shirt before he vanished Jay Slater was seen partying in a nightclub just hours before his friends and family lost contact with him Why did he walk instead of taking a bus? Slater's last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island, which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. He was last seen by a local resident in Masca in north-west Tenerife just after 8am on June 17 walking northwards along the road out of the village after stopping to ask her for directions as he tried to get back to his accommodation in southern Tenerife. Ofelia Medina Hernandez, a witness who claims to have seen Slater standing by the bus stop directly outside the Airbnb, said he asked her about buses back to Los Cristianos. She explained that the next bus down the mountain in the Parque Rural de Teno was not until two hours later at 10am. It's not clear why Slater chose what would have taken an 11 hour walk instead of waiting for the bus or even flagging a car down. But Medina Hernandez's recollection is he was walking quick and the wrong way suggests possibly he wanted to get away from the area as quickly as he could. The easiest option would be to walk downhill and wave down a car which at almost 9am would not have been difficult as the area is full of tourists and hikers. Brussels, Belgium (PANA) The European Council (EC) on Monday adopted an assistance measure worth 5 million under the European Peace Facility to provide the Beninese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises) with military equipment to meet their operational requirements and pre-deployment training needs Protesters hurled bricks and fireworks at riot police near a Dublin factory set to house asylum seekers today, with officers spraying activists with pepper spray. Gardai clashed with hundreds of people gathered at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock as fighting exploded throughout the day. A number of fires were started at the site after anti-immigration protesters set up a makeshift camp. The disused building being redeveloped to house seekers, but activists today showed their opposition as photos showed a digger in flames. Ireland's Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she was 'appalled' by the scenes as incapacitant spray was used by the garda public order unit. It was used in an attempt to disperse a crowd which had gathered close to where the makeshift anti-immigration camp had been set up. Gardai officers deploy pepper spray at a protester today after fires were started at the former site of the Crown Paints factory in Coolock, north Dublin A protester throws an object at Gardai officers as they deploy pepper spray in retaliation Gardai officers stand guard next to a digger that was set alight Fireworks thrown by protesters land at the feet of Gardai officers Protesters fire fireworks at gardai officers during a stand off A youngster throws a bottle towards gardai officers during a stand off with protesters Gardai officers detain a protester at the former site of the Crown Paints factory Gardai officers detain a protesters after a number of fires were set Gardai public order unit officers deploy pepper spray at a protester Gardai have charged 15 people in relation to public order incidents at a site designated to house asylum seekers in north Dublin. They are due to appear before a special sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on Monday evening. The violence flared in the morning after preparations were made to start work at the disused building. Protesters gathered, some with their faces covered, and a number of fires were set. Workers who were to begin renovating the premises were removed from the site. The protest camp was set up several months ago to prevent workers from renovating the premises, with people there around the clock. Videos on social media also showed a stand-off between gardai and protesters, while some demonstrators shouted abuse at officers. Gardai public order unit officers deploy pepper spray at protesters The Garda Public Order Unit as wheelie bins are set alight by protesters A man uses a bottle of water to wash pepper spray from his eyes Masked protesters are pictured at a stand off with gardai officers today Protesters wore masks and balaclavas as the area filled with smoke from the digger on fire Gardai officers detain a protester in Coolock, north Dublin today Gardai officers detain a protester during the stand off Masked men and youths were also at the site, while a man with a megaphone told the crowd the Government is going to 'change the constitution'. He claimed ministers will 'change the 39th amendment to take our private property'. 'They are going to ask you if you have a private room and force you to put them in,' he said. Dozens of Gardai formed a line to bar access to protesters, with officers from the Public Order Unit also in the area. The violence escalated as bricks and fireworks were thrown at Garda officers and the fire service, and bins and mattresses were set alight. Traffic was diverted from the area and one of the city's main arteries, the Malahide Road was closed. Pictures from the scene showed a number of people being detained by Gardai. A large number of people gathered this evening after a call on social media for a protest to take place at 6pm. Protesters gather at the former site of the Crown Paints factory in Coolock, north Dublin Gardai take security measures as anti-immigration protesters gathered Two Gardai officers detain a protester on the ground Ireland police department Gardai arrest an anti-immigration protester Gardai officers during a stand off with protesters after a number of fires were started Ireland police department Gardai take security measures as anti-immigration protesters gather at a site designated for asylum seekers in Coolock Gardai were again attacked with missiles and responded by using incapacitant spray. A spokesman said officers remain at the scene of a 'serious public order incident'. The spokesman added: 'There is a significant Garda presence in place, which includes several Garda public order units. 'Several people have been arrested, and are currently in custody at Garda stations in Dublin, pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. 'The Malahide Road at Coolock is currently closed in both directions, and local diversions are in place. 'It is the intention to re-open the Malahide Road as soon as it safe to do so. 'This operation remains ongoing.' Ireland police department Gardai pictured with riot shield surrounded by smoke Ireland police department Gardai arrest an anti-immigration protester on a bike A person is detained as protesters stand off with Gardai in Dublin today In a social media post, Ireland's Justice Minister Ms McEntee said: 'I am appalled at the criminal behaviour that took place in Coolock today. 'I have spoken to the Garda Commissioner (Drew Harris) and he has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice.' She added: 'Gardai were on the scene immediately and the public order unit is on site. 'People engaged in such acts will face the full rigours of the law.' A spokesman for the Dublin Fire Brigade said: 'The Malahide Road is closed in both directions near the industrial park as we deal with pallets and construction machinery alight. 'Three fire engines from Kilbarrack, North Strand and Finglas fire stations along with a turntable ladder are on scene.' Gardai gather at the site of a number of fires that were started at the former site of the factory People look on as protesters stand off with gardai in Coolock, north Dublin A man is detained as protesters stand off with gardai after a number of fires have been started at the former site of the Crown Paints factory Sinn Fein Dublin City councillor Micheal Mac Donncha described the scenes as 'deplorable'. He said: 'The burning of vehicles and attempted burning of the building are violent criminal acts and must be strongly condemned. 'Those responsible should desist immediately. 'This is an effort to spread fear and hate in our communities and the vast majority of decent people want nothing to do with it.' The Irish government has been struggling to manage the arrival of asylum seekers into the city of Dublin. Hundreds of migrants are due to be housed in centres in Kerry and Westmeath, with intentions to develop the existing Thornton Hall site in Dublin, according to plans seen by the Irish Independent. Amid growing concerns about the appearance of encampments across the city, the government has reportedly greenlit plans to set up a new International Protection Office (IPO), responsible for examining and processing applications for international protection, outside of the capital. Ireland and the UK have been embroiled in a in recent months over the issue, with senior politicians in Dublin suggesting Britain's Rwanda policy has caused the spike in arrivals of those 'fearful' of deportation to the African state A Florida man was killed by cops after he reversed into his grandmother in a blind rage after she left an Almond Joy candy bar to melt on top of his computer. Henry Maynard, from Polk County, got into an argument with her after she bought him chocolate while he was asleep. He woke up, saw it had melted on his computer and 'went into a rage' before running nearly a mile to his parents' house where he picked up a bag and took a car. Maynard called 911 to say he was about to commit a crime and was confronted by a Polk County deputy and his worried family. He reversed into his 81-year-old grandmother and rammed into sheriffs deputy Christian Quattlebaum's car before trying to enter it and he was shot dead by the deputy. The elderly woman suffered a broken arm and was taken to a nearby hospital. An incident involving an Almond Joy candy bar sparked a horrific sequence of events that ended in the death of 19-year-old Henry Maynard (pictured) in Florida Maynard, who did not have a driving license, took a car from his parents' house which was unregistered and called 911. 'He tells the operator hes about to commit a crime and he needs to be able to escape,' Sheriff Grady Judd said. His grandmother called his parents and said 'hes here in the car and hes in a rage', according to the Sheriff. The teenager's mother, who worked as a Polk County detention deputy for 10 years, and his father, a nurse, made their way to the scene. He was confronted by his family and Deputy Quattlebaum near Oakwood Estates in Winter Haven. But Maynard reversed his car and knocked his grandmother over before accelerating into the sheriff deputy's car and tried to enter it. 'A neighbor said that this man jumped out of his vehicle in an absolute rage, like a madman, ran to the driver-side door of the deputys vehicle and started yanking on it til it came open and started climbing into the vehicle,' Judd said. 'Our Deputy Quattlebaum is trying to get out of the passenger side of the car because he doesnt know what this persons doing. He reversed into his 81-year-old grandmother and rammed into sheriffs deputy Christian Quattlebaum's car before trying to enter it and he was shot dead by the deputy His grandmother called his parents and said 'hes here in the car and hes in a rage', according to the Sheriff Grady Judd (pictured) 'They just rammed his vehicle and is now trying to attack him.' The sheriff's deputy pulled out his gun and shot Maynard during the chaotic scene. The teenager's father tried to save his life with CPR but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Quattlebaum, who has worked with the force for four and a half years, was treated for his injuries. The incident is being investigated by the 10th Judicial Circuits Officer Involved Deadly Incident Task Force. DailyMail.com has contacted the Polk County Sheriff's Office for comment. At least 300 migrants, including a baby and several children, arrived at the Port of Dover on Monday after being rescued crossing the channel by UK Border Force ships. Several children wrapped in towels and wearing lifejackets were seen by onlookers, as well as a baby being carried by an adult man. There was a large operation underway all day involving both French and British ships collaborating to rescue people that were seeking to cross the channel on small boats. About 843 people have arrived in July this way. This year, 14,232 people have arrived in 283 boats, with 18 deaths since January including four last Friday. Several children wrapped in towels and wearing lifejackets were seen by onlookers in Dover, as well as a baby being carried by an adult man. At least 300 migrants, including a baby and several children, arrived at the Port of Dover on Monday after being rescued crossing the channel by UK Border Force ships There was a large operation underway all day involving both French and British ships collaborating to rescue people that were seeking to cross the channel Several children wrapped in towels and wearing lifejackets were seen by onlookers, as well as a baby being carried by an adult man. All Border Force vessels are now back at harbour. The Hurricane, Volunteer, Defender and Typhoon are based in Ramsgate, while the Ranger returned to Dover where it could be seen dropping off more migrants. Today marks the fifth consecutive day of crossings. 127 people in two boats crossed the 21-mile voyage on Saturday, while 41 people arrived in one boat on Sunday. In recent months, migrants have taken longer, riskier routes to evade authorities. One group of Border Force vessels and a French ship were seen along the usual migrant passage, around halfway between Calais and Dover at the narrowest point of the channel. British boats Hurricane and Ranger, along with French boat Minck, operated around 16 miles from Dover. It is unclear if more migrants are attempting the crossing via these two routes. The Mail on Sunday revealed yesterday that beefed-up anti-terrorism laws will be used to try to tackle the small boats crisis, under plans to be unveiled by the Government in the King's Speech. In recent months, migrants have taken longer, riskier routes to evade authorities Home Secretary Yvette Cooper intends to use Labour's thumping Commons majority to extend powers under the Terrorism Act to organised immigration crime More than 1,000 small boat migrants have reached Britain since Labour took power. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper intends to use Labour's thumping Commons majority to extend powers under the Terrorism Act to organised immigration crime, and she is now headhunting a former top spy such as Sir Alexander Younger, the ex-MI6 chief to fill the role of Border Security Commander. Ms Cooper is also planning to increase by 50 per cent the number of specialist officers from Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) stationed within Europol, the EU's crime-fighting agency, as part of the new drive. A Home Office statement said, 'Everyone wants to see an end to the dangerous small boat crossings. They are undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. 'We are taking action to smash the people smuggling gangs responsible for this trade, establishing a new Border Security Command to bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terror-style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas. 'Our staff continue with their dedicated mission to save lives in the Channel whilst working with our French and other international partners to ensure the criminals responsible face the full extent of the law.' Former President Donald Trump officially became the Republican nominee at the convention in Milwaukee seizing another lifetime achievement just two days after he dodged a would-be assassin's bullet. It happened after his adopted home state of Florida gave him his 125 votes. It set off cheers inside the Fiserv arena, video fireworks, and house band playing 'Celebration.' Iowa state party chair Jeff Kaufmann has officially nominated Donald Trump as the Republican nominee. The procedural move brought a big round of cheers inside the arena. It came minutes before Trump announced online that Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance is his selection as vice presidential running mate, the culmination of a long 'Apprentice' style process that kept people guessing who he would choose. Trump's nomination is the culmination of a campaign that ran more than a year, after his November 2022 launch, shortly after the Republicans' underwhelming performance in the midterm elections. That preceded a period where Trump would face a series of setbacks, including the FBI search of his home and multiple criminal indictments, only to score a series of political wins as he dispensesed with the Republican field to march through the primaries. Former President Donald Trump was formally nominated as the Republican nominee in Milwaukee Monday House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump ally, wielded a huge gavel during the key part of the process. It marked another career high for Trump, just two days after he was nearly killed in an assassination attempt. That event saw him hustled off stage at his Pennsylvania rally, only after firing up his supporters with a series of fist pumps. Then, Trump announced he would fly to Milwaukee Sunday. It was the second bing win for Trump Monday. In the morning, Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, issued an order dropping his classified documents case, deciding that Trump nemesis Jack Smith's appointment wasn't constitutional. The convention went through the roll call of votes, where each state announces its votes for president, with each state designating a speaker to address the convention. In the case of Utah and its 40 delegate votes, it was Sen. Mike Lee, who praised his state's 'big families, big hearts and big ideas.' Nevada GOP Chair Michael McDonald brought up complaints about electronic ballots Speaker Mike Johnson holds the gavel and presided over the convention during the key moment The political high comes just two days after Trump survived an assassination attempt Then, Lee told the convention crowd that his 'friend and colleague' Vance was Trump's selection. Speaker Johnson noted that the order is determined by the convention, which is why it began with Iowa, which gave Trump a key win that kicked off his effort to wipe away political opposition. It was Trump's son Eric Trump who read out the results of Florida's 125 votes in a state governed by former rival Ron DeSantis. He was joined by wife, RNC cochair Lara Trump, who wore royal blue dress for the first day of the convention. In front of him were Donald Trump, Jr. and fiance Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is set to address the gathering. Donald Trump's campaign has raised more than $4million for the families of the three men either killed and wounded during Saturday's assassination attempt. As of writing, the number on the Trump-sanctioned GoFundMe was at $4,328,763 - more than four times its initial $1million goal. All donations will be divvied up by relatives of late firefighter Corey Comperatore, 50; David Dutch, 57; and James Copenhaver, 74, as they either mourn or wait for their loved ones to recover. The Trump team confirmed the GoFundMe's authenticity to The Hill, as the two living victims are said to be at hospitals in stable condition. Donald Trump's campaign has raised more than $4million for families of the three men either killed and wounded during Saturday's assassination attempt All donations will be divvied up by relatives of late firefighter Corey Comperatore (pictured), or the two men wounded in the attack, as they mourn or wait for their loved ones to recover 'President Donald Trump has authorized this account as a place for donations to the supporters and families wounded or killed in todays brutal and horrific assassination attempt,' a description on the highly trafficked webpage reads. 'All donations will be directed to these proud Americans as they grieve and recover. 'May God bless and unite our nation,' it concludes. More than 358 people proceeded to comment to show their support - as an astronomical 56,5000 people opened up their figurative wallets. The top donation appeared to be from former Trump donor Steve Wynn, a billionaire former casino operator who has lobbied for the GOP frontrunner relentlessly. That gift clocked in at an eye-watering $50,000, from a man handpicked by Trump to be finance chair of the Republican National Committee in 2017. In the comments, onlookers expressed sorrow over the single life lost as a result of the shooting, as well as feelings of empathy for the still suffering victims and their families. Most singled out Corey Comperatore, a firefighter who was struck by one of 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks' bullets while rushing to protect his family. He was hailed as 'a brave man, a patriot, and a husband, son and father,' and posthumously promised, 'This country will always remember you.' Currently recovering are David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, a former marine and retiree, respectively Most donators singled out Comperatore, a firefighter who was struck by one of 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks' bullets while rushing to protect his family. He is seen in this undated Buffalo Township Fire Company 27 handout photo, as many mourned the loss All were shot by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who somehow managed to get just 130 yards from where the aspiring president was speaking in Butler. An investigation is underway Others brought up the two remaining men, both of whom had been critically wounded, but are now said to be in stable condition. Copenhaver, a retiree who hailed from Moon Township, Pennsylvania, was a grandfather who left behind a wife and two kids. Dutch, meanwhile, was from New Kensington, and had been an ex Marine 'He has had one surgery and undergoing another this morning,' MCL District 8 vice commandant Matt Popovich wrote in a post to Facebook. 'He is currently in an induced coma.' The rush of donations come as the Secret Service faces mounting questions over how Crooks managed to get just 130 yards from where the aspiring president was speaking in Butler. The Butler resident shot Trump in the ear with an AR-style rifle his father purchased legally, and was killed by Secret Service agents within seconds. An investigation is underway. The nationalisation of ScotRail back on April Fools Day in 2022 was hailed by Nicola Sturgeon as a historic and momentous occasion. Piling on the rhetoric, she said it was a real opportunity to deliver a railway which is for the nation, and fully focused on being run for the benefit of its users. That was a combination of wishful thinking and baseless assertion - and within weeks the grandiose soundbites had unravelled in spectacular style. A perfect storm developed as union barons commanded their well-paid drivers - on average salaries of around 52,000 a year - not to work on rest days, sparking a drastic reduction in timetables. ScotRail, nationalised in 2022 by the SNP, has slashed 600 services despite hiking fares by 8.7 per cent That dispute was eventually resolved but now history is repeating itself with the rail operator slashing 600 services, ironically in a bid to preserve certainty and reliability, after four unions rejected a pay offer. The certainty, of course, was that passengers would continue to get a raw deal - including TRNSMT concert-goers in Glasgow who were left high and dry after the final performance at the weekend. ScotRail bosses warned fans heading to the venue at 10.30am on Sunday that they would be operating on an emergency plan and that timetables would be limited in the evening. Later that statement was retracted - and they announced that services would be terminated before the finish of Calvin Harriss headlining set. Fans were urged to consider travel arrangements, though many of them had already considered them prior to the event and had been planning to take the train. The net result was that thousands of those attending, many of them teenagers, faced the prospect of being stranded with no easy or safe means of getting home. ScotRail churned out the usual apologies but they were scant consolation to anxious, angry parents who were deployed at the last minute to pick up their kids from Glasgow city centre. Thousands of people faced being left stranded in Glasgow on Sunday night following the TRNSMT music festival after ScotRail terminated its services at 10.30pm Those whose cars fall foul of the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) wouldnt have had that option - unless they wanted to incur a hefty fine. Dire predictions that nationalised ScotRail would turn into CalMac on wheels have been proved right, time and time again, and the TRNSMT debacle is just the latest example of its unerring knack of getting it badly wrong - and leaving passengers to pick up the pieces. Ms Sturgeon had said back in 2022 that the Nationalists were making public transport a more attractive option, especially for Scotlands younger generations - something TRNSMT fans might find hard to swallow. Unhappily for John Swinney and his Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, there are no private firms to blame for the disruption as government takeover means the responsibility lies squarely with the SNP. Many long-suffering commuters may be feeling nostalgic for the days when the railway was run by Dutch firm Abellio, which was stripped of its 7billion contract in December 2019 after years of appalling performance. A lot of them have switched to the bus or the car, assuming its LEZ-compliant, and anyone working night shifts or on Sundays knows that even when the system is functioning broadly as designed the service is patchy, poor - or non-existent. Theres little doubt that from the start rail union bosses saw the new Left-wing political masters of the railway - Nationalists who were then in partnership with the anti-capitalist Green Party - as a soft touch unlikely to take a strong stand against industrial unrest. Train drivers union Aslef informed ScotRail earlier this month that it was considering a ballot for industrial action over pay, while Unite, RMT and TSSA also rejected a wage increase. In the meantime, many drivers have refused to work extra Sunday shifts and overtime, heaping extra pressure on a network that was already struggling to cope. Yet a ScotRail train driver was paid an astonishing 103,000 last year - becoming the first to earn a six-figure sum following nationalisation. That makes it harder to stomach rail fares shooting up in April by 8.7 per cent across the board, following an increase of 4.8 per cent last year. Union chiefs may be holding the SNP to ransom, but passengers dont care about the ideology of nationalisation, or who runs the railway, they just want to arrive at work on time, or get home in the evening - preferably seated, though most of us gave up on such luxuries long ago. Wi-fi is advertised but rarely if ever works - how difficult would it be to fix it, immediately boosting productivity at a time when the SNP is at least theoretically committed to growing the economy? With a decent wi-fi connection, it would be easier to read all those apologies from ScotRail on social media - and its tetchy exchanges with irate customers. But these are secondary concerns when your train hasnt even turned up, or no longer appears on the timetable after service cuts. When it does, the automated ticket barriers are glitch-prone, the carriages are cramped and filthy, and theres standing room only on busier routes. Meanwhile, ministers in their chauffeur-driven cars can avoid the turmoil of cancelled trains and look forward to an easy ride to the office. The SNP now effectively controls one of the biggest and broadest transport companies in Scotland - encompassing ferries, rail and even aviation. Yet the common denominator between each branch of this state-controlled behemoth is chaos and scandal. Theres a potential bill of up to 400million for the botched Ferguson Marine ferries contract, dogged by delays and cost overruns, while more than 30million of public funds has been written off over the purchase of Prestwick Airport in 2013. Ms Sturgeon had said it would be a viable enterprise when the Scottish Government bought it for 1 in 2013 - another historic and momentous day. The transport game turned out to be tougher than envisaged for the SNP - but even more challenging for the travelling, or frequently non-travelling, public. ScotRail managing director Joanne Maguire is on a salary of 185,000-190,000 - so at least is someone is benefiting from the shambles, just not the taxpayer. Against this bleak backdrop, its beyond baffling that Labour appears to be ploughing ahead with plans for rail nationalisation south of the Border. Its proposal for setting up Great British Railways (GBR) may appear in the Kings Speech tomorrow (WEDS) - a public body which would take control of contracts currently held by private train operators when they expire, or when theyre breached. Labour expects this ambitious process to be completed during its first term in office, supposedly without the taxpayer having to pay a penny in compensation to outgoing private operators. A quick look at how rail nationalisation has played out in Scotland might have led to a re-think. Fat cat rail chiefs and union bosses have prospered - but long-suffering passengers are paying a high price for yet another bungled SNP reform. A Scottish Tory MSP tipped to stand for the party leadership faces being ousted by his local branch over claims of inaction and too much focus on woke issues. Jamie Greene, who is expected to join the race to succeed Douglas Ross, is set to be deselected as a candidate for Holyrood by local members and councillors in North Ayrshire. Senior officials from the North Ayrshire and Arran Conservative and Unionist Association say he faces defeat if he attempts to stand as a candidate in Cunninghame North again at the next Holyrood elections in 2026. They have already raised the issue with party officials and intend to highlight concerns with the next Scottish Tory leader, in a move which could end his Holyrood career by damaging his prospects on the partys regional list. Mr Greene, MSP for West Scotland, has already been axed from the Scottish Tory frontbench team - and claimed that the decision was down to his support for the SNPs controversial gender reforms. Tory MSP Jamie Greene faces being deselected following criticism from the chairman of his party's North Ayrshire association over a 'lack of involvement' during local elections David Rocks, chairman of the North Ayrshire association, said: Hes not really been involved for the past few years with the local association in North Ayrshire. He is a west of Scotland regional MSP, along with Pam Gosal and Russell Findlay, and there was absolutely no support during the council election or the general election either, so local members that have worked hard for him have not been pleased with the lack of involvement. Weve reached out to him in the past, there is no real bad blood or anything. Its just there is an absence and a disconnect of communication and support, which is unfortunate. Pam and Russell have been quite active in North Ayrshire and this wasnt even the area in which they stood (as constituency candidates). Certainly, as chairman, I wont be allowing him to stand again if he wants one of these seats, and the executive committee have more or less agreed with me on that. When there is a new leader of the Scottish Conservatives elected, I will write as chairman on behalf of the committee to say just how displeased we are. He said Mr Greene regularly spoke publicly without consulting the partys local councillors or the local association - and highlighted his support for the Scottish Governments Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. (GRR) Mr Greene, who voted in favour of the SNP's controversial Gender Recognition Reform bill, was also accused of being 'more interested in social democratic issues' than local matters Mr Rocks said: That caused an awful lot of problems because he didnt consult me as chairman or any of the members and councillors. He voted for it in parliament and as chairman I got quite a lot of emails from members and supporters saying they werent pleased at all, and was this the mood and opinion of the association? I had to reassure them it wasnt and Mr Greene hadnt consulted us at all either. I know it was very much a personal decision and Douglas (Ross) allowed MSPs to vote freely. But as a regional MSP you should really consult your local associations. He added: Some of his views just dont chime with us here either. He is quite on the liberal side and we are a bit concerned he is more interested in social democratic issues and, dare I say, woke issues rather than local things that we focus on. A lot of the MSPs from all parties are more interested in these populist things. On the prospect of Mr Greene becoming a candidate to become party leader, Mr Rocks said: If you cant communicate and support the area where youve stood before and the associations that you represent I dont think that makes good qualities for leadership. An awful lot of my councillors and members in North Ayrshire wouldnt be pleased at all (if he became leader), to the point where they might resign. There is a big concern there if he became leader. Constituency candidates are selected by local branches following a vote of members who attend a selection meeting, while the party is responsible for ranking local candidates on its regional lists. Concerns about Mr Greene have already been raised by Mr Rocks with Mr Ross, party director James Tweedie and chairman Craig Hoy. A North Ayrshire councillor, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: The last time we saw Jamie campaign locally was at the 2021 by election. We expect more support from our MSP. Then there was the contentious GRR. Jamie was massively out of step with members, the association, and councillors. Following his decision to vote for the GRR the previous group leader, Councillor Tom Marshall, wrote to Jamie about his decision. The letter highlighted a lack of engagement with local members on such a contentious subject. There has never been any response to that letter, or to numerous concerns which were raised by local members on social media. Considering the above, the reaction to reports that Jamie is being touted as a future leader of the party have been met with total astonishment. A source close to Mr Greene said: Jamie is disappointed, but not surprised, by these comments. The leadership contest has not begun, nor has he declared, yet some establishment figures are briefing against him. Jamie has a strong track record in standing up for North Ayrshire and Arran, particularly our islands. That hard work as a regional MSP for eight years is a matter of public record and one he is proud of. A father accused of murdering his eight-year-old daughter after a religious circle withheld the child's medication for days initially wanted to 'protect' his child from the group's beliefs, a court has been told. Jayde Struhs told the court her father, Jason, attempted to help monitor and administer his daughter Elizabeth's medication after she almost died from diabetic ketoacidosis back in 2019. They last spoke in October 2021 - around the time her mother Kerrie Struhs was serving a jail term for failing to supply Elizabeth with the necessaries of life. Elizabeth, a diabetic, died between January 6 and 7 in 2022 at her family's Rangeville home. The Crown contends members of a cult-like religious group known as The Saints - which include Jason Kerrie and older brother Zachary Struhs - withheld the girl's insulin for several days until she became unresponsive and died. The group professes to believe in the healing power of God and shun medical intervention or treatment. In 2019, Elizabeth was rushed to hospital by Jason Struhs when she became unwell as a result of her then-undiagnosed Type-1 diabetes. Jayde Struhs, who is the older sister of Elizabeth, told Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday she visited the child 'every day' while she was recovering in Brisbane Children's Hospital. Elizabeth Struhs (pictured) was allegedly killed after members of a faith-healing church group withheld her insulin for days in early 2022 Kerrie did not visit Elizabeth at all, she said. In her evidence, Jayde said Jason learned caring for Elizabeth's diabetes would be a 'full time' job which he had to monitor 'every day, all day'. The court was told Jason knew this would be difficult due to his wife and The Saints' views about medical treatment. Jayde said her father said he would take 'full responsibility' of providing insulin to Elizabeth 'knowing he would get no help'. 'He wanted to change a lot of things when he got home... because we nearly lost her,' Jayde said of her father. 'He wanted to protect Elizabeth from this.' Jayde said her father described how he wanted to 'be around more' and part of the family while moving away from Kerrie and The Saints' beliefs. In her opening, crown prosecutor Caroline Marco said Jason was eventually baptised into the group after he found caring for Elizabeth difficult. The Crown alleges Jason made the decision to stop administering insulin to Elizabeth while the other members of The Saints 'manipulated' him into joining their congregation and adopting their beliefs. In 2019, Elizabeth was rushed to hospital by Jason Struhs (pictured) when she became unwell as a result of her then-undiagnosed Type-1 diabetes Jayde she left the faith-healing circle in 2014 over conflicts about her sexuality. She said her father never told her he had joined them. Jason Richard Struhs, 57, and 62-year-old Brendan Luke Stevens - the leader of the religious group known as The Saints - are both charged with her murder. Her mother Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49, and elder brother Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, are facing charges of manslaughter. Loretta Mary Stevens, 67 - the wife of Brendan Stevens - and their adult children Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, and Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34 and his wife Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, and a third woman, Keita Courtney Martin, 22, are also charged with manslaughter. All defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial continues. A vicious sex offender was let out of a secure hospital and went on a horrific four-day rampage of sexual violence against eight women, eventually raping a jogger at knifepoint. Louis Collins, 29, subjected his final victim to an hour-long ordeal after dragging her away from her running route just days after he walked out of Lambeth Hospital unescorted. The pornography addict hit the woman on the head from behind as she jogged in Marble Hill Park in Twickenham, south-west London. He showed her a knife and a broken bottle and said dont scream, nobodys going to help you, before ripping her clothes off and assaulting her. The serial sex offender had attacked seven other women across London during the previous 72 hours before he was eventually captured. Louis Collins, 29, was let out of a secure hospital and went on a horrific four-day rampage of sexual violence against eight women in August last year Collins left Lambeth Hospital (pictured) on August 18 after doctors agreed he could have an unescorted leave of absence Collins attacked and raped a woman who was jogging in Marble Hill Park in Twickenham, pictured. He showed her a knife and a broken bottle before assaulting her He pleaded guilty to 27 charges including rape, attempted rape and sexual assault between August 18 and 21 last year. Collins left Lambeth Hospital in south London on August 18 after doctors agreed he could have an unescorted leave of absence, Patricia May, prosecuting, told his sentencing hearing. Shortly afterwards he groped a woman at Clapham Common station as she rode up the escalator. Collins returned to the hospital later than he should have, but despite this was permitted to leave again. On August 20, he left the hospital again and went on to attack and attempt to rape two other women, sexually assault four more and threaten to kill a further victim. But Collins final attack at 8am on August 21 was his most horrific, Ms May told the court. The rapist hit the jogger over the head and forced her to the ground. The victim shouted for help and two women began to approach her, but Collins yelled f*** off or I will kill you and they left. In a statement read to Kingston Crown Court, the victim said: On August 21, my world turned upside down. What happened on that day shattered my sense of security, trust in people and justice. The victim said she had faced 18-month waiting lists for professional counselling to help her deal with the trauma. Siobhan Molloy, defending, said Collins, who is originally from Croydon in south London, claimed that voices in his head had compelled him to carry out the attacks but a doctor had found he did not have a psychotic illness. The South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, responsible for Lambeth Hospital, has been contacted for comment. Collins will be sentenced on Tuesday. EU's new system will start in October and could cause problems at small airports Holidaymakers will take up to four times longer to process at European airports after new post-Brexit border rules are activated, ministers have been warned. Aviation chiefs have told Government officials that millions of British fliers face chaos across the Continent when the European Union's 'entry-exit' system (EES) goes live in October. They fear it will spark huge queues in some European airport arrivals halls and potentially flight cancellations with planes left waiting on the tarmac. This is because the new system will require passengers to undergo biometric checks, such as registering fingerprints and having a photo taken, to enter the bloc. These details will have to be re-registered every three years. However, it is feared that many airports - particularly smaller regional hubs with lower budgets - will not have installed the required infrastructure and will be ill-equipped to handle the vast volume of registrations. Aviation chiefs have warned the government that British travellers could face waiting times up to four times as long at EU airports from October, when new EU rules come into force The EU rules could prove to be new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's first major test with Brussels, amid calls for him to urge Brussels to delay the scheme's launch One senior industry source said that processing could go from 30 seconds to 120 seconds at some EU airports once the 'entry-exit' system is introduced The warning came during a call between industry chiefs and Whitehall officials at the Home and Foreign Office earlier this month, the Daily Mail has learned. It is understood that on the call with Whitehall officials, Lapland and children potentially not being able to see Santa was given as an example of where chaos could arise. Second homeowners with properties in more remote locations where they're flying into smaller airports could also be affected. It could prove to be new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's first major test with Brussels, amid calls for him to urge Brussels to delay the scheme's launch or seek derogations for British travellers. 'It has the potential to cause huge disruption,' one senior industry source said. 'Officials in Government departments have been told that the average processing time could go from about 30 seconds to 120 seconds. 'That might not sound like a lot, but if you've got hundreds of passengers landing it all adds up and you potentially get to a place where you've got huge queues and people can't disembark planes because arrivals halls are full. 'That in turn could lead to flight cancellations if they're sitting on the tarmac for too long because the short-haul carriers have tight turn-around times. Larger airports will probably be ok. It's the smaller ones where you're more likely to have bottlenecks.' David Jones, a former Tory Brexit minister who sat on Parliament's European Scrutiny Committee, said: 'It's a really major problem which Keir Starmer has got to address as a matter of priority and get a grip of it as there's no sign that adequate steps are being taken to address the issue. 'There should be some form of derogation, at least until adequate facilities have been built up in airports. 'It's not simply the inconvenience to British travellers. It's going to be the fact that a lot of regional economies in Europe are going to be very badly affected by the fact that people will be put off travel because of the disruption.' 'We could see very long queues and an impact on flights. 'It's clearly going to be a problem for a lot of holidaymakers who go to the south of France, where there's lots of small airports - to Bergerac, places like that - and a lot of places in Spain.' Lapland and children potentially not being able to fly into Finland to see Santa are understood to have been given as an example of where chaos could arise An app being developed by the bloc would allow travellers to register and upload their biometric data before travel, smoothing any bottlenecks at the border. But it is understood that it will not be ready by October. Brussels has already delayed the scheme's launch twice. It was initially supposed to come into force in 2022 and it may decide to delay it again. British ports where the border is in the UK, such as Dover, have also been scrambling to prepare themselves for the scheme. There have been warnings of huge tailbacks at Dover because of the extra time it will take to provide fingerprints and a photograph to enter France. As it stands, tourists from non-EU countries like Britain who drive through ports to the Continent and don't need visas can simply have their passports assessed and stamped by border guards, keeping traffic flowing smoothly. For air travellers, Britons will be required to give their biometric data upon landing in Europe as that's where the border is. The EES system will apply to Britons entering 25 EU countries and four non-EU countries that are part of the bloc's border-free Schengen area. The system will apply to all nationals of countries that are not in the EU or Schengen when travelling to the 29 countries. The EU has decided to introduce it to strengthen its borders. A Labour party spokesman said: 'The previous government failed to adequately prepare for the new system that was coming in. 'This is just another example of tory chaos. 'We are now looking into and scrutinising plans to mitigate the impact on businesses and travellers.' A European Commission spokesman said: 'The Commission is in close contact with the industry representatives, is aware of the concerns expressed so far and will continue the dialogue. 'It is expected that our partners ensure the necessary preparations at all border crossing points.' Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Lawmakers in the Gambia have rejected the repeal of the Womens (Amendment) Act 2015, which prohibits the practice of FGM/C in the country Spiking will be made a specific criminal offence in tomorrow's King's Speech. The action of putting a drug into someone's drink or into their body without their consent is already a crime covered by other legislation. But party sources last night confirmed that the Government want to create a new, specific offence so that police can respond better to incidents. Figures show that spiking cases have soured in London in particular. The Met Police alone received 1,383 allegations of spiking in 2023, with the majority of incidents occurring in public places such as bars or nightclubs. The action of putting a drug into someone's drink or into their body without their consent is already a crime covered by other legislation (stock photo) Overall, police received 6,732 reports of spiking in the year ending April 2023, including 957 cases involving needles. The average age of victims was 26, with women accounting for 74 per cent of all cases. The Home Affairs Committee, which the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper previously chaired, have previously recommended that spiking be recognised as a standalone crime punishable by up to 10 years in jail. A report produced last year, when the committee was being charged by new policing minister Dame Diana Johnson, read: 'Several offences may be used to prosecute spiking but there is no specific offence. 'This, together with limited reporting, investigation and prosecution, means there are few deterrents for offenders. 'As part of our recommended national anti-spiking communication campaign, the Home Office should send a clear message to offenders that there is no acceptable defence for spiking, that it can have devastating consequences for victims and that it is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.' The Met Police alone received 1,383 allegations of spiking in 2023, with the majority of incidents occurring in public places such as bars or nightclubs (stock photo) The Conservative government took strong measures against spiking last year, including training door staff to spot perpetrators and help victims, and investing in spiking testing kits for venues. Ex-Home Secretary James Cleverly said: 'Spiking is a perverse crime which can have a lasting impact on victims. Our comprehensive new measures are designed to help police and staff in bars, restaurants, pubs and other premises to protect victims and bring more offenders to justice.' The Tory general election manifesto also pledged to create a new offence for spiking as part of a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. The sea predator responsible for a swimmer's horrific injuries off the coast of San Diego has been revealed. Experts at the Shark Lab at California State Long Beach analyzed DNA from the wetsuit Caleb Adams was wearing when he was attacked on June 2, and the bite marks on the fabric. They have since determined that Adams, 46, was bitten by a juvenile white shark that is believed to be around nine feet long and between six to eight years old, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Fully grown white sharks can be up to 23 feet in length and live 45 to 70 years. But it remains unclear what drew the shark to attack Adams as he was swimming with more than a dozen others about 100 yards off the shore of Del Mar, California. He suffered major wounds to his torso, left arm and hand during the attack, with photos obtained by the Today Show showing deep gashes across his upper body. Adams suffered major wounds to his torso, left arm and hand during the attack Adams has since described feeling the shark grab at him, and his efforts to fight back. 'I tussled with the animal for what was seconds,' he told the Today Show. 'The second time I struck the animal, I felt a softer tissue. I'm going to speculate that that was in the shark's mouth and I have several cuts on my hands and wrist.' Friends and lifeguards have said they heard Adams screaming, and used surfboards to help him back onto the shore. 'We heard some screaming. You could tell it was serious from the tone of the screams,' lifeguard Kevin Barrett told ABC7. 'You have to realize that you're swimming into an active shark attack and it's scary,' he added. 'But there's not really an alternative, and he's one of our own and we've got to bring him in.' When they swam up to Adams, they saw he was bleeding profusely. 'We didn't know the extent of the injuries but there was definitely a lot of blood in the water,' Barrett said. Caleb Adams, 46, was attacked by a juvenile white shark while swimming off the coast of Del Mar, California last month Friends and lifeguards have recounted how they found him bleeding profusely and rushed to get him back onto the shore Adams was then rushed to shore, where lifeguards and others provided first aid - applying a tourniquet to stop the bleeding before loading him into an ambulance to undergo surgery. Throughout it all, a friend said, 'Caleb was amazingly calm.' He is now continuing to recover from his wounds, and said he feels lucky that he survived. 'I think my wounds reflect that it was only a portion of what the shark could have done, so I can consider myself really lucky,' Adams told CBS 8 San Diego, adding that he is now only swimming in a pool. It remains unclear whether the shark that bit Adams may still be in the area, which experts say is a haven for juvenile sharks. Researchers have tagged about 40 sharks in the water between Del Mar/Solana Beach and Torrey Pines - where the predators may stay for weeks or months at a time. A lifeguard and his friend were part of efforts to save Adams after realizing something was wrong Chris Lowe, the director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach, said his team is now working to determine why sharks congregate at certain beaches, suggesting it could be that they like the water temperature, find plentiful fish and stingrays in the area or that they can avoid predators by staying in shallow waters. 'People should be aware it is an aggregation site and there are sharks out there,' he told the Union-Tribune. Lowe's team is also set to analyze DNA from water samples taken after the June 2 attack to determine more about the individual sharks in the area. 'We have to sequence all the DNA and then try to reassemble it to see if we can identify [the shark] as an individual,' he said, noting that it could not be determined whether the shark that bit Adams was a male or female. Adams has since described feeling the shark grab at him, and his efforts to fight back Researchers could then use that DNA to try to build shark family trees, which could help scientists determine just how many sharks are in the water and how they might be related. Shark attacks remain rare, as Lowe said they prefer to eat bottom-feeders over humans. 'We are definitely not on the menu, because if sharks liked to eat people, southern California would be a Costco for sharks, right?' he told CBS 8. 'We just don't see that.' But last year, the US saw an uptick in unprovoked shark attacks and fatalities. There were 36 recorded attacks across the country in 2023, accounting for more than half of the attacks across the globe. It is unclear whether the shark that attacked Adams is still off the shore Experts have told DailyMail.com they believe the increase in shark attacks is due to a mixture of a surplus of fish migrating to the coasts and environmental conditions, while others have said it's caused by America's efforts to clean up the ocean. Many say 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. 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 '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.' Florida and California see the most attacks in the US each year, 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. Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk has said he is looking at developing an Iron Man-style suit of armor after alleging two separate attempts on his own life. Musk's comments came in the wake of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on Saturday. Trump survived after a bullet grazed his right ear, but a member of the crowd was killed with two others left critically injured when Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20 opened fire at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. In response to a post on X to Musk that read 'you better beef up your security too @elonmusk' after the shooting, Musk agreed writing: 'Maybe it's time to build that flying metal suit of armor [sic].' Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk has said he is looking at developing an Iron Man-style suit of armor after alleging two separate attempts on his own life Although Musk may have said the comments in jest, he may very well be serious Musk has alleged there have been two separate attempts on his own life A friend of Musk, Ian Miles Cheong, suggested he 'triple' his protection, writing on X: 'If they can come for Trump they will also come for you.' 'Dangerous times ahead. Two people (separate occasions) have already tried to kill me in the past 8 months. They were arrested with guns about 20 mins drive from Tesla HQ in Texas,' Musk wrote in response, without sharing any specifics. Musk, who actually made a brief cameo in Iron Man 2, has previously shown interest in a Tony Stark-inspired suit, even meeting with engineer Dylan Lange Edminston who built his own prototype. The writer behind Iron Man Mark Fergus said Musk was one of the inspirations behind the Marvel comic's billionaire philanthropist. The billionaire CEO officially endorsed Trump as his pick for president following Saturday's shooting calling the Republican former president 'tough.' Musk, the world's richest person, posted the endorsement with a video of Trump with blood on his face pumping his fist after multiple shots rang out at Trump's rally. The posts cement Musk's shift towards right-wing politics and hands Trump a high-profile backer in his quest to return to the White House in the November 5 election. 'I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,' Musk posted on his social media platform X. Musk has previously shown interest in a Tony Stark-inspired suit, even meeting with engineer Dylan Lange Edminston who built his own prototype Musk, right, even made a brief cameo in Iron Man 2 in 2010 Musk has also donated to a political group working to elect Trump and endorsed him on Saturday 'The martyr lived,' he wrote in a later post, citing a reported debate between conservative venture capitalist Peter Thiel and LinkedIn co-founder and Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman. Musk later posted a photograph of Trump at the event, followed by: 'Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt.' Musk, who has been ramping up criticism of U.S. President Joe Biden, has also donated to a political group working to elect Trump, Bloomberg reported on Friday. The report did not indicate how much Musk donated but added it was 'a sizable amount' given to a group called America PAC. The South African-born businessman's sway stands to benefit Trump, since Musk has one of the largest footprints on X with 189.5 million followers, meaning his posts can instantaneously spread widely. Musk has said he previously voted for Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton as well as Biden. However, in the last few years, Musk has espoused right-wing views, becoming a fierce critic of diversity initiatives, Biden's immigration policies and complaining that Democrats had given a 'very cold shoulder' to Tesla and his rocket company SpaceX. Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face as he is surrounded by secret service agents in an attempt on his life at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania Trump manages to raise a clenched fist after getting back to his feet following the shooting In March, Trump, who is expected to be formally nominated later this week as the Republican Party's candidate for the fall election, reportedly met with Musk and other wealthy donors. In response to reports of the meeting, Musk posted on X: 'Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President.' In May, he also denied media reports that there had been talks over a potential advisory role for him in any Trump presidency. In July 2022, Musk said Trump was 'too old to be' president of the United States, and Trump needed to 'sail into the sunset.' Musk also said he was leaning towards supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president in 2024. Trump hit back, calling Musk a 'Bull***t artist' Then in late 2022, Twitter reversed its ban on former President Trump shortly after Musk completed his $44 billion purchase of the controversial social media platform, which he later renamed X. Last month, Trump said he was 'a fan of Elon,' adding 'he does an incredible job with Tesla.' Musk said at a recent Tesla shareholder meeting that the two men had 'some conversations.' Trump is a 'huge fan' of Tesla's electric pickup trucks, Musk said. Trump has reiterated his pledge to immediately abandon the Biden administration's 'mandate' to support the electric vehicle industry. Musk's support for Republicans and his antisemitic and other controversial comments have alienated some Tesla customers, weighing on the carmaker's reputation and sales. The Science Museum will not renew sponsorship deal with energy major Equinor The Science Museum has caved in to pressure from campaigners to cut ties with an energy firm over concerns about its environmental impact. Since 2016, the Norwegian-state owned oil, gas and renewable energy firm Equinor had sponsored the museum's interactive 'WonderLab'. But the partnership will not be renewed as the company has failed to align its carbon emissions with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C. Emails from Sir Ian Blatchford, the Science Museum director, indicated that Equinor breached the museum's pledge to ensure sponsors complied with the 2015 agreement, according to The Observer. A spokesman for the Science Museum Group confirmed the end of the sponsorship and encouraged Equinor to improve its emissions reduction targets. The Science Museum has cut ties with the Norwegian-state owned energy firm Equinor over concerns about its environmental impact Emails from Sir Ian Blatchford, the Science Museum director, indicated that Equinor breached the museum's pledge to ensure sponsors complied with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement The sponsorship deal had faced criticism from campaigners due to Equinor's involvement in Rosebank, an oil and gas field in the North Sea 'Equinor's sponsorship of the Science Museum's WonderLab gallery has drawn to a close at the end of their current contract term,' he said. 'The partnership concludes with our warm appreciation and with our encouragement to Equinor to continue to raise the bar in its efforts to put in place emissions reduction targets aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5C.' The deal had faced criticism from campaigners due to Equinor's involvement in Rosebank, an oil and gas field in the North Sea. Climate change activists hailed the museum's decision as a 'seismic shift' but urged the institution to apply the same standards to other sponsors, including BP and the Indian coal-mining conglomerate Adani. Chris Garrard, co-director of Culture Unstained, remarked, 'With BP also failing to align its business with Paris Agreement goals and Adani being the world's biggest private producer of coal, the museum must now hold these companies to the same standard and stop promoting their toxic brands.' While BP said it is aligned with the 1.5C Paris Agreement target, the claim is disputed by activists. Jonathan Porritt, the former director of Friends of the Earth UK, and co-author of a children's book on global warming with King Charles, said the decision by the Science Museum was: 'Excellent News!' He added: 'Excellent news! The Museum's intransigent and dishonest posturing over its links with Equinor,BP and Adani has brought it into terrible disrepute.' The move by the Science Museum is just the latest example of a high-profile corporate and arts relationship ending because of alleged environmental, social or governance issues. A number of literary events, including the Hay Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival and Borders Book Festival, recently cancelled long running partnerships with Baillie Gifford after threats of boycotts from authors and protests by activists. Baillie Gifford, which manages 225 billion in assets, was targeted by the activist group Fossil Free Books over its investment in fossil fuels and companies that have commercial dealings with Israel. A Colorado lawmaker has been forced to apologize for a bizarre post that compared Donald Trump to Satan following the attempt on his life Saturday. Steven Woodrow, who represents Denver in the Colorado State House of Representatives, made the post on social media shortly after the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. 'The last thing America needed was sympathy for the devil but here we are,' he wrote, in reference to Trump. Immediately, he was swarmed with outrage and people pointing to other posts he'd made comparing Republicans and Trump supporters to Nazis. Woodrow gave a statement Monday where he apologized, though he did not say he was sorry to any specific person or group. Steven Woodrow, who represents Denver in the Colorado State House of Representatives, has been forced to apologize for a bizarre post that compared Donald Trump to Satan following the attempt on his life Saturday Trump seen surrounded by U.S. Secret Service at a campaign event in Butler after a bullet fired by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks grazed his ear 'We must always resolve our differences peacefully at the ballot box - not through violence,' Woodrow said, according to the Denver Post. 'I know people are hurting, and (I) apologize that my words caused additional pain.' Though he condemned the assassination attempt, he still managed to criticize Trump, saying his 'inarticulate' post was meant to state that 'acts of violence like this are awful and only make it more likely that Trump now wins,' echoing a freakout among Democrats since the first debate. Woodrow was even slammed by his fellow Democrats, with the state party chair also offering a both-sides condemnation. 'Spoke with Rep Woodrow - this is a regrettable tweet and @coloradodems condemn it. We also condemn Lauren Boebert recklessly and dangerously blaming President Biden for today's attack,' wrote Shad Murib. 'Folks - we must commit ourselves to helping to calm our politics, not further dividing us,' he added.' Woodrow has since deleted his account on social media platforms X and Instagram. Donald Trump's family and supporters have slammed the liberal media for downplaying Saturday evening's assassination attempt - and for running tone-deaf opinion pieces in the wake of the atrocity. Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was also criticized for saying that the Republican Party needed to tone down the rhetoric. CNN, The New York Times and NBC have been lambasted by Republicans online for their reactions to one of the worst cases of violence ever seen in American political history. Publishers were blasted for describing gunshots as 'loud popping noises' and for describing Trump as 'falling' from the stage without reference to the assassination attempt. The New York Times was also criticized for running an opinion piece called 'Donald Trump Is Unfit To Lead' which encouraged voters to 'reject him in November' on the morning after the shooting. Printed against an ominous, backlit silhouette of Trump's side profile, the title page also reads: 'He failed the tests of leadership and betrayed America.' The president's son Donald Trump Jr led the criticism on X, calling CNN 'vile' and 'a disgrace' for their coverage of the Butler, Pennsylvania campaign event incident. The 'totally devastated' mother of Jay Slater has demanded answers tonight after a body was found in the hunt for her missing son. Jay, 19, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, vanished on the morning of June 17 on the Spanish holiday island of Tenerife, prompting a huge search to try and find him. Spanish police called off the official search after 13 days, but on Monday announced they had discovered a body close to where his mobile phone is believed to have lost reception 29 days ago, with his 'possessions and clothes' nearby. Formal identification has not yet taken place, but officers say that 'everything is pointing to it being' the missing teen. His grief-stricken mother Debbie Duncan, 55, has 'lots of questions which she hopes will be answered in the coming days,' a source close to the family said. 'Debbie is completely devastated,' the insider told The Sun, adding that the 'hardest' part for Duncan is that the remains were 'found so close to the original search site'. It comes as the family's detective has revealed that Ms Duncan and the teen's father Warren Slater were targeted by trolls in a sick hostage video that saw them falsely claim 'We have your son', The Mirror reported. Mark Williams-Thomas, a former Scotland Yard cop who has been working with Jay's family over the last few weeks, suspects the fraudsters were trying to extort the teen's loved ones for a 'significant sum of money'. Jay Slater with his mother Debbie Duncan, who has been searching for him since June 17 Members of a mountain rescue team (pictured during the search) found a body on Monday Jay's friend Brad Hargreaves - who went on holiday with him and flew back last week - paid a poignant tribute on Instagram The post included a string of red broken hearts (seen above) A source close to Jay's family has said the news that a body has been found so close to the search site is 'hard to take' for Ms Duncan. 'It means it's entirely possible they have walked past his body whilst searching for him,' the insider told The Sun. Noting how Jay's family had been 'dreading' an update like this from Spanish authorities, the source claimed that for his mother it 'hasn't completely sunk in yet'. They added: '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's family endured conspiracy theories and 'awful comments' being posted online during the search for the apprentice bricklayer, including hoax hostage videos. Williams-Thomas told The Mirror the family received 'two videos posted of separate people, meant to be Jay, having been beaten up'. One clip allegedly featured the 'We have your son', with the detective saying it was 'created for publication by someone wanting to give the impression they had Jay held hostage'. He explained that 'within hours' they had established that Jay was not the individual depicted in the videos. The investigator also revealed that the family have been contacted by people who said 'they have Jay and will give information in exchange for a sum of money'. Authorities have not yet released the exact location in which they found the body, but it is understood that the remains were discovered in a remote area near the village of Masca 'What has taken up the most time has been investigating the many theories and the false information that gathered traction on social media and then subsequently in the media,' he told the newspaper. 'You will understand that the family lived in hope of every new piece of information that Jay was alive, so they all needed to be investigated.' Members of the local community in Lancs have been tying blue ribbons to posts to symbolise their support during the search. A local man told the BBC that 'everybody knows everybody around here'. 'It's a shame, everybody wants him home - everybody wants an answer.' Another local said it has 'hit the community hard'. He said: 'He's a local lad and he's well known. I feel sorry for the family going through this. It's hit hard.' Jessica Rogers, the girlfriend of Jay's brother, took to social media to pay tribute to the teenager. She posted a photograph of Jay with a blue love heart, accompanied by the words: 'Will love you forever' after the news broke of the discovery. Brad Hargreaves, who was on holiday with the apprentice bricklayer in Tenerife before his disappearance, also took to social media to post a tribute on Monday. Mr Hargreaves, who had been helping with the search before flying back to Britain last week, posted two snaps of him and his friend alongside a heartfelt message. 'Nothing be the same without you. Rest easy brother. Love you always,' he penned with a flurry of broken hearts and a crying emoji. The force released video footage of rescuers climbing rock faces and battling through scrub as they carried out the search Part of the clip shows two members of the search team being winched out of the area by helicopter after the body had been found and recovered Members of a mountain rescue team found a body on Monday in their search for Jay. Authorities have not yet released the exact location in which they found the body, but it is understood that the remains were discovered in a remote area near the village of Masca. The Mirror reported that police found Jay's body a '20-minute walk' from where the teenager's phone last pinged. While formal identification has not yet taken place, the remains were found with the 19-year-old's clothes and possessions near his last known location, missing persons charity LBT Global said. The body was found in an 'inaccessible' and very remote part of the island, which the BBC reported is part of the reason it 'took so long to find any evidence'. The terrain is described as 'dense' and is understood to be full of uneven ground and shrubland. There is also no sign of any emergency services in the nearby village. The force released video footage of rescuers climbing rock faces and battling through scrub as they carried out the search. Part of the clip shows two members of the search team being winched out of the area by helicopter after the body had been found and recovered. Spanish police called off the search for the missing apprentice bricklayer at the end of June after helicopters, drones and search dogs were deployed to find him. But in its statement on Monday, the force said teams had not stopped searching for Jay every day. Volunteers searching for Jay in Masca after the teenager went missing Pictured: Former British army reservist Chris Pennington walks the Masca mountains with Daily Mail's Fred Kelly in search of the teenager after he went missing A 13-day search by police using drones, dogs and a helicopter failed to find any trace of Jay The search for Jay had been carried out 'under a secrecy order from the court in charge of the investigation', LBC reported. Officials had been 'carrying on with the search, unbeknownst to anyone' in a bid to stop internet sleuths from searching themselves. 'The discovery was possible thanks to the incessant and discreet search carried out by the Civil Guard during these 29 days, in which the natural space was preserved so that it would not be filled with onlookers,' its statement read. Tenerife's Guardia Civil said on Monday that officers are waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination to confirm the cause of death. Jay could have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area where he was discovered, the force said. The teenager had attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island, which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. The search for Jay had been carried out 'under a secrecy order from the court' He had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca after a night out, but the two men said to have rented the property were later ruled 'not relevant' to the case. LBT Global, which supports the families of British people missing overseas, said: 'LBT Global is saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater. 'It is understood the body was found close to the site of his mobile phone's last location. 'Although formal identification is yet to be carried out, the body was found with Mr Slater's possessions and clothes. 'A post-mortem examination and forensic enquiries will follow. 'LBT Global are supporting the family at this distressing time and ask for everyone to afford them space and privacy to come to terms with the news.' Supporters raised more than 54,000 to help fund the hunt for the teenager. A team of snipers were inside the building where Donald Trump's would-be assassin climbed onto the roof and opened fire after being spotted 26 minutes earlier, bombshell new reports claim. Cops at the scene noticed Crooks, 20, clambering into place in plain sight just 130 yards away from the rally stage and took two photos of him because he was acting suspiciously, sources told WPXI. Meanwhile a counter-sniper team was inside the building that was being used as a 'watch post' during the event when Crooks pulled the trigger, The New York Post reported. It's not clear if he had the AR-style rifle on him when he was first seen scaling the AGR International Inc. factory or if he stayed on the roof for the whole time. The shocking new allegations surfaced as authorities and the U.S. Secret Service face mounting questions over how Crooks was able to shoot the former president and kill a member of the rally crowd. A horrifying video shows witnesses pointing at the roof and shouting at officers trying to warn them. MAGA fans also say they alerted law enforcement to Crooks as he crawled to his shooting position, but he was still able to shoot. Shortly after Trump was raced away, the lifeless body of Thomas Matthew Crooks was seen on a rooftop surrounded by agents. His death was not confirmed until 7:24pm Law enforcement at the event in Butler, Pennsylvania are facing intense scrutiny after it was revealed the roof was flagged as a security 'vulnerability'. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said on Monday night that she would not resign despite mounting calls for her to step aside over the huge lapses that led to one of the most horrific acts of political violence in history. The local Pennsylvania sheriff defended the police officer who confronted Crooks on the roof moments before the shooting. Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe confirmed on Monday that one of his armed officers encountered the gunman seconds before he unleashed carnage on the former president's rally. The cop, who has not been named, retreated when Crooks pointed his AR-style rifle at him. Slupe defended the decision and told KDKA he would 'have done the same thing.' 'All I know is the officer had both hands on the roof to get up on the roof, never made it because the shooter had turned towards the officer, and rightfully and smartly, the officer let go. 'I mean, people think the officers are supermen like you hold on the roof with one hand while you are hanging on for dear life and pull a gun out. It doesn't work that way. Yearbook images have surfaced of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who opened fire on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania Slupe also said that members of his department were alerted to Crooks' suspicious behavior before the rally began and started searching for him right away. Local police, not the Secret Service, swept the building, but Crooks was still able to climb to the top and take aim at the former president. Slupe acknowledged that Crooks was in the 'secondary ring' of protection when he opened fire. He said the Secret Service is responsible for the ring immediately around the president, but local police take control of the outer ring. Trump grabbed his right ear as the first shots rang out at 6:12pm Attendees claimed they warned the Secret Service over a man on the roof where the gunman was later killed The former president, 78, survived the horrifying assassination attempt when the bullet missed him by less than an inch on Saturday afternoon. It came eight minutes after he took the stage at 6:03pm ET, where Trump began his remarks and pointed to a large graphic in the same direction where the shooter was perched atop an AGR International building. Even before he took the stage, Trump supporters said they spotted the gunman 'bear-crawling' across the roof with a rifle, but claimed their warnings to Secret Service were ignored. 'Im thinking to myself "Why is Trump still speaking, why have they not pulled him off the stage,''' one witness told the BBC. 'The next thing you know, five shots ring out.' With the sun still high on a bright day, Trump emerged to 'God Bless the USA' playing over the loudspeakers at 6:03pm, and remained waving and shaking his fist at the crowd for several minutes. Trump brought out a large graphic with statistics on the migrant crisis at the southern border, and told the crowd at 6:11pm: 'That chart's a couple of months old...' 'If you want to really see something that's sad, take a look at what happened,' Trump continued - before he abruptly grabbed the side of his head as several 'pops' filled the event space. The 78-year-old dropped to the floor in an instant as five more shots rang overhead in quick succession, before four Secret Service agents raced to the stage and dove on top of the former president. Stunning images showed Trump cowered on the floor as agents protected him, with blood dripping down his cheek. Several more Secret Service agents continued to flood the stage, while four heavily armed officers lined the perimeter ordering attendees to 'get down.' The sniper, sat 400ft across from the rally on an exposed rooftop, fired another shot at the stage a second later while Trump fans streamed out of the bleachers. 'The guy has spun around was jammed between the benches and a head shot here. There's lots of blood and he had brain matter,' the man told CBS News Secret Service scrambled to take control of the pandemonium where three attendees were hit, one fatally, within a matter of seconds. An emergency room doctor with blood spattered on his shirt later said he sprang into action to perform emergency CPR on one victim. 'The guy had spun around was jammed between the benches and a head shot here. There's lots of blood and he had brain matter,' he told CBS News. 'So I got him together so I got people there really helpful. I did CPR chest compressions as well.' Ed Miliband is facing fresh anger over his approval of three huge solar farms, with new allegations that some panels could be made with slave labour in China. The Energy Security Secretary was already under fire for risking Britains food security by giving the go-ahead to the renewable energy projects, including one covering 2,500 acres of farm land on the Cambridgeshire/Suffolk border. Now he has also been blasted by a senior Tory about the risk of human rights abuses in the Chinese production of the panels for another one of the schemes he has approved, the 2,000-acre Mallard Pass energy farm in Lincolnshire. Alicia Kearns, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the last Parliament, said: I am appalled Ed Miliband has approved Mallard Pass, despite the company behind the project, Canadian Solar, being named specifically as one of the worst examples of companies using slave labour. We cant go green on blood labour. Ed Miliband is facing fresh anger over his approval of three huge solar farms, with new allegations that some panels could be made with slave labour in China If built the Mallard Pass solar farm will stretch over 2,000 acres across Lincolnshire and Rutland (file image) More than 3,000 residents have signed a petition opposing the solar farm Alicia Kearns (pictured), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, shared on social media a letter she had written last week on the topic to Mr Miliband along with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Foreign Secretary David Lammy She shared on social media a letter she had written last week on the topic to Mr Miliband along with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Ms Kearns, a former member of the China Research Group of MPs, told the ministers the exposure of the UK solar industrys supply chains to Uighur forced labour is well-documented. She said that the US has already passed a law, the Uighur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which requires any company importing goods from the Xinjiang region to certify that they were not made by the large numbers of Muslims feared to be detained in camps and forced to work in factories there. The EU also recently approved a ban on imports made using forced labour. The UK is rapidly becoming a global outlier, and dumping ground, for dirty solar, Ms Kearns warned. She said a cross-party group of 43 MPs and 32 human rights organisations has called for import controls in the UK. Ms Kearns said Canadian Solar has been singled out as an offending company in a study by Sheffield Hallam University. The firm was contacted for comment. Last year it insisted it strongly condemned the illegal practice of forced labour and was confident in its supply chain processes to prevent us dealing with companies that may be involved in forced labour. According to legend, the heavy downpours of St Swithin's Day yesterday will now be repeated for the following 40 days. Given how summer has been such a damp squib so far, we'd probably all expect no different. Indeed the Met Office has flood warnings in place around the country for the rainfall expected to pour down in bucket loads today. But then that might just be it - as forecasters say the sun will make an appearance later in the week and temperatures could rise to 26C by Thursday. Although it is a fond legend to repeat at this time of year, the Met Office clarified that the superstition around July 15th - St Swithin's Day - is 'not backed up by statistics'. The proverb says: 'St Swithin's Day if thou dost rain, for forty days it will remain, St Swithin's Day if thou be fair, for forty days will rain na mair.' Forecasters issued several yellow weather warnings in force from 3pm yesterday to 9am today in a generally miserable July 16th. Tourists sheltering from the rain as they queue outside the Natural History Museum on July 9 People shelter from the heavy rain at Royal Windsor Racecourse during a Rum and Reggae event on July 15 Intense and heavy rainfall across the Home Counties yesterday led to extensive surface flooding Forecasters issued several yellow weather warnings in force from 3pm yesterday to 9am today in a generally miserable July 16th Racegoers take cover under their raincoats and umbrellas at Royal Windsor Racecourse on Sunday Downpours of up to 40mm - one-and-a-half inches - were due over the course of a few hours with the potential for heavy rain and localised flooding. Bands of showery rain are tracking north across the South West with further outbreaks of rain, which will be heavy at times today with a risk of thunder expected to develop later. It follows a soggy first seven months of the year so far, which has seen rain blamed for dampening economic performance and consumer spending. Andrea Bishop, Met Office spokesperson, said of St Swithin's Day: 'While the story is compelling, it's not entirely backed up by historical records and, similarly, when it comes to the weather folklore, it's not backed up by weather statistics. 'Since the start of records in 1861, there have never been 40 dry or 40 wet days in a row following July 15. Ms Bishop said that despite the wet start to the week, there is warmth on the horizon. After a mild start to the evening racing, there was heavy rain at Royal Windsor Racecourse in Windsor yesterday LONDON -- People shelter under their umbrellas in Westminster as the rain pours down on July 7 Shoppers on Oxford Street carry umbrellas to shelter from the rain last week Three racegoers at Royal Windsor Racecourse huddle under an umbrella on Sunday She said: 'There is some good news, though, with some improvement by midweek, at least for southern parts of the country with a ridge coming in and temperatures looking to rise. Parts of the southeast could see up to 26C on Thursday and Friday.' The good weather will continue to the weekend but - lest we get our hope's up of summer's glorious arrival - the rest of July looks very mixed. St Swithin was the Bishop of Winchester, who died in 862 AD. According to his own request, he was buried in the churchyard of the Old Minster (cathedral) at Winchester in a spot where 'the sweet rain from heaven might wet his grave.' More than a century later he was canonised and his remains were moved inside the cathedral on July 15. It was said that his spirit was so outraged that it rained for the next 40 days. Sunday June 16: Jay and his friends, including Lucy Mae Law, party at the final day of the NRG music festival at Papagayo night club in the resort of Playa de las Americas, Tenerife. Monday June 17: Between 3am and 6am BST, Jay goes back to an Airbnb with two men after they leave Playa de las Americas in a car. 7.30am: Jay shares a photo on his Snapchat account, which shows him standing at the doorway of a house with the location Parque Rural de Teno. Between 8.30am and 9am: Jay calls Lucy and says he is 'lost in the mountains with one per cent battery and no water' and has missed a bus back south and was attempting to walk. It would take 11 hours. The call cuts out and the phone's last location is a path in the rugged Rural de Teno national park, which is popular with hikers. Grainy CCTV, released on June 24, shows a possible sighting of Jay at Santiago at around 6pm - nearly ten hours after his mobile phone last pinged in the Rural de Teno Park at around 8.50am. The CCTV is taken close to a church, San Fernando Rey, where Jay's mother told MailOnline a man has come forward to say he saw someone matching her son's description sitting on a bench with two men. Tuesday June 18: Friends search the area but there is no sign of Jay and he does not return to his accommodation. Local police and mountain rescue teams start hunting for Jay - and his mother Debbie flies to Tenerife. Wednesday June 19 - Spanish police use drones, dogs and a helicopter but Jay is not found. They change their search to Los Cristianos because of a possible sighting, but it is ruled out and they return to Rural de Teno. Thursday June 20: Guardia Civil, mountain rescue, firefighters and volunteers continue to search the national park. Friday June 21: Lancashire Police offer support but it is declined by the Spanish police. Saturday June 22: Search teams continue scouring the national park and Debbie says: 'We just need you home.' Sunday June 23: Police examine outbuildings at the bottom of a ravine where his phone last pinged. Monday June 24: MailOnline learns Spanish police are investigating whether Jay's past is relevant. Jay's family focus on the area of Santiago de Teide - where the grainy CCTV they think is Jay was taken. Tuesday June 25: Jay's mother issues a heartbreaking plea for her son to come home as more friends fly out to Tenerife. TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas is seen outside Airbnb Jay went to. Wednesday June 26: Mr Williams-Thomas tells the two men that Jay went back with to 'come forward with crucial information' Thursday June 27: Jay's mother says she is in talks to withdraw some of 36,000 from GoFundMe to help with rescue efforts and living expenses. Friday June 28: Police in Tenerife call for an army of volunteers to help them scour the rugged terrain. Saturday June 29: Only six volunteers show up to help with the search. Investigators also say the two men Jay went back with have 'no relevance' to the case. Sunday June 30: Spanish police officially end the search for Jay Slater. They say the investigation 'remains open', however. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Director of the European Affairs Department at the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abderrahman al-Hadi Khamada, on Sunday chaired a meeting with some of the ambassadors from European, Arab and African countries accredited to Libya, who are due to take part in the Tripoli Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum, to discuss technical details and the final document to be issued by the forum With their jagged grooves and round dimples, these grainy grey images could be mistaken for the surface of the moon. But they actually show a much more distant member of our solar system Mars. They were snapped by NASA's Mariner 4 plucky spacecraft on July 15, 1965, to reveal more about our rusty red planetary neighbour. Until then, telescopic images of Mars namely enigmatic dark patches on its surface triggered the belief that it was home to an alien civilization. But Mariner 4 revealed a barren planet, squashing the belief it was a haven for life. After an eight-month voyage to Mars, Mariner 4 made the first flyby of Mars, becoming the first spacecraft to take close-up photographs of another planet A television camera onboard takes 22 pictures, covering about 1 per cent of the planet. Initially stored on a 4-track tape recorder, these pictures take four days to transmit back to Earth Mars: The basics Mars is the fourth planet from the sun, with a 'near-dead' dusty, cold, desert world with a very thin atmosphere. Mars is also a dynamic planet with seasons, polar ice caps, canyons, extinct volcanoes, and evidence that it was even more active in the past. It is one of the most explored planets in the solar system and the only planet humans have sent rovers to explore. One day on Mars takes a little over 24 hours and a year is 687 Earth days. Quick facts and figures Orbital period: 687 days Surface area: 55.91 million mi Distance from Sun: 145 million miles Gravity: 3.721 m/s Radius: 2,106 miles Moons: Phobos, Deimos Advertisement Daniel Bayliss, an assistant professor at the University of Warwick's department of physics, called Mariner 4's legacy 'immense'. 'Mariner 4s main mission was to take the first close-up images of Mars, which would tell us if it was a world that might harbour life,' he told MailOnline. 'However it showed Mars to be a heavily crated and most likely lifeless.' Mars was always known about by humans because it's visible in the night's sky with the naked eye a bright dot with a distinctly reddish-orange tint. But the first person to see Mars through a telescope was the legendary Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, in 1610. From then until as recently as the 1950s the golden age of Mars-inspired sci-fi books and comics it was reasonable to think that Mars had life on its surface. Dark markings on the Martian surface were perceived to be vegetation or 'canals', triggering the belief that the planet was a lush world like Earth. At the time, scientists thought the vegetation was a sign that an advanced human-like civilization lived on Mars. In the 1956 book 'Guide to Mars', British astronomer Patrick Moore wrote: 'There is no reason to suppose that low forms of vegetation may not exist on Mars, whilst there is a great deal of evidence that they do.' To learn more about the inner solar system Mars, Venus and Mercury NASA launched the $554 million Mariner programme in 1962. Pictured, the best Earth-based telescopic image of Mars prior to Mariner 4s mission, captured by the 100-inch Mt. Wilson Observatory in 1956. Note the enigmatic dark patches on the surface All Mariner spacecraft were based on a hexagonal or octagonal bus, which housed all of the electronics, and to which all components were attached A 1962 map of Mars, showing 'canals' snaking through the Martian landscape. The existence of the canals was debated as no close-up pictures of Mars had been taken - until Mariner 4's flyby in 1965 Mariner 1 and 2 had Venus as their target, while Mariner 3 in November 1964 turned attentions towards Mars although it suffered an unfortunate launch failure. Thankfully, Mariner 4 launched just a few weeks later from Florida's Cape Canaveral was more successful. Mariner 4 spent 228 days travelling the 325 million miles, finally getting close enough to snap photos on July 14 and July 15, 1965. At its closest, on July 15, it was 6,118 miles (9,846km) away from the planet. An on-board camera took 22 pictures, covering about 1 per cent of the Martian surface, which were stored on a 4-track tape recorder and took four days to transmit back to Earth. But to NASA's disappointment, instead of evidence of a lush world, photos revealed a dead surface dimpled with craters, resembling the moon more than Earth. Dr Bruce Betts, chief scientist at the Planetary Society, said the craft proved that the Martian environment 'was very hostile to life as we know it'. He told MailOnline: 'It found cold temperatures, a thin atmosphere, and no magnetic field, which showed that, unlike Earth, the surface would be susceptible to harmful radiation.' 'The invasion begins!' The belief that Mars could harbor alien life fueled some sci-fi classics, including the trading card series Mars Attacks (1962) Mars is the fourth planet from the sun - a dusty, cold, desert world with a thin atmosphere. Pictured, Mars captured by the Hubble telescope Launch of Mariner 4 from Florida's Cape Canaveral, November 28, 1964 NASA said Mariner 4 imaged some of the oldest and most heavily cratered terrain on Mars, while missing 'more diverse and geologically more recent features'. 'All in all, these findings dashed many scientists expectations of Mars as a place hospitable to life,' it said. According to Professor Bayliss, 'no-one knew' what life, if any, NASA scientists were expecting to find there, but it may not have been a huge surprise to find 'a barren Mars'. 'But it certainly did answer an age-old question as to what the surface of Mars was really like,' he told MailOnline. Ever since, scientists switched their focus to find evidence of past life on Mars, or basic organisms that are hidden from the view of any spacecraft. Dr Betts added: 'Mariner 4 demonstrated if there was life, it would likely be in the form of microbes that might be able to survive the extreme environment.' To date, no proof of past or present life on Mars exists, but scientists are in agreement that liquid water was once abundant there, perhaps as recently as 2 billion years ago, before its atmosphere was lost and the liquid water evaporated. Speaking to MailOnline in 2022, Professor Brian Cox said that the most advanced life to ever have existed on Mars was likely single-celled organisms 'at best'. Of course, since the 1960s, spacecraft have repeatedly landed safety on the Martian surface and taken brilliantly clear images of the dusty ground. But in an era that relied on rotary dial telephones, sending a little machine hundreds of millions of miles away to another planet was an unprecedented achievement. This image taken by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows a close-up of the rippled textures on Mars Professor Bayliss said Mariner 4 'broke new ground in terms of technology and exploration'. 'It paved the way for future space missions, and led to the development of many new technologies such as digital imaging and satellite communications,' he told MailOnline. 'These are things that we are all benefiting from now.' After its voyage past Mars, Mariner 4 maintained intermittent communication with Earth and returned data about the Martian environment for two more years. But by the end of 1967, the spacecraft had suffered tens of thousands of micrometeoroid impacts and was out of the nitrogen gas it used for maneuvering. The Mariner 4 mission officially ended on December 21, 1967 and it's believed what's left of craft is still orbiting around the sun, an obsolete bit of space junk. Online scammers have added a new weapon to their arsenal of tricks to part you from your hard-earned cash. Which? has issued an urgent warning to Zara customers that online criminals are using fake customer service accounts to dupe shoppers. The consumer advice group has uncovered 37 fake Zara accounts that have been replying to customers' genuine queries on X (formerly Twitter). These cybercriminals reply quickly to customer complaints in the hopes of tricking shoppers into handing over their personal information. Lisa Webb, Which? consumer law expert, said: 'Our investigation has found unscrupulous fraudsters are shamelessly trying to steal money and personal information from Zara customers seeking customer service advice on X.' Which? has issued an urgent warning to Zara customers to watch out for fake customer service accounts like this one attempting to scam users into giving away personal information Zara uses an official customer service account (pictured) to respond to complaints, but scammers are now tricking X users into believing they are the legitimate account Like many brands, Zara uses social media accounts to respond to customers' complaints in addition to traditional email services. When used correctly, these let customers reach a member of staff and resolve their issue as quickly and with as little fuss as possible. However, scammers are increasingly taking advantage of this new means of communication. Scammers create X accounts with names and profile images which are very similar to the official customer support account, @ZARA_Care. When a customer contacts the official account over X, the scammer quickly replies in the hopes that their victim won't notice the subtle differences. Their messages apologise for the inconvenience, stating that they had 'already escalated this matter to the relevant department' and now needed a 'reachable WhatsApp number for assistance'. Scammers respond to customer's complaints and ask them to send their number via a DM. Once they have your number the scammers will work to extract more sensitive information The fake accounts try and copy the style of Zara's legitimate accounts (pictured) so be sure to carefully read the accounts name. Only @Zara_Care is the real thing Once the fraudster has their target's contact details they can then begin working to extract more personal information with the eventual goal of committing identity fraud. One Zara shopper who shared their numbers with an impersonator account wrote on X: 'Sent my details, someone called and asked for my debit card details, but no one has checked or confirmed the parcel was found or that I will get a refund!'' Which? found that the 37 fake Zara accounts used messages that were extremely similar to a network of fake airline accounts that had been attempting a similar scam. This makes it extremely likely that the accounts are using bots to contact a high number of victims on a large scale. ZARA says that it reports fake profiles as soon as they are detected, yet Which? warns that the risk remains. Ms Webb says: 'There is an epidemic of fraud infiltrating all types of businesses in the UK and attacking consumers at scale using online channels'. Zara says it tries to remove any fake accounts as soon as they are spotted, but customers should still be wary of impersonators How to spot fake accounts If you are making a complaint over social media, it is important to make sure you double check the account's name before replying. Most companies will use a separate customer services account from their main account, so be sure to read the name carefully. For instance, Zara's main X account is @ZARA but its customer services account is @ZARA_Care. This information is available on ZARA's main account, as it should be for most other companies making use of separate accounts. Zara says its only official accounts are @Zara_Care, @Zara, @Zara_man, @Zara_Kids, and the only official WhatsApp account is 08000 304238. Things to look out for include accounts with suspiciously low numbers of followers, messages asking you to share personal details, or unusual profile pictures (stock image) Other red flags to watch out for are a suspiciously low number of followers or any account claiming to be a specific company employee. Which? says it noticed one fake account 'Sharon ZARA Supervisor', which used the photo of MP Zarah Sultana as its profile picture. Customers should also be wary of any account that asks you to send a DM with your phone number and other sensitive information or directs you to any external links. Following links sent by scammers can lead you to phishing websites which can install malware on your device or harvest your card details. Which? also reports that some scammers will claim that customers are owed 'compensation' in order to trick them into downloading a payment app. It is important to note that a blue 'verification' tick is no longer a sign of legitimacy as these can now be purchased following Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter. If you have given your bank details or any money to a scammer you should contact your bank as soon as possible and report the incident to Action Fraud (stock image) What to do if you have been scammed If you've sent your card details or any money to a scammer it is important that you call your bank as soon as possible to let them know. Any scam attempts should also be reported to Action Fraud, or the police on 101 if you live in Scotland. Even giving away a few details such as an email address, full name, or date of birth can be enough for hackers to begin gaining access to the rest of your information. If you believe you have handed any information over to a scammer, remain extra vigilant for suspicious activity on your accounts. You should also change your passwords and set up two-factor authentication to ensure your security. If you see any scammers on X, you should also report the account by selecting the three dots icon next to their name and choosing 'report' from the menu. It's a tragic and 'heartbreaking' sight 77 dead whales lined up on the shore at a beach in Orkney. Described as the biggest mass stranding in Britain for a century, it includes male whales up to seven metres (22ft) long as well as females, calves and juveniles. It's thought they suffocated by inhaling water from the oncoming tide or had their internal organs crushed by their own weight. But how did so many of them become beached at once? And why were they driven to shore? MailOnline spoke to marine biologists and whale experts in an attempt to unravel this devastating mystery at the isle of Sanday. A tragic sight: MailOnline speaks to marine biologists and whale experts in an attempt to unravel this tragic mystery at the isle of Sanday in Orkney, Scotland According to experts, the 77 whales are long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), a species found throughout the North Atlantic. Pilot whales have close social bonds and when one member of a pod gets into difficulties others often follow them, resulting in mass strandings. One member may have made a navigational mistake or become sick or disorientated, meaning they traveled too close to shore. 'When one family member is sick or injured then the other family members will remain with it,' Dr Kevin Robinson, executive director of the Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU), told MailOnline. 'Consequently, the whole group may be prone to strand.; Because they're an offshore species, pilot whales may not be familiar with inshore coastal features such as tidal races, sand bars and bottleneck harbours. '[They] may then get caught out by these physical anomalies when they find themselves too close to shore,' Dr Robinson added. Long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) are one of the most common species to strand in the UK The mass beaching includes male whales up to seven meters (22ft) long as well as females, calves and juveniles Ian Wiese, chair of Geographe Marine Research in Western Australia, said pilot whales are often the species involved in these sorts of events. 'They are deep water whales and if they are close to shore it seems to indicate that something is wrong probably with their navigation as they shouldn't be so close to shore,' he told MailOnline. 'There are a lot of theories as to why this occurs but we don't really know. 'They are very social and form large pods, so when an incident of this nature occurs there are normally a lot of whales involved.' Mr Wiese added: 'Once they beach themselves it is usually a race against time to save them. 'It has been found that the best approach is to wait until they can all be "relaunched" at the same time otherwise they often return and beach themselves again. 'However their bodies are not able to support their weight and their internal organs are damaged.' On 11 July 2024 at about 10:45am, British Divers Marine Life Rescue received a report of a mass stranding of long-finned pilot whales on the isle of Sanday in Orkney When they were discovered by a member of the public on July 10, 12 of them were still alive and struggling to breathe. But these surviving 12 had to be killed when efforts to return them back to the sea sadly failed, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said How are dead whales removed? Local authorities have several options available to them to remove dead beached whales. The animals can be taken to laboratories to be post-mortemed. Their skeletons are often collected by museums. Some councils choose to send them to landfill or to be partially incinerated. Depending on the location and size of the animal, some whales can be re-floated if still alive. Even if dead, nutrients from the flesh are valuable to the ocean ecosystem if returned to the sea. Finally, whales can be even buried on the beach or in remote areas left to decompose. Advertisement Like other whale species, pilot whales emit distinct 'clicks' to sense objects from reflected sound waves a process called echo-location. Dr Chong Wei, research associate at Curtin University's Centre for Marine Science and Technology, said human noise pollution could be disrupting this. 'These whales rely on sound for all major life functions and are extremely sensitive to it,' Dr Wei told MailOnline. 'The frequencies of many anthropogenic [human-made] noise sources overlap with the whales' hearing range. 'Those intense noise could cause hearing loss and behavioural changes in these animals.' Olaf Meynecke, Research Fellow at Griffith University's Coastal and Marine Research Centre, agreed that human triggers may be a factor. 'Once they are in shallow, sandy water they can no longer orientate themselves as they are using very fine tuned sonar,' he told MailOnline. 'The sand absorbs the sonar and the shallow water doesn't allow for it to travel far enough to map the area. 'Pilot whale mass strandings have occurred in similar regions historically but we are seeing an increase that can be attributed to increased stress, changes in environmental conditions, food availability and higher chances of group leaders to become unwell.' There's also speculation that the whales were chased to shore by orcas ('killer whales'), but it could be a combination of factors. Dr Capri Beck, a bio-acoustician at Geographe Marine Research, said: 'Another [possibility] is that something caused them to end up in shallow water, be it chasing prey, an interruption to magnetic fields or some sort of event that spooks them. 'When these animals end up close to shore, particularly in shallow sloping areas, their sonar often doesn't work so well and they are not used to waves and currents. 'They may become disorientated and end up stranding.' Pilot whales use emit distinct 'clicks' to sense objects from reflected sound waves a process called echo-location (file photo) When the 77 whales were discovered by a member of the public on July 10, 12 of them were still alive and struggling to breathe. But these surviving 12 had to be killed when efforts to return them back to the sea sadly failed, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said. 'Sadly the remaining 12 pilot whales have been euthanized due to their condition,' said BDMLR in a statement. It added that they were 'deteriorating from the many hours they have spent stranded on the beach resulting in crush injury from their own weight and the high likelihood that they have inhaled water with the incoming tide'. Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme intend to begin post-mortem investigations. Almost a year ago a similar event involving pilot whales occurred on Lewis, another Scottish island located to the west of the mainland, when at least 55 whales died or were euthanised. A mass stranding also occurred in Western Australia earlier this year. In the 75 years since the 1950s, the Earth's population has more than tripled to a staggering 8.2 billion people. Now, the UN's World Population Prospects 2024 report suggests that our planet's population will grow by more than two billion people in the next decade. However, scientists predict that the years of rapid growth may come to an end by the mid-2080s. As of 2024, 63 countries including China, Germany, and Japan have already hit their peak populations with 126 more set to peak by the second half of the century. John Wilmoth, head of the UN Population Division, said: 'This is a major change compared to the United Nations projections from a decade earlier'. Your browser does not support iframes. The UN has predicted that the world will hit its population peak in the mid-2080s at 10.2 billion people China was once the world's most populous country but has faced more than two decades of low birth rates. Pictured: people walking along a busy street in Beijing The UN's latest report predicts an 80 per cent probability that the world's population will hit its peak before the end of the century. That marks a significant change from a decade ago when the UN only assigned a 30 per cent chance that the world's population would peak before 2100. Among several factors, one of the biggest trends driving this revised prediction is falling fertility rates - particularly in populous countries like China. Once the world's most populous country, China's population is now predicted to fall from 1.4 billion people today to only 633 million by 2100. China's fertility rate, the number of live children born per woman, fell below the limit to replace the population in the late 1990s and has not recovered since. China's population is predicted to fall from 1.4 billion people today to only 633 million by 2100 due to low birth rates China's fertility rate, the number of live children born per woman, fell below the limit to replace the population in the late 1990s and has not recovered since Around the world, the data paints a similar picture, with fertility beginning to fall below the 2.1 child per woman rate needed to maintain population growth. On average, women are having one fewer child than they did in 1990 and in more than half of countries fertility is expected to fall below the 2.1 child per woman threshold. In some regions, the UN predicts this will make immigration the main source of population growth. Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, says: 'In some countries, the birth rate is now even lower than previously anticipated, and we are also seeing slightly faster declines in some high-fertility regions.' Across the 63 countries predicted to have already passed their peak, populations are expected to decline by 14 per cent in the next 30 years. Falling birth rates and increasing deaths due to an ageing population mean that the global population will fall from the 2080s Populous countries like India will continue to grow into the 2050s but will then reach their peak in the second half of the century In the UK meanwhile, the population is expected to peak around 2072 at 76,068,383 - up from 69,138,192 in 2024. By 2100, the population of the UK is predicted to slightly decline to a total of 74.305,411. The United States, along with 126 other countries including India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, is predicted to keep growing through 2054 and hit peak population in the second half of the century. However, the UN predicts that nine countries in that group, including Angola, Central African Republic, Congo, Nigeria and Somalia, will experience extremely rapid growth in the coming decades. In the UK, the population is expected to peak around 2072 at 76,068,383 - up from 69,138,192 in 2024 Europe's population is rapidly approaching its peak and will soon see a shrinking and ageing population These nine countries are each predicted to double their populations between 2024 and 2054, before hitting their peaks. Kathleen Mogelgaard, president and CEO of the Washington-based Population Institute, said the new estimates underscore 'an increasing demographic divide around the world.' While it identified more than 100 countries and territories whose populations have already peaked or will do so in the next 30 years, she said, it shows even more where population will keep growing, many of them among the world's poorest nations. The UN predicts that rapid population growth in low-income countries is likely to increase the challenge of eradicating poverty and hunger in countries facing severe economic and environmental challenges. In London (pictured) an ageing workforce and falling population could lead to a shortage of workers and a mounting social care crisis By 2080, over 65s will outnumber children over 18, according to the UN's predictions Shifting patterns in birth rates will also cause challenges in richer countries as declining birth rates and rising life expectancy radically shift the world's demographic makeup. By 2080, the UN predicts that people over 65 will outnumber children under 18, which could precipitate a social care crisis and a shrinking workforce. However, UN under-secretary Mr Junhua also notes that the shrinking global population could be a force for good. He says: 'The earlier and lower peak is a hopeful sign. This could mean reduced environmental pressures from human impacts due to lower aggregate consumption. 'However, slower population growth will not eliminate the need to reduce the average impact attributable to the activities of each individual person.' The change in demographics is being driven by falling birth rates coupled with an increasing global life expectancy Although some countries will continue to grow their populations, the overall global trend shows a decrease in the number of children per woman to below 2.1 in more than half of all countries Looking ahead, the report compares the world's 10 most populous countries today with their projection of the 10 most populous countries in 2100. India tops both lists followed by China, though with a much smaller population at the turn of the century. The United States is in third place today but is replaced by Pakistan in 2100 and drops to sixth place behind Nigeria in fourth and Congo in fifth. Right behind the US in 2100 are Ethiopia, Indonesia, Tanzania and Bangladesh. Brazil, which is the seventh most populous country today, drops to 12th place at the end of the century. John Wilmoth adds that nobody knows what the world will be like when the world population peaks in the 2080s and the population is likely to be just one part of it, 'but not necessarily the largest or the determining part.' 'What really matters is our behaviors and the choices we make,' Wilmoth said. The best meteor shower of the summer kicked off this week, and astronomers expect it will be a great year to watch the celestial event. The Perseid meteor shower started on Sunday and last into into September with August 12 being the best day to view the shooting stars. Skygazers can expect to see between 100 and 150 shooting stars per hour, which will be visible across the US - but even more in an area without light pollution. Perseid happens every year when Earth plows through debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet during its trips through the inner solar system. The Perseids (pictured from Slovenia) is considered the best meteor shower of the year. The pieces of space debris that interact with our atmosphere to create the meteor shower originate from the Swift-Tuttle comet The Perseid meteor shower can be viewed with the naked eye in areas with clear skies, low light pollution, and an uninhibited view. The best time to watch the shower is when the sky is at its darkest, between 11PM and dawn. To locate the meteor shower, viewers should look for the Perseus constellation which is the 24th largest constellation in the sky. The constellation is located in the northern region on the night sky. There are apps to easily find the constellation including Night Sky and Sky Guide that reveals what the user is looking at by simply pointing the phone's camera at the sky. Perseid meteors move at 133,200 miles per hour as they hit Earth's atmosphere and most become visible to viewers when they're about 60 miles from the surface. The Perseid meteor shower originates from the Swift-Tuttle comet which measures 16 miles across and was first connected to the event by Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli in 1865. Perseid's first meteors started flying across the night sky on Sunday, but astronomers say it is expected to peak on August 12 but will be active until September 1. The name Perseid comes from the constellation Perseus, which is visible in the Northern Hemisphere and parts of the Southern Hemisphere Perseid meteors moves at 133,200 miles per hour as it hits Earth's atmosphere and most become visible to viewers when they're about 60 miles from the surface. Pictured: Perseid meteor seen over Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado in 2018 The meteors are seen when Earth passes through the debris of ice and rock that was left behind when the Swift-Tuttle comet came within 84,000 miles of the planet in 1992 - the comet orbits Earth once every 133 years. 'Most other comets are much smaller, with nuclei only a few kilometers across,' according to Bill Cooke, the head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. 'As a result, Comet Swift-Tuttle produces a large number of meteoroids, many of which are large enough to produce fireballs.' Cooke recommended setting up to catch the fireballs someplace dark, away from city lights or light pollution in general. 'While fireballs can be seen from urban areas,' Cooke said, 'the much greater number of faint Perseids is visible only from the countryside.' The name Perseid comes from the constellation Perseus, which is visible in the Northern Hemisphere and parts of the Southern Hemisphere. 'Perseus is a mythological Greek character,' Fiske Planetarium Manager Francisco Salas told Colorado University Boulder Today. 'Perseus is the one who killed Medusa. When he cut her head, that's how he was able to kill the sea monster. And you know what happens when you see Medusa's head? You transform into a rock.' There have been other myths following Perseus which have found their way to be connected to the Perseid. Like the Perseus constellation, the Perseid meteors are visible in all parts of the world, although they're best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere. A new brain teaser claims only people with 'eagle eyes' can spot the missing bucket hat in a sea of tents within two minutes. These puzzles can tell you a lot about how you think and view the world and help you develop problem-solving and logical reasoning skills. Viewers need to look for the missing hat that blends in with its surroundings of concert-goers and tents. It is important to carefully look through the image to find the hat which may be partially hidden behind a person or object. A new brain teaser claims only people with 'eagle eyes' can spot the missing bucket hat in a sea of tents within two minutes. Solving a brain teaser can also reinforce the connections between brain cells to improve a person's short term memory and regulates mood and concentration The festival brain teaser, created by the online gambling site Vegas Slots, shows a sea of people in front of a stage with others dispersed throughout rows of about 30 colorful tents. The viewers first instinct might be to look for the bucket hat on people's heads, but they'd be missing one crucial guideline of the puzzle - the hat is lost. The bucket hat is gray and has an orange stripe around it. Although it might seem like a good idea to look for the entire hat, people should instead consider that it might be partially hidden. For those who want a solution, you should look toward the far right corner of the image and you'll see the hat partially obscured by a green tent. This brain teaser is like many others that are used to test your mathematical or lateral thinking skills, while others are used to test your observational or problem-solving skills. Solving a brain teaser can reinforce the connections between brain cells to improve a person's short term memory and regulates mood and concentration. The psychology is rooted in our pursuit of a challenge, reward and mental stimulation - so look at the colorful image and set your timer as you search for the bucket hat. 'Regularly engaging in these puzzles can improve your analytical thinking, making you more adept at finding creative solutions to real-life problems,' according to Erlanger Health. One of the big reasons people love brain teasers is because of the challenge and reward they present and the more difficult the puzzle is, the greater sense of accomplishment a person has. The bucket hat is hidden in the grass and partially obscured by a green tent When you solve a brain teaser, it increases the amount of dopamine your body produces - a chemical that regulates memory, concentration and mood - each time you solve a puzzle. A 2021 study revealed that the 'logic stress and limit stress generated during playing brain teaser games are positive stress, with a desirable effect on the players' attention.' 'These two types of stress improve cognitive abilities such as attention, concentration and problem-solving by activating the brain's frontal lobe,' the study explained. One expert compared puzzles like the festival teaser to a detective looking for clues to solve a crime. 'Puzzles are small-scale versions of this 'quest for understanding,' even though there is nothing new at the end of the hunt when a solution is uncovered,' Dr Marcel Danesi, a professor of semiotics and anthropology at Victoria College told Reader's Digest. 'It is the hunt itself that is likely to stimulate various areas of the brain that involve discovery and a sense of satisfaction at once.' READ MORE: Women are better at finding and remembering words than men Psychologists tested the ability of boys and girls to give accurate directions If you're particularly bad at navigating from the passenger seat, you're not alone. But a new study suggests this may be more of a female trait than a male one. Psychologists in New Jersey have found that boys aged 3 to 10 years old give better directions than girls of the same age. While navigating a computer-generated route, the males gave more accurate verbal instructions to a friend, the experiments showed. Although the study specifically focused on juveniles, the findings may provide a glimpse of sex-based navigational differences that continue until adulthood. The study found boys give more helpful and accurate directions than females - suggesting males have better spatial abilities The new study has been led by researchers at Montclair State University in New Jersey and published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. Lead author Yingying Yang said there are various theories as to why boys give more accurate directions. 'These range from biological (e.g., testosterone), to experience-based (e.g., boys have more experience in independent travelling) and parenting practices (e.g., boys are allowed further away from home than girls are),' she told MailOnline. 'Our study does not directly test any theory about why it happened, unfortunately.' For their online experiment conducted over Zoom, the researchers recruited 141 volunteers aged between 3 and 10 78 boys and 63 girls. Using a computer programme, the children were tasked with describing a route, both from a bird's eye perspective ('map') and a first-person perspective that gradually moved along the corridors of a 'maze'. Dotted along the route were 'landmarks' little computer-game-style objects including a mango, a teddy bear, a monkey and a bowl of cherries. Using a computer programme, the children were tasked with describing a route, both from a bird's eye perspective ('map', A-D) and a first-person perspective ('maze', E) In both settings, they had to guide a computer-generated friend called 'Mr Birdie' who was blindfolded and could not see through the route using verbal directions. Researchers scored the children's directions based on how well they used helpful directional terms (e.g. left and right) and landmarks (monkey, cherries) to describe the routes. Results showed that boys were generally better at giving correct direction words (e.g. 'turn left') and were less inclined to give vague directions '(that way'). Later in the experiments, researchers asked the children to recall the directions along the route from just their own memory. But in this case the academics found that boys and girls performed similarly suggesting both are as adept at remembering routes. Overall boys were more accurate in describing routes than girls, as shown on this graph - but boys and girls were about as good as each other at recalling the route Interestingly, better directions were given in the map condition than the first-person maze condition overall, researchers also found. This suggests that maps are indeed a better way to get children to learn a route than actually physically taking them along that route. 'To enhance childrens direction giving, it may be more useful to teach children to use maps than to be exposed to a route,' the team say. Their findings may have implications for understanding individual differences in navigation in children and may also help to close the gender gap, especially in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths). One limitatin of the study is that the team did not able to code hand gestures and analysis was limited to verbal utterances alone. A 2018 study found that when asked to give directions, gestures accompanied about 30 per cent of verbal phrases for both young children and adults. Most people have used a pickup line to introduce themselves to a stranger, only for it to fall flat. Now, psychologists have identified an approach that they claimed will hit the mark every time. While people may choose to use comedy or subtle statements when speaking to a stranger, several studies found that being direct was the best strategy. This option could be outright sayin, 'you're really cute, can I buy you a drink?' There are three types of pickup lines you can use when approaching someone at a cafe, bar, bookstore or other social place - direct, subtle or comedic. A 2020 study showed that people are more attracted to a direct approach because they can easily understand which will ignite an initial spark faster than the comedic lines, which was the least popular of all three Pickup lines are a way to start talking to someone you're interested in and can be a way to share your character and attractive traits with another person. The smooth lines have also become more popular in the age of online dating as people have one chance to make an impression that is done through messaging. While many people may put it all on the table during that shot, some hide their intentions by taking a comedic approach - but experts have found that the approach makes people seem unintelligent or untrustworthy. 1. The type of pickup line Researchers have determined that there are three types of pickup lines people use to get another individual's attention - direct, subtle or comedic. However, being direct was found to be the most successful. That is because using this approach suggested the person was honest in sharing their thoughts, feelings and intentions with others. By asking them to grab a coffee or saying you want to get to know them shows that you're likely more invested in finding a partner than other alternatives like using humor or subtle conversation starters. Meanwhile, the more subtle option is used to start a conversation if you aren't ready to tell the person you're looking for a romantic relationship. This pickup line could be noticing something the person is doing, for example, if you're at a coffee shop and notice the person is reading a book, asking them what they think of the book so far. Yet some people insist on taking the more flippant approach by using a cheesy line like: 'Have we met? Because you look like my next girlfriend' or 'Did it hurt when you fell from Heaven?' Out of the three possible ways to start a connection with a perfect stranger, researchers said being direct is the best option. 'For both men and women, users of direct lines are perceived as being the most likable and responsible, as well as being the least selfish,' researchers at Saint Mary's University explained in a 2020 study. The study also showed that people are more attracted to those whose motives THEY [we] can easily understand, which will ignite an initial spark faster than the comedic lines - the least popular of all three. 'The innocuous and flippant lines are theorized to protect the user from rejection, as they can disguise a failed attempt as a simple question or a joke,' the researchers wrote. A 2021 study found that women looked at men's positive attributes like their kindness, intelligence, how trustworthy they seemed and how friendly they were as a determining factor for long-term relationships. Using flippant lines when approaching someone 'conveyed lower trustworthiness and intelligence,' researchers wrote in a study 2. The type of connection you're looking for The most effective pickup lines depend on what type of connection the person you're talking to is looking for, whether they're hoping for a shorter term or long-term relationship. People who are looking for a more long-term committed relationship are still drawn to the direct approach because it conveys that they're more serious about getting to know the person. Using a flippant line 'conveyed lower trustworthiness and intelligence,' researchers at State University of New York wrote in a separate study. However, the team found that the type of pickup line didn't matter for people looking for a short-term relationship and suggested that in those scenarios, they are more concerned with how attractive the person is, rather than his or her pickup line. 3. The type of personality you're trying to show off Pickup lines can reveal more about your personality than just being direct or indirect, like showing off your sincerity, creativity, sense of humor, and above all, confidence. A 2021 study found that pickup lines identified a person's positive attributes like their kindness, intelligence, how trustworthy they seemed and how friendly they were as a determining factor for long-term relationships. Although complimentary and humorous lines were more well-received than a generic 'hello,' researchers reported that it wasn't successful because it didn't show off the person's true personality. People are generally drawn to those who exude confidence, making that direct approach the best option. Private internal conversations from the Walt Disney company's internal Slack workplace collaboration system have been leaked online. The hack released internal messages about Disney's ad campaigns, its studio's proprietary technology and even interview candidates applying for jobs. Hacking group NullBulge published data from thousands of Disney's Slack channels, according to the group's blog post Friday, which said that they had released over 1 terabyte of data from Disney. Proprietary computer code and details about unreleased projects are among the among the internal data now public , based on the hacker group's blog post. The leaked information includes talks on managing Disney's corporate website, software development, and job applicant evaluations, with the data spanning back to at least 2019,according to a the Wall Street Journal report on Monday The leaked information includes talks on managing Disney's corporate website, software development, and job applicant evaluations, with the data spanning back to at least 2019, according to a the Wall Street Journal report on Monday. 'Disney is investigating this matter,' a company spokesperson told Reuters in an emailed statement. The NullBulge hacker collective described itself as a hacktivist group acting to promote the rights of creative artists, stating that it has selected targets like Disney to protest such corporations mistreatment of their workers. A spokesperson for NullBulge said via an online message, according to the Journal, that it targeted Disney specifically 'due to how it handles artist contracts, its approach to AI, and it's [sic] pretty blatant disregard for the consumer.' Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this article are selected by our writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Daily Mail Australia will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information. An Australian red wine that fans are raving about is now on sale with the normal price dropped by more than 50 per cent, as part of the Amazon Prime Day sale event. The Penfolds Max's Shiraz Red Wine case of six is now just $85, normally $173, making each bottle now just $14, perfect to stock up on if you're planning to entertain in the near future. The full bodied shiraz is racking up plenty of great reviews from fans, who have branded it a 'lovely drop'. One happy customer gave the wine five stars wrote: 'Lovely complex bouquet, red berry fruits, plum and oak. Palate is smooth with noticeable tannins in balance, cherry with hints of liquorice and dark chocolate. Good length.' Another fan wrote: 'You generally can't go wrong with a Barossa Shiraz & Max is no exception. Smooth, easy drinking Shiraz that goes with pretty much any food style, or just on its own.' The Penfolds Max's Shiraz Red Wine case of six is now just $85, normally $173, making each bottle now just $14, This popular red wine has a special release that's under $15, here's why Dubbed 'my all time favourite' by one happy fan, the Barossa Ink Shiraz has no shortage of five star reviews from customers who say they love the 'smooth and beautiful taste.' The KRINK x Barossa Ink Limited Edition Shiraz Now the popular varietal, has released a limited edition drop, bringing the taste of Barossa together with the edgy art of New York. The KRINK x Barossa Ink Limited Edition Shiraz is a collaboration between Grant Burge Wines and New York-based artist Craig Costello, although the original drink is priced at $18.99. The exclusive release is priced at just $14.99 and will be sold throughout the rest of July. To learn more about the collaboration, click here. Advertisement A third shared: 'A full bodied Shiraz that you will absolutely love.' Maxs Shiraz is a tribute to former Penfolds Chief Winemaker Max Schubert, a pioneer in winemaking who held his role from 1948 until 1975. The brand said: 'Maxs constant pursuit of excellence paved the way for those who followed in his footsteps, allowing the status and heritage of Penfolds to grow.' The shiraz varietal isn't the only Penfolds wine for sale. The Max's Chardonnay is also included in the sale priced at $85 for a case of six as well. 'The wine is one of the best that I have drunk so far,' one reviewer wrote. Amazon Australia has cut prices on a number of big brands in the drinks section. Some of the best deals include: Johnnie Walker Gold Label Scotch Whisky, 700ml NOW $82.80, 30% off, now $117.99 Don Julio Blanco Tequila 750 ml, NOW $84.50, 30% off, was $119.99 Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial, 750ml, NOW $81, 28% off, was $109.99 To shop the deals in the Amazon Prime Day sale click here. Always drink responsibly. RAWANews, July 15, 2024 In a harsh reaction to Zarmina Paryani's statements, a pro-Taliban cleric from Panjshir called for completely stripping protesting women in the streets of Kabul. Zarmina Paryani, an Afghan woman who protested against the Taliban, was imprisoned and tortured in Kabul. She managed to escape Afghanistan with several of her sisters and sought asylum in Germany. In a Facebook post, she revealed that the Taliban had forcibly stripped her naked in prison and took photos of her. Zarmina and her three sisters were arrested in Kabul in early 2022 and, after enduring over three weeks of imprisonment and torture, were released. Her revelations had a widespread coverage on social media and sparked collective outrage against the Taliban. Her disclosure coincided with a report by "The Guardian" that exposed the gang-rape of female prisoners by the Taliban. Following this, a video surfaced on social media featuring Mulavi Yahya Anaba, a pro-Taliban cleric in Panjshir, accusing Zarmina Paryani of blasphemy. He stated that the Taliban should have stripped her completely naked not in the interrogation rooms but on the streets of Kabul. He claimed that the Taliban should have torn off her clothes and made her completely naked at a Kabul intersection as a lesson to other women who seek freedom. In the video, he says that women who want freedom should be stripped naked, equating the desire for freedom with prostitution. An American man living in Spain has revealed one his favorite culture shocks, in the form of visiting a pharmacy. In one of his recent TikToks, cook and author Jeremy Scheck takes viewers inside a pharmacy in Madrid as he runs through some of the biggest differences between a store in Europe and one back in America. Firstly, he says the job as a pharmacist is different in both countries, and 'here in Spain there are no medications you can grab yourself, not even Advil.' Next up, he highlights how things are displayed differently and details that the type of products stocked is not the same. The foodie explains that in Spanish pharmacies, you find 'mostly skincare, perfumes, specialty shampoos or mouthwashes' on the shelves. In one of his recent TikToks, cook and author Jeremy Scheck takes viewers inside a pharmacy in Madrid and he compares it to what you find in the US These are mostly higher end brands, so if you want 'everyday brands like Dove or Crest' you have to pay a separate visit to the grocery store. When it comes to receiving prescriptions, Jeremy also outlines some of the things he has noticed during his time in Spain. He reveals: 'Prescriptions are also really different because they usually don't put anything into a pill bottle. 'It's just written, so you're prescribed a whole box.' Because the pharmacists 'are not counting pills all day,' Jeremy says the customer service is better and you get one-on-one consultations. The content creator notes that he even knows his pharmacist, Soledad, by name. Offering an example of how she has provided him with a tailored service, he says: 'When I moved here since the climate is a lot drier, so my skincare routine wasn't working for me. '[So] she helped design a new routine.' In terms of over the counter medications available, Jeremy says most are the same but in Spain, you 'just have to ask the pharmacist or describe your symptoms' as they are not on display to pick up. The foodie explains that in Spanish pharmacies, you find 'mostly skincare, perfumes, specialty shampoos or mouthwashes' Another major difference Jeremy highlights is the fact that Spain has free healthcare. Therefore, he says, 'when you're not feeling well, a lot of time, pharmacists act as the first line of defense.' He continues: 'They'll sort of tell you whether or not you need to go to the doctor.' Therefore, he says, 'when you're not feeling well, a lot of time, pharmacists act as the first line of defense.' Lastly, Jeremy tells his 2.1 million followers: 'And of course, name brand medications are a fraction of the price.' After visiting 'most EU countries,' the TikTok creator says Spain's system is 'fairly standard,' 'but there countries like the Netherlands that have a lot over the counter that you can grab yourself.' To date, Jeremy's video has been watched more than 95,000 times, with many viewers expressing their thoughts on the matter. One commenter wrote: 'Yeah, I'll take [Spain's] system over the US capitalistic style any day.' Another viewer vented: '[The] American system is broken for patients AND for pharmacists! 'Counting pills is time consuming. Long delays in filling Rx's are more common and strikes by pharmacists are happening.' One person wrote in the comments: 'So my laziness is actually beneficial' A doctor has revealed a gruesome reason why you should never unpack your suitcase as soon as you get home from a trip. While some travelers might applaud themselves for immediately sorting out their luggage upon their return from their travels, Dr. Jason Singh, from Virginia, has now detailed why procrastinating your unpacking may actually serve you in the long-run. In a now-viral TikTok video, Jason warned that opening up your suitcase straight away could lead to an infestation of bed bugs - which can lay eggs in your clothes and belongings, and ultimately invade your house after traveling back with you in your luggage. According to Jason, 'bed bug eggs typically hatch within six to 10 days', with the doctor adding that the babies - known as nymphs - 'require a blood meal after hatching in order to continue their development'. If, however, the bed bugs remain locked in your suitcase, they will not be able to feed, and will therefore 'die due to starvation or desiccation'. A doctor has revealed a disgusting reason why you should never unpack your suitcase as soon as you get home from a trip Dr. Jason Singh from Virginia has shared in a TikTok video, that procrastinating on unpacking may serve you in the long-run (stock image) However, there's a catch: keeping your suitcase closed for a few hours or even days won't prevent an infestation, with Jason explaining that travelers should leave their suitcases sealed shut for two weeks in order to avoid the spread of the nasty critters. 'So here's why you shouldn't unpack your suitcase right after coming home from a vacation,' Jason began the clip, which has racked up more than 592,000 views since it was posted in June. 'Okay, so hear me out, especially if you stayed in a hotel, and that's because of bed bugs.' He continued: 'Bed bug eggs typically hatch within six to 10 days, and the nymphs require a blood meal shortly after hatching, to continue their development. 'Now, if your suitcase remains closed, and undisturbed for at least two weeks, well any bed bug egg or nymph present will likely die due to starvation or desiccation. 'So now you have a reason to be lazy, just like me, and just let your suitcase hang there in the side. 'I mean, let's be honest, what kind of psycho unpacks right away? Let me know.' Jason's advice came as a welcome surprise to many 'lazy' travelers, several of whom took to the comments section to rejoice the news that their procrastination could actually be working in their favor. Many followers transparently shared that they take a very long time to unpack, just like Jason personally does One person wrote: 'So me procrastinating is doctor-approved. Perfect.' A second person commented: 'My luggage stays in the garage or mudroom for hundreds of hours!' A third person added: 'Thank god. It takes me ages to muster up the energy to unpack.' A fourth person wrote: 'I'm safe then because I'm lazy.' A fifth person commented: 'Omg yaaaas, I take months. I just take the dirty clothes bag out and wash it, and thats my "unpacking." One person added: 'Never been so glad to have ADHD, [cause] my suitcase remains unpacked for ages.' Another person comedically wrote: 'I haven't fully unpacked from my 2019 summer vacation.' Other followers admitted that they unpack as soon as they get home from a trip. One person wrote: 'I unpack and throw everything in the washer as soon as I get home. I need all my stuff [that] I travel with!' A second person commented: 'I am the psycho who unpacks once I get home.' A third person added: 'I unpack [as] soon as I walk in. Wash everything and then Lysol the suitcase.' Other followers admitted that they unpack as soon as they get home from a trip A fourth person wrote: 'I always unpack right away. I have to have my house in order before I can relax, and looking at an unpacked suitcase will annoy me.' A fifth person commented: 'Who has two extra weeks of clothes that they dont need when they get back from holiday? Or am I just a peasant and only have a week or two of clothes in total?' One person added: 'I unpack literally within an hour of arriving back home. Mostly because I need all my toiletries, and I just dump everything into the washing machine.' Another person wrote: 'If I dont unpack straight away, I wont unpack for a month.' According to Travel and Leisure, it is recommended to unpack your clothing from your suitcase directly into the dryer first, instead of the washer. Eric Braun, who is a a board certified entomologist, told the outlet: 'You [can] wash them after you dry them, but the high heat will kill the life stages. 'The water isn't hot enough to kill them, so they could survive a washing.' He continued: 'You're going to remove all the clothing from the suitcase [and] all the clothing that you're currently wearing, and you're going to place that in the dryer on high for about 30 minutes. 'If you have some items that can't go in a dryer that need to be dry cleaned, you would bag them up and take them to the dry cleaner. 'You're going to then look at your luggage [and] inspect your luggage. If you suspect that there's bed bugs in the luggage, you're going to have that professionally treated.' The delay ended up being 24 hours with nowhere for the teen to go Her brother's flight to New York was diverted to Philadelphia due to bad weather A woman has vented her outrage after claiming that American Airlines left her 15-year-old brother stranded in an airport for almost 24 hours with only a $12 snack voucher as compensation. Bonnie Ngai, who works as a travel content creator, took to TikTok to detail the chain of events. She tells viewers, in a state of frustration: 'My brother has been stuck in the Philadelphia airport for almost 24 hours. His plane was supposed to come to New York City [but] it got diverted to Philadelphia because of weather.' While she says she can 'totally understand' the diversion, she deemed the treatment towards passengers as unacceptable. After disembarking the plane around 7pm, Bonnie says announcements kept pushing its departure back by hour increments - but her brother then discovered the plane had been delayed to 11am the next day. Bonnie Ngai, who works as a travel content creator, took to TikTok to vent her outrage after claiming that American Airlines left her 15-year-old brother stranded in an airport for almost 24 hours Bonnie says because of the incident, she will 'probably' never fly with American Airlines again, despite them being one of her preferred carriers While 'adult' passengers were able to get a hotel room, Bonnie reveals that her brother could not as he was under the age of 18. Instead, he was told to wait in the terminal and given a $12 'snack voucher.' However, as it was midnight, Bonnie highlights that no stores were open at the time. Touching on why $12 was an insult, Bonnie vents: 'Travel is my job, I've been many, many airports across the world, $12 can maybe get you a bottle of water and some air and some chips in America.' After getting a snack voucher at midnight, Bonnie's brother got another one about 11 hours later which she said would have to be used for both breakfast and lunch. In a state of disbelief, Bonnie said she called customer service on her brother's behalf. However, the agent she spoke to said there was nothing they could do and they would have to get another voucher approved, which could take time. Bonnie suggested the airline could have offered her brother the lounge services so he could get some food and wait in comfort. Adding to her frustration, the content creator claimed that when she asked the agent what he would do in the same situation if he had a teenage child, he simply told her he would have ensured sure the teen had money in his pocket. Bonnie reassured viewers that her brother did have money, but that wasn't the point and the airline should have acted accordingly. Responding to viewer requests, Bonnie posted an update to the situation, showing that her brother made it back to New York safely in the end She explained: 'The kid has money in his pocket. I guarantee you, we give him enough money to buy snacks, food, whatever. 'But it's your guys' responsibility to help him, reimburse him and [compensate] for the time that he's been in this airport, and the s*** that he has to deal with, and not sleeping and not eating because your flights couldn't get their s*** together.' Concluding her monologue, Bonnie says it was an 'absolute joke' and because of the incident, she will 'probably' never fly with American Airlines again, despite them being one of her preferred carriers. Responding to viewer requests, Bonnie posted an update to the situation, showing that her brother made it back to New York safely in the end. In the follow-up clip, she explains: 'He is on zero hours of sleep but he's alive and well and that's all that matters.' Bonnie also posted another clip, showing how her brother passed out on a park bench later that day as he was so tired, despite there being a 'beautiful' view of Manhattan in front of him. The TikTok creator does not reveal if her sibling received any form of compensation following the ordeal, in the form of money back or AAdvantage miles. Many viewers sympathized with the situation. One commenter wrote: 'As a mom of a 17-year old-daughter I would be petrified and crying uncontrollably.' Other viewers revealed how similar things had happened to them, with one writing in the comment section: 'This happened to me in Atlanta when I was 16. I was terrified! 'And they booked me on a flight at 6am so I had to walk through multiple terminals at 4am. I hope your brother is okay!' DailyMail.com has reached out to American Airlines for a comment on the matter. Meet the man staying in some of the UK's 'worst-rated' hotels so you don't have to. Zac Jones, a delivery driver from Liverpool, hops from one 'terrible' hotel to another, sharing footage of his experiences that has helped him gain over 70,000 followers for his @zacjonesliverpool TikTok account. Zac trawls Tripadvisor to find hotels with shockingly bad reviews, then travels up and down the country to give his verdict on them. Here we present six of Zac's review stays, which feature 'disgusting' bathrooms, dustbins full of rubbish in corridors, sticky floors, damp smells and, on one occasion, a bedroom that was already open when he arrived. Scroll down to see which hotel you'd most like to avoid Britannia Sachas Hotel - Manchester Zac Jones, a delivery driver from Liverpool, hops from one 'terrible' hotel to another, sharing footage of his experiences to TikTok. Zac says Manchester's Britannia Sachas Hotel (above) is 'far from perfect, but far from terrible' Zac (above) has gained over 70,000 followers on his @zacjonesliverpool TikTok account. He's pictured above outside Sachas Hotel in Manchester This property has a woeful average rating of two out of five from 2,941 reviews on Tripadvisor, with 1,595 of them carrying verdicts of 'terrible'. One recent reviewer, 'Maddie', urged users of the review platform not to waste their money on it, concluding that it was 'easily the worst hotel' she'd ever stayed at. 'The rooms are disgustingly hot and nothing even works,' she fumed. In the video review for this property, Zac sets out to determine if the hotel is 'as bad as they say'. As he enters the building, illuminated by a neon sign, he says it 'looks good from the outside'. As he explores the building and finds his room, he says it's 'far from perfect, but far from terrible'. Upon closer inspection of the room, he says his bed and bathroom look clean and concludes there's 'not much to complain about.' Overall, he says: 'This place isn't as bad as people make out.' Rooms from 32 a night. Adelphi Hotel - Liverpool The Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool (pictured) has an average rating of 2.5 out of five from 8,975 Tripadvisor reviews The Adelphi Hotel is ranked 106 of 109 hotels in Liverpool, with an average rating of 2.5 out of five from 8,975 reviews, nearly 3,000 of which are graded 'terrible'. So not enticing on paper, with one Tripadvisor reviewer complaining that the staff are 'rude and unhelpful' and another disappointed with their 'dark, dingy and not clean' room. What does Zac think? While looking at its exterior, he says it is 'quite a nice building', and upon entering, he notes: 'I've been in worse places than here.' His room he describes as 'a bit dated' but 'clean', aside from its 'rotting windows'. Exploring the rest of the building, including its grand entrance, he says: 'People joke about this place, but it actually takes me back in time. I feel like this is somewhat of a classy place.' Rooms from 45 a night. The Crown Hotel - Stoke-on-Trent The Crown Hotel in Stoke-on-Trent (pictured) has 207 'terrible' reviews out of a total of 335 on Tripadvisor Oh dear. This Britannia hotel, which attracts visitors to nearby Alton Towers, is almost universally hated, with 207 'terrible' reviews out of a total of 335. One reviewer said: 'Do not stay here, especially if you have kids. We got a room that hadn't been cleaned and was filthy [with] hairs in the sink, unmade beds. And the room my partner and I got stunk of sewage.' When Zac checks in, his bedroom is already unlocked and open, which isn't a great start. He goes on to label parts of the bathroom 'disgusting' and adds that he 'doesn't fancy sitting on the toilet'. The bed 'feels cheap', he says, and the room 'basic', but he concludes that it's 'not too bad'. But compared to what? Some may ask Rooms from 35 a night. The Grand Hotel - Llandudno Zac says his room in The Grand Hotel in Llandudno (pictured) is 'one of the nicest' he's been in at a Britannia hotel The Grand Hotel in Llandudno receives an average rating of three out of five from 2,767 reviews but is rated as the worst hotel in town. One Tripadvisor reviewer slates it as 'embarrassingly bad'. Zac dubs his bedroom 'one of the nicest' he's been in at a Britannia hotel. And despite his balcony doors being locked, he gives it a 'positive review'. He adds that the hotel has a 'lovely' restaurant with a view of the sea. Rooms from 45 a night. Britannia Hotel - Bolton Zac says the Britannia Hotel in Bolton (above) 'isn't a very well-maintained hotel at all' The Britannia Hotel scores three out of five from 713 reviews. Of these, 185 are 'terrible' and 104 rated as 'poor'. Eighty-two guests deem the hotel to be 'excellent'. But what does Zac conclude? Zac notes the 'nice' couches in the lobby, but is then perturbed by the black dustbin full of rubbish positioned outside his room, which he describes as the worst Britannia room he's ever stayed in. The issues? They include a 'damp smell', a 'sticky' bathroom floor and a door that has multiple scratch marks on it, probably 'from a dog'. That was perhaps desperate to escape. Zac concludes: 'This isn't a very well-maintained hotel at all.' Rooms from 38 a night. The Grand Hotel - Scarborough Zac says The Grand Hotel in Scarborough (above) is 'a bit rough around the edges' This hotel, located in Scarborough city centre is a 'beautiful-looking building with some 10/10 views of the North Sea', according to Zac. It scores 2.5 out of five from 10,172 reviews on Tripadvisor, with nearly half carrying a verdict of 'terrible'. One reviewer said their room smelled of 'rotten cheese'. Zac's conclusion is that the property is 'a bit rough around the edges', with his room featuring a dirty shower and a hole in the wall. 'There's a common theme in this Britannia hotel chain,' he says. 'Running down classical British architecture.' Rooms from 42. For more from Zac, visit him on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@zacjonesliverpool. Love Island's Tasha Ghouri flaunted her incredible figure in sexy lace underwear as she posed up a storm modelling for Ann Summers' new lingerie campaign. The reality star, 25, showed off her gym-honed physique in a vibrant turquoise bra and matching briefs for one stunning shot. The set from the new Camille range featured pretty lace detailing a silk straps while the bra showcased her ample cleavage. She boosted her height with nude heels and showed off her healthy tanned glow while working her best angles for the camera. The blonde beauty wore her light tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a glamorous makeup look. Love Island's Tasha Ghouri flaunted her incredible figure in sexy lace underwear as she posed up a storm modelling for Ann Summers' new lingerie campaign For one look she showed off the Smoulder in Shimmering collection where she wore a sheer cut-out pink bodysuit For another look she showed off the Smoulder in Shimmering collection where she wore a sheer cut-out pink bodysuit. The sultry one-piece was covering in pale blue flower detailing and highlighted her long and toned legs. Wearing the pink number in another shot she posed in the iconic Ann Summers pink ears and mask. Meanwhile things are still going swimmingly in her love life. While Tasha is yet to walk down the aisle with her boyfriend Andrew Le Page, he has hinted it is definitely in the couple's future. The pair's romance blossomed on the 2022 series of Love Island as they made it all the way to the final before they finished in fourth place. Since leaving the villa, the pair have only gone from strength to strength, even going on holiday to Australia to visit Tasha's brother Andrew. They also showed their continued commitment to each other as Andrew, 27, gave his girlfriend a promise ring for Christmas 2022. The sultry one-piece was covering in pale blue flower detailing and highlighted her long and toned legs The reality star, 25, showed off her gym-honed physique in a vibrant turquoise bra and matching briefs for another stunning shot The former estate agent Andrew gave dancer Tasha the glistening silver 265 ring by Tiffany and Co as a gift. Giving fans a glimpse at the jewellery on her YouTube channel, Tasha told her subscribers: 'Everybody is probably thinking this is an engagement box - Andrew got me a gorgeous promise ring and I love it so much. 'It's so simple and I love silver. I did not expect that at all, I nearly started crying. 'When I first saw the box I was like... because that is an engagement box.' The couple had flown to Guernsey to spend the festive period with Andrew's family. And Andrew revealed in November that he hopes to marry Tasha in the near future, as he vowed they won't 'ever' break up. Wearing the pink number in another shot she posed in the iconic Ann Summers pink ears and mask She boosted her height with nude heels and showed off her healthy tanned glow while working her best angles for the camera The two have been pictured together in recent years since first meeting in 2021 It's no wonder Johnny Depp is in such shipshape these days. The Pirates of the Caribbean star, 61, has moved on with a new younger blonde - two years after his high-profile defamation trial following his bitter divorce from Amber Heard, DailyMail.com can reveal. The Hollywood star is now dating 28-year-old Russian beautician and model, Yulia Vlasova, who has been spotted hanging out with the actor in recent years after meeting in 2021. Insiders close to Depp confirmed the relationship is 'casual' and that the pair have been seeing each other 'here and there' over the past two years. Most recently the two were seen together last Thursday when they were snapped canoodling and looking cozy while traveling out of London Heliport, DailyMail.com photos showed. Glamorous Vlasova is based in Prague, where she owns a makeup and hairstyling studio, and where she first met the actor at the 55th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in August 2021, according to sources. Johnny Depp, 61, has been dating 28-year-old Russian beautician and model Yulia Vlasova, with whom he was seen traveling in London last week (right) Photos show the two playfully posing together at the event, with one selfie showing Depp even planting a smooch on her cheek She was seen hanging out with Depp at his friend and late musician Jeff Beck's concert in Prague in months later in July 2022, not too long after he won his defamation case and went on tour in Europe. Photos show the two playfully posing together at the event, with one selfie showing Depp even planting a smooch on her cheek. And while Vlasova has not confirmed the nature of their relationship, she has hinted at the romance on Instagram posts, some of which have been deleted. Earlier this year the model shared a photo of two resting their hands on each other's leg in response to an Instagram Q&A with her followers who asked about her 'favorite actor.' 'JD. He is a man who is incredibly talented and inspiring,' she replied. DailyMail.com has also learned Vlasova studied at Moscow's leading training academy for diplomats and spies, according to local Russian media. In fact she is from provincial Russia, namely Sortirovka, a rough suburb of Yekaterinburg, the country's third city, and earlier remote Polevskoy, a drab industrial town with a 69,000 population. At some point she entered elite the Institute of International Relations in Moscow, known as MGIMO and run by the Russian Foreign Ministry, seen as the country's most revered educational institution, according to multiple Russian reports. It is attended by many future diplomats and members of the Russian intelligence services, but also would be business leaders and government officials. The pair were snapped together at Depp's friend and late musician Jeff Beck 's concert in Prague in July 2022 The Prague-based beauty is said to have met Depp at a film festival event in 2021 and has remained close with him ever since Earlier this year she shared a photo of the two resting their hand on each other's leg in response to an Instagram Q&A with her followers who asked about her 'favorite actor' Yulia is also known to have studied at the University of West Bohemia in Plzen. A picture of her at MGIMO proudly shared this year by her father Alexander, 57, shows her evidently holding a certificate at the elite institute. Alexander served in the Soviet army and is four years younger than Depp. Yulia is just two years older than Depp's own daughter, model Lily-Rose Depp, 25. Yulia's mother Galina, 60, today refused to comment on the alleged romance with Depp, telling a local Russian media outlet: 'It's better to talk to our daughter about this. 'I don't know anything, all the questions are for her.' The family home in drab copper-mining town Polevskoy - where she and her mother are registered - is in a Soviet-era block where flats are on the market for around $36,750 (28,300). After university, Yulia reportedly later got a job with a Czech company before opening her own health and beauty salon and working as a model and influencer. In 2021, Yulia - 5ft 7 inches - was a finalist in the international beauty contest Miss Office, which took place in Moscow. A former school friend of Yulia's told E1 news outlet she was 'a simple girl who has now made it to Hollywood' - after reports of romance with Depp. 'She studied at a Sortirovka school. 'There were beatings and bullying. She didn't dress up in brands in her childhood. Vlasova is from provincial Russia, namely Sortirovka, a rough suburb of Yekaterinburg, but moved to Czech Republic after university These days runs her own health and beauty salon and works as a model and influencer At some point she entered elite the Institute of International Relations in Moscow, known as MGIMO and run by the Russian Foreign Ministry, seen as the country's most revered educational institution, according to multiple Russian reports She is pictured with her parents, mother Galina, 60, and father Alexander, 57, in Prague 'She was an ordinary girl going to our [local] Pizza Mia and class trips.' Social media posts suggest the blonde beauty also spends a lot of her time in the UK - where Depp has been largely based since his infamous legal battle and divorce. He is currently living in London where he has been keeping busy with new film projects and going on tour with his band. And last week the actor was living up to that edgy rock star image, walking on the heliport tarmac flanked by the stunning blonde and with his guitar in tow, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show. He looked cool and grungy in a red beanie, baggy jeans, sneakers, and sunglasses and holding his six-string to perhaps serenade his potential new love. Vlasova matched his vibe, sporting an all black casual but chic outfit, baring her midriff and clutching a handbag, accessorizing with rectangle frame sunglasses. Depp's glam gal pal appeared charmed by the actor-musician, smiling and stroking her hair as the two laughed and talked on the tarmac. The film star is reported to be in a good place following a dark period of legal troubles and allegations that culminated into a high-profile defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard, who had accused him of abuse, in Virginia in 2022. He has managed to rehabilitate his image and move forward with his career, landing new film roles and going on tour with his band since then. In fact, Depp was seen getting mobbed by fans while leaving a music venue in London with his entourage earlier this week. The Pirates of the Caribbean star, who turned 61 last month, even kissed the hands of a superfan waiting for him outside a venue in the capital this week. Depp's new lady friend appeared charmed by the actor-musician, smiling and at times stroking her hair as the two laughed and talked on the tarmac last week Depp has been renting an art studio in London's West End and has also spent the last two years as a gigging guitarist, appearing on stages around the UK and around the world His loyal fan base stood by the actor as he fought the abuse allegations leveled against him by ex-wife Amber Heard during their explosive defamation trial in Virginia in 2022 Johnny's bodyguard stepped in when a woman refused to let go of him. But the megastar, who is living in London to paint, told his protection to step back before kissing her hand, causing squeals in the crowd, who had pictures, artwork and even limbs signed by the American. 'Johnny Depp's very public rehabilitation is going strong - while Amber has vanished and is living in Madrid', one senior figure with links to London and Hollywood told DailyMail.com this week. His London appearance was hours after Paul Barresi, the private eye hired by Amber Heard when she split from Johnny to find dirt on him, released a new book where he claims his investigation found Depp to be too generous with a 'respect and adoration for women'. And it came as the Depp v. Heard Channel 4 documentary began trending on Netflix Netflix, reflecting the continuing fascination with the couple's relationship as well as their divorce and legal battles in the UK and US. It has been quite the turnaround for Depp - four years after he lost a libel case in the UK against the publisher of The Sun over a story that described him as a 'wife beater'. He did then sue Amber in the US for libel over similar allegations - and won $15million in damages. The former couple have gone in different directions. Amber is understood to have quit Hollywood and settled in the Spanish capital with her three-year-old daughter - born thanks to a surrogate. Earlier this week he was mobbed by fans in London. At one point he allowed a fan waiting for him in the British capital this week to kiss his hand The star's security stepped in when the woman wouldn't let go of him, but the actor told his bodyguard it was 'ok' and he kissed her hand Her ex-husband, however, now has four careers. Currently he is renting an art studio in London's West End to create new art - having not painted seriously for years. He is in the middle of a three-year $20million contract as the face of Dior's Sauvage men's perfume. He is also a gigging guitarist, appearing on stages around the world including at the Royal Albert Hall with friends including Rod Stewart and Eric Clapton. And his acting is back up and running. He was the star of last year's Cannes Film Festival because of his role in the French-language biopic Jeanne du Barry, where he played King Louis XV. He is also directing his first movie in 25 years. Depp is working with Al Pacino on a biopic of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. Screenwriter and producer of the swashbuckling franchise Pirates of the Caribbean, Terry Rossio, has told DailyMail.com that now that Depp has cleaned up his act he would be welcomed back as Jack Sparrow with open arms. Previously Depp said he would never work for Disney again as sources said he felt harshly treated by them. It will remain to be seen if his stance has softened. While he could not escape the shocking court cases involving Amber Heard untarnished, his fans have remained loyal to him - as proved by the scenes in London this week. 'They both realize time should pass before they hang out again', source says Gwyneth Paltrow was left 'horrified' after her longtime pal Derek Blasberg lost control of his bowels at her Hamptons home and fled the scene - but she is hopeful they will 'eventually laugh' at the incident, insiders claim. Earlier this month, DailyMail.com revealed that the socialite and celebrity hanger-on was the culprit behind the mortifying ordeal that was first mentioned as a blind item in a popular gossip newsletter. Since then, both Gwyneth, 51, and the fashion journalist, 42, have stayed silent, with insiders claiming the Goop founder 'feels bad' - but knows they need to avoid hanging out for the foreseeable. 'Gwyneth would like to eventually laugh about this with Derek, but currently there is still much embarrassment,' a source exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com. 'They both know that if they are ever seen together or if he ever returns to her house, they go out to dinner, it will be the only thing people will be talking about.' Gwyneth Paltrow hopes she will 'eventually laugh' with Derek Blasberg about the fact his 'catastrophic' diarrhea became headline news, insiders claim They continued: 'It is not that they aren't friends and won't be friendly with each other in the future, it is just a bit difficult, and they both realize some time should pass before they hang out again. 'The likelihood of them being friends in the future is pretty good she has moved on from worse events in her life.' The source claimed Gwyneth and her friends have all reacted similarly to the scenario, as they shut down claims the actress-turned-wellness guru is being seen as a snitch. 'She thought that it was horrifying at first, but has since found the humor in it and has had a good laugh about it,' they said. 'Most of Gwyneth's friends think it is shockingly hilarious and gross, but they aren't thinking differently about Gwyneth.' A new blind item from the email newsletter titled Popb***h made it clear that Gwyneth had not been the one to leak the story across the Hamptons set. 'Ever since the phantom Hamptons c**pper was unveiled as celebrity barnacle Derek Blasberg, Gwyneth Paltrow has come in for quite a bit of flak,' it read. 'Society types are appalled she'd break a cardinal rule of hosting and blab about her guest's gastrointestinal indiscretion. But in fairness to Gwynnie, the leak may not have been her.' Earlier this month, DailyMail.com revealed that the socialite and celebrity hanger-on, 42, was the culprit behind the mortifying incident Derek is no stranger to spending time with Paltrow at her home on Long Island - pictured in 2018 when she tied the knot with Brad Falchuk The report continued: 'Gwyneth was lunching with Oprah Winfrey and Jerry Seinfeld when her irate housekeeper called, shouting loudly about the horrors she'd discovered, yelling about how much she hates "that f**ing friend" of hers. 'And most damning - complaining about the tip that had been left at the scene of the crime.' The source noted that Gwyneth strongly believed that the situation would soon be old news, and finished: 'She does feel bad that it got out there and everyone in the world knows about it, but it will pass.' In June, someone hinted at the scandal under Derek's Instagram post featuring Gwyneth, 51 The internet was whipped into a frenzy last month when the first blind item in popular gossip newsletter Popb***h stated that Gwyneth had been tasked with cleaning up someone's 'Ozempic-induced diarrhea' at her home. 'The story goes that a recent houseguest of Gwynnie's catastrophically s**t themselves in bed while staying there, then fled back to the city before they had to face the music,' it read. Revealing that the scandal had become 'the Hamptons set's favorite piece of gossip to text to each other,' the report continued: 'Ozempic-induced diarrhea is becoming a very hot topic of conversation between hosts there - because so many of their guests are using it. So expect launderettes to be fully booked from July 4.' The insider made it clear that the pair are still pals, but will likely keep their distance from each other for a while (pictured at her Hamptons home in 2022) Insiders later told DailyMail.com Derek - once described as 'one of showbizs most well-connected men' - was the culprit and that he had conveniently blamed the incident on the popular weight loss wonder drug before allegedly fleeing the property. 'Its not Ozempic, thats just what he told everyone,' the insider said, before revealing how the secret made its way through the Hamptons set. 'Gwyneth told Oprah, Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld, and Larry David,' they continued. 'Its shocking how many people know this story and how he has managed to keep it out of The Post probably via his best friend [socialite Dasha Zhukova] - whose mom just married Rupert Murdoch.' Derek had been no stranger to spending time with the actress at her five-bedroom Long Island home, where she hosted her wedding to Brad Falchuk in 2018. In 2022 the fashion expert posted a snap of himself and the actress celebrating her 50th birthday at the sprawling property. And it appears someone tried to out Derek as the phantom pooper four weeks before the news was revealed when they commented two poop emojis, a toilet emoji and a dynamite emoji on the Instagram post. Fashion socialite Derek is made headlines after DailyMail.com identified him as the guest who seemingly lost control of their bowels in a bed at Gwyneth's Hamptons home He is known to throw star-studded bashes, with his birthday parties often serving as a warm-up to the Met Gala (pictured with Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid) Before his recent toilet troubles put him firmly in the spotlight, Derek had maintained a relatively private life unlike some of his A list pals. The former TV host and author, who penned Very Classy: Even More Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady, not only counts Gwyneth as a close friend but also frequently spends his time with the likes of Karlie Kloss, Sienna Miller, Kendall Jenner and Demi Moore. He most recently worked as the head of fashion and beauty partnerships at YouTube and is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, Architectural Digest, and several international editions of Vogue. Thanks to his influence and connections as a top fashion journalist, socialite, and television personality, his birthday parties often serve as a warm-up to the Met Gala for his A-list attendees. For his 42nd birthday bash in April, A-list stars such as Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson, Jake Gyllenhaal and Andy Cohen were in attendance. Derek has built up influence and connections as a top fashion journalist, socialite, and television personality (pictured with Nicky and Paris Hilton) In 2022 his bash was attended by Jeff Bezos, Hailey Bieber, and Leonardo DiCaprio among others. Derek is also a senior staffer at the Gagosian Gallery and has contributed texts to The New York Times, WSJ Magazine, Elle, Womens Wear Daily, Glamour, and The London Sunday Times over the course of his career. He currently resides in New York with his partner, Imaginary co-founder Nick Brown. Back in 2021, the pair welcomed twins Elizabeth Grace and Frederick Noah, three, via surrogate. Elsewhere, the original blind item stated that the popularity of Ozempic is causing an issue among the rich and famous as they holiday together in the Hamptons this summer. Ozempic, typically used to treat diabetes and allow people to shed weight quickly, has a common side-effect that affects one in 10 users. In recent months, a handful of celebrities have admitted to using Ozempic, including Oprah, Elon Musk, Sharon Osbourne, Chelsea Handler and Robbie Williams. For those watching from the wings, the passion, drama and emotion behind the nation's favourite dance show are laid bare on an almost daily basis during rehearsals. But when a group of Strictly Come Dancing employees witnessed pro Graziano Di Prima's behaviour towards his celebrity partner, Zara McDermott, they immediately complained to their bosses. Having seen the Sicilian dancer acting aggressively towards the 27-year-old, they expected him to be instantly sacked. But not only was he allowed to carry on appearing on the Saturday-night staple, he was later invited on the tour and last month unveiled as one of the returning pros for the upcoming series. Today, after it emerged that there were multiple complaints of physical and verbal abuse against Di Prima, including claims he hit and kicked his former dance partner, the Mail can reveal that Strictly production staff are said to be absolutely furious that their complaints were ignored, meaning that abuse towards Ms McDermott, a former Love Island star, was allowed to continue. Strictly Come Dancing employees witnessed pro Graziano Di Prima acting aggressively towards 27-year-old celebrity partner Zara McDermott and complained to their bosses There were multiple complaints of physical and verbal abuse against Di Prima, including claims he hit and kicked his former dance partner 'There were multiple occasions where both physical and verbal attacks were made,' said a Strictly source. 'It was more physical than verbal, but all of it was dreadful.' Worse still, they claim that a crisis meeting to address what was going on was cancelled at the last minute. It was nine months later, when the employees got their hands on a clip of one of the incidents and presented it to the BBC bosses leading the investigation into professional dancer Giovanni Pernice who quit the show amid accusations of bullying last month that their concerns were finally acted upon. The Mail on Sunday revealed yesterday that Di Prima, who joined Strictly in 2018, has now been sacked for gross misconduct. He was accused of physically and verbally abusing Ms McDermott, whom he danced with until the sixth week of the 2023 series, when they were eliminated. Strictly sources told this newspaper that they now believe there was a 'cover-up' which bosses hoped would save fan favourite Di Prima from being ousted. The BBC declined to comment when approached about this last night. But the unfolding scandal has lead some to fear that the very future of the programme could now be at risk. One BBC insider said: 'There is absolutely no doubt that those very high up on Strictly, and wider at the BBC, knew about Graziano's behaviour but they allowed him to still appear on screen. BBC bosses are leading the investigation into professional dancer Giovanni Pernice - who quit the show amid accusations of bullying from former dance partner Amanda Abbington According to friends, Di Prima is 'devastated'. He has hired a lawyer and publicist in a bid to come out of the scandal as unscathed as he possibly can 'How on earth can you just let them off when they have done something like that . . . Maybe it's because he was adored by some of the bosses, who knows, but whatever the reason for not dealing with this properly cannot be ignored. This is surely the beginning of the end for Strictly now. This is a terrible, terrible crisis. 'The ultimate question that needs to be answered is why Graziano was asked back for another series.' The employees approached senior HR executives who were in charge of the investigation into Pernice which followed claims from his dance partner Amanda Abbington that he bullied her in training with a video clip of Di Prima allegedly hitting Ms McDermott. It was then that he was sacked, literally on the spot, a little over a week ago. For Ms McDermott's part, she was simply 'too frightened' to put a complaint in at the time, with her friends going so far as to claim that there was 'some coercion' going on. However, when approached by BBC investigators, who informed her that they had been told of the abuse, she agreed to meet and share her torment with them. 'It was incredibly brave of her to do that,' said one friend of the reality star. 'It was horrendous but, like many women who suffer abuse, it is difficult to come forward for fear that your career is over if you do so. 'But how wonderful that the production team had her back and spoke up for her when she was too scared to.' A statement released by the corporation confirmed Di Prima's departure: 'We can confirm that Graziano Di Prima is no longer part of the line up of professional dancers for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing. 'While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well known that the BBC has established robust duty of care procedures and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate.' Strictly insiders insist this is not the end of the scandal and fear that others will now come forward The unfolding of the latest scandal has lead some to fear that the very future of Strictly Come Dancing could now be at risk Di Prima also addressed his exit with a post on Instagram, in which he appeared to admit wrongdoing. 'I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime,' he wrote. According to friends, the dancer is 'devastated'. He has hired a lawyer and publicist in a bid to come out of the scandal as unscathed as he possibly can. While he isn't denying any of the claims levelled against him, he insists his 'crime' is his 'Sicilian passion'. He has conceded, though, that his life in the UK is over and he will be retreating to Italy where he will try to resurrect his once glittering career. However, before he does so he is set to take legal action against the BBC, claiming that he wasn't given any support on how to deal with the pressures involved with competing in the show. A friend of the star told the Mail: 'There are questions over their [the BBC's] procedures, and how they operate behind the scenes. He believes that there is a lot of pressure on professionals to get nines or tens to entertain the audience.' Strictly insiders insist this is not the end of the scandal and fear that others will now come forward. They say it is telling that none of the professional dancers have publicly supported Pernice, 33, amid claims by Sherlock actress Ms Abbington that he mistreated her during rehearsals. There has been an investigation into her accusations for some weeks after she instructed law firm Carter-Ruck to represent her. Pernice has instructed Schillings. Having denied all allegations against him by Ms Abbington, he expects to be fully exonerated by the BBC and has been supported by Strictly's head judge Shirley Ballas. But sources now say that others are 'scared' that they could be next. 'Amanda has opened a massive can of worms,' says one. 'The irony here is that what Zara endured was far worse than [Amanda's] bruised toe.' So what is next for Strictly, the much-loved, flagship show which the BBC view as its best Saturday-night programme since The Generation Game? An inquiry into the failures of duty of care is likely and bosses are set to have to implement procedures such as psychological tests to make sure contestants are mentally strong enough to take part. There are also fears that it will be a struggle to get celebrities to sign up. But more than anything, executives at the BBC are said to be 'deeply worried' that the fans will stop watching. 'The last nine months have been a disaster,' says a well-informed source. 'With no idea where it is going to end, the anxiety amongst the upper echelons of the BBC is through the roof.' The BBC did not wish to make any further comment about Di Prima's sudden departure. She is one of Australia's most famous trainers. And fitness guru Michelle Bridges was her own best advertisement over the weekend as she continued her holiday in Sicily with her son Axel. Taking to Instagram, Michelle, 53, showed off her fit physique in a vibrant swimsuit. The author, who recently graced the screens of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia!, opted for a laid back look, donning a pair of denim cut-offs over her swimsuit. She complemented the look with a pair of white sunglasses, a brown crossbody bag and a stylish bandana. Michelle is enjoying a sweet mother and son trip with her boy Axel, eight. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, she shares a series of clips as they wandered through the streets of Rome. In one clip, the fitness guru ensured they met their fitness goals as they conquered the iconic Spanish Steps. Michelle Bridges, 53, (pictured) showed off her svelte physique in a vibrant swimsuit while in Sicily Michelle looked effortlessly stylish in a chic blue and white ensemble, flaunting a hint of her sun-kissed skin. The fitness fanatic shares son Axel with her former partner Steve 'Commando' Willis. The couple split in 2020 after meeting on The Biggest Loser in 2012. It comes ager Michelle admitted that she was disappointed to have missed out on the I'm A Celebrity final. Bridges is enjoying a sweet mother and son trip with her boy Axel, eight 'I won't lie, I am disappointed. I really would have liked to have stayed a bit longer,' she confessed in her exit interview. 'I've loved meeting new people and I have made good friendships in there, I won't lie. There's some really great people I've connected with and I know that I'll have that connection on the outside.' Michelle was competing for her chosen charity, Women's Community Shelters. Rising to fame on The Biggest Loser in 2007, Michelle went on to appear on Celebrity MasterChef Australia in 2009, Dancing with the Stars in 2019, and Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2021. They were a ratings hit on the radio airwaves for almost 20 years. And now there is speculation Kate Langbroek, 58, is getting set to reunite with her old radio co-host Dave 'Hughesy' Hughes to reboot their popular Hughesy and Kate show. The pair last hosted Hit FM's popular show in 2019, before Langbroek took a step back from the program to move to Italy. On Monday, the Herald Sun reported that Melbourne is abuzz with rumours that Langbroek and Hughes, 53, are getting ready to bring back the program. Fuelling the rumour is the tumbling ratings for Hughes's current 2Day FM breakfast show, Hughesy, Ed and Erin. The program, which Hughes co-hosts with Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan, managed a mere 3.6 audience share in the latest ratings survey. Meanwhile, Hughes recently did a guest spot on Triple M's The Rush Hour in Melbourne which was a big hit with listeners. Hughes and Langbroek first teamed together in 2001 for Nova 100's Melbourne breakfast show. Speculation is running rife that Kate Langbroek, 58, is getting set to reunite with her old radio co-host Dave 'Hughesy' Hughes to reboot their popular Hughesy and Kate show Langbroek currently co-hosts the popular podcast The Buck Up with Nath Valvo after leaving her last commercial radio gig on KIIS FM The Pick Up two years ago. She teased a potential radio reunion with Hughes last year. 'We're full of love for each other and nothing is off the table for us,' she told the Herald Sun last August. The pair last appeared as a duo for Hit FM's popular show in 2019, before she took a step back from the program to move to Italy 'I love Hughesy. I'm not doing radio at the moment but I will always love radio because it's such a natural medium for me.' In March 2023, Langbroek issued a lengthy apology after publicly exposing a gender pay gay dispute between herself and Hughes on The Project. She claimed she earned 40 per cent less than Hughesy during their time hosting Hughesy & Kate on the Hit Network for almost two decades. Clarifying her shock admission on Instagram, Langbroek said she hadn't explained the full context of the situation due to the 'time constraints' of the Channel 10 show. 'Nor did I explain that when he found out, Hughesy was mortified - properly shocked - and immediately sought to rectify the situation,' she admitted. 'I had already procured parity for myself, by the way, but his instincts were so honourable he offered instantly to take a pay cut,' she added. Langbroek currently hosts the popular podcast The Buck Up alongside co-host Nath Valvo after leaving her last commercial radio gig on KIIS FM, the Pick Up, two years ago. She is also a regular panelist on Channel 10's The Project. (Pictured) 'He also vowed that from that point on, we would always negotiate together on the show we had built together, and we did, the following year, when we moved to SCA. Knowing that we could speak freely about our negotiations, and that we were treated as true equals at our new radio network was the best.' She confessed Hughes had been 'hurt' by her comments on The Project, which is why she felt the need to clarify them. She also said that she and Hughes weren't 'estranged' and that she was 'mortified' she had led people to believe that. Sam Thompson put on a brave face as he appeared on Love Island Aftersun on Sunday night - after a former Strictly Come Dancing professional was accused of 'punching and kicking' his girlfriend during her time on the show. Italian ballroom specialist Graziano Di Prima has been sacked from the long-running Saturday night staple over allegations of physical abuse while partnered with TV personality Zara McDermott in 2023. The former Love Island contestant's five-year relationship with Sam has also been scrutinised over recent weeks, amid claims the couple - who have not been seen together since the beginning of July, despite sharing a home - are holding 'crisis talks.' But amid all of this Sam still appeared on the ITV spin off show with presenter Maya Jama where he seemed in good spirits. He also joined Indiyah Polack on the show - who he has previously hosted the Love Island podcast with - as they dressed in England kit in a nod to the Euros final. Sam Thompson put on a brave face as he appeared on Love Island Aftersun on Sunday night - after a former Strictly pro was accused of 'punching and kicking' his girlfriend during her time on the show Italian ballroom specialist Graziano Di Prima has been sacked from the long-running Saturday night staple over allegations of physical abuse while partnered with Zara McDermott in 2023 Sam was on the show to commentate on the goings on in the villa for the last week. The Mail on Sunday exclusively revealed that McDermott, who starred alongside Di Prima in last year's series of Strictly, was victim to repeated physical and verbal abuse in ongoing attacks behind the scenes of the Saturday night show. It is the latest blow suffered by the BBC show, which is still watched by more than ten million people, as allegations against fellow Strictly star Giovanni Pernice are still being investigated. A message on Di Prima's Instagram since said: 'My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime.' The professional dancer joined Strictly in 2018 and was last year partnered with McDermott, but they were eliminated in week six. He was previously paired with presenter Vick Hope, Loose Women star Judi Love and in 2022 he reached the quarter-final with actor Kym Marsh. Di Prima's wife, fellow Italian Giada Lini, who also danced as a professional on Strictly, has yet to speak out about her husband's untimely departure. He continued on Instagram: 'While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it's only right for the sake of the show that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn't allowed to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the situation. But amid all of this Sam still appeared on the ITV spin off show with presenter Maya Jama where he seemed in good spirits He also joined Indiyah Polack on the show - who he has previously hosted the Love Island podcast with - as they dressed in England kit in a nod to the Euros final The Mail on Sunday exclusively revealed that McDermott, who starred alongside Di Prima in last year's series of Strictly, was victim to repeated physical and verbal abuse McDermott, pictured with her Strictly Come Dancing partner Graziano Di Prima before they were eliminated during Halloween week 'There's more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, but I am committed to being strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family nothing but success in the future.' The complaint was made recently and prompted the BBC to extend the inquiry that was ongoing over claims that Giovanni had bullied his partner Amanda Abbington during training. Sources on the show say that Di Prima's behaviour makes Abbington's claims that Pernice bruised her toe during rehearsals seem 'miniscule.' A source said: 'It was during that meeting that it all unfolded.' One source said: 'It seems that whatever Gio has done it opened a can of worms. 'It is incredibly brave of Zara to have come forward, it is never easy for a woman or indeed anyone who has been mistreated to do that.' The complaint was not made by McDermott herself but followed a number of Strictly's production staff raising Di Prima's behaviour with bosses. The professional dancer joined Strictly in 2018 and was last year partnered with McDermott, but they were eliminated in week six A message on Di Prima's Instagram since said: 'My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime' BBC chiefs then contacted her management and she was invited in to be interviewed about his behaviour. McDermott rose to fame on Love Island and has since become a documentary presenter for the BBC. In 2021, she revealed how revenge porn had made her consider suicide after a boy shared naked pictures of her around their school when she was just 14. Thompson, won ITV's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2023, beating the likes of Tony Bellew and Nigel Farage to claim King of the Jungle. In the wake of the death of Shannen Doherty on Saturday, July 13, one can't not think of her time on the smash hit series Beverly Hills, 90210, and her chemistry with Luke Perry. The two former co-stars, who played Brenda Walsh and Dylan McKay, respectively, were not only work colleagues but also longtime friends who remained close until Perry's passing at age 53 in March 2019 following a stroke. In the short time since her passing, which was confirmed by her longtime publicist Leslie Sloane, a number of fans, as well as friends and colleagues, sounded warmhearted when reflecting back on their lasting closeness and friendship through the years. Gabrielle Carteris, who played Andrea in the iconic series, summed up the sentiments by writing, 'I know Luke is there with open arms to love you,' in her tribute, as reported by People. Just this past February, Doherty got emotional when she shared about the time she learned of Perry's death while attending a panel at MegaCon Orlando. Shannen Doherty and Luke Perry first met ahead of landing Beverly Hills, 90210 in 1990 and went on to have a 'special kind of love' as friends long after they shared the screen together The two actors remained close after playing love interests Brenda Walsh and Dylan McKay for the four seasons they shared together on 'Beverly Hills, 90210' 'It was shocking,' Doherty said of the loss of her former co-star and friend. 'I have a very visceral reaction whenever someone brings up Luke because as someone with cancer and a really horrible cancer at stage 4 I thought I would be the first to go. So when it was Luke, it really just sent me for a tailspin.' Heartbroken over his loss, Doherty finally found the strength to share a tribute to Perry on social media the day after he died. 'Yesterday morning I got a phone call that devastated me,' she began in the caption with obvious emotion to her words. 'I'm struggling with this loss and am having a hard time with my thoughts. But, my heart goes out to his family and friends who were blessed by his light in their (and mine) lives. Processing this is impossible right now.' It turns out she and Perry wanted to create some new onscreen magic together, and were trying to find the right production to work on together. 'There is a special kind of love one has for each other when you are experiencing the journey we did on 90210 and of course life in general,' Doherty said, before revealing, 'Luke and I were working on show ideas for us. We wanted to work with each other again and create something special and meaningful for our fans at this stage in our lives.' She added, 'I will miss him everyday. Every minute. Every second.' During that same interview with People in 2019, the Memphis, Tennessee native revealed that she last saw Luke Perry when 'they met up for lunch' only a few weeks before his death. 'I walked in and there he was, smiling, with his dog Penny and her bed under the booth, happy as can be,' she recalled. 'I will never forget and will miss Luke looking at me with that smile of his saying "Shan."' Doherty and Perry starred together on Beverly Hills, 90210 for the first four seasons of the hit series from 1990-1994; Perry would stay for two more seasons and then leave, only to return for the finale 10th season; they starred with Ian Ziering, Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, and Gabrielle Carteris 'There is a special kind of love one has for each other when you are experiencing the journey we did on 90210 and of course life in general,' Doherty told People during an interview in 2019, soon after sudden Perry's death While attending a 90210 panel at RewindCon Chicago, weeks before his death in 2019, Perry heaped high praise on Doherty, telling the audience, 'None of us are up here today without Shannen.' He proceeded to share, 'The reality is that she was a very big part of the success of the program. She taught me a lot and I'm just really glad she was there for me as a scene partner.' They also connected after her cancer diagnosis and they 'picked right back up, albeit older and wiser, but that connection remained in tact.' She described him as a 'smart, quiet, humble and complex man with a heart of gold and never-ending well of integrity and love.' Doherty, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, documented much of her journey living with cancer on Instagram; she is pictured at a Stand Up To Cancer event in 2016 The actress shared about the death of Perry and how she's 'devastated', one day after learning the tragic news Considered one of the definitive television programs of the 90s, Doherty starred in the first four seasons of Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-1994), while Perry went on to star in the first six seasons, and then return for the 10th and final season in 2000. Doherty was also among the original cast to return for the reboot BH90210, which ultimately lasted one season with six episodes. First diagnosed with breast cancer, which included the presence of multiple tumors in 2015, the Charmed alum had a single mastectomy in May 2016. That was followed by the chemotherapy treatments and radiotherapy, because the cancer was more advanced than previously thought. By 2017, Doherty went public and announced that her cancer was in remission. But in February 2020, she revealed the cancer had returned the previous year, and that she is now in stage four. In the statement from her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane wrote, 'The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie' when she passed on Saturday, July 13 After expressing her 'fear', Doherty went on to have a tumor removed from her head after the CT scan determined that the cancer cells spread from their original site to the brain. 'I have a fight for my life, that I deal with every day,' Doherty said, before clarifying, 'I think I am really great.' In a statement from Doherty's publicist the day after her passing to USA Today, Sloane said the actress 'lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease.' She continued, 'The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.' Kyle Sandilands' manager Bruno Bouchet tested the loyalty of the KIIS FM staff on Monday by attempting to bribe them to take the radio host's driving penalty. Last week, Bruno revealed Kyle had received yet another speeding fine and was set to lose his remaining demerit points. He asked the show's content assistant Alfie whether he would break the law and tell police officers he was the one who had been driving the radio host's car. Alfie agreed, and told cops he had borrowed Kyle's car as the fuel pump on his vehicle had broken. 'You are a real little solider bro. I'm impressed by you,' Kyle said, adding that Alfie had passed the loyalty test. Bruno then asked producer Lachlan Mansell if he would take Kyle's demerit points in exchange for a 'couple of thousand dollars'. However, Lachie said he wouldn't take the points as it is 'against the law'. 'I can't do that. It's against the law and it would mean I would have to die. You could go to jail for that. I've got a perfect driving record. No deal,' he told Bruno. Kyle Sandilands' manager Bruno Bouchet tested the loyalty of the KIIS FM staff on Monday by attempting to bribe them to take the radio host's driving penalty 'I'm not going to do anything against the law.' Kyle then told Lachie he was disappointed by his response, adding: 'That shows you what truly a flop friend and non loyal person is.' 'My mum also has a perfect driving record and she said she would take the point. I've done more for Lachie than I ever have for my mother.' 'You don't feel behold to me for giving you some chance in life?' Kyle said. Bruno asked the show's content assistant Alfie whether he would tell police officers he was the one who had been driving the car. Alfie agreed, and told police he had borrowed Kyle's car as the fuel pump on his vehicle had broken Bruno confirmed on Tuesday's The Kyle and Jackie O Show that the radio host had lost one point but had zero left, which means he automatically loses his licence. After discovering he was disqualified from driving, Kyle threatened to leave Australia and live in Los Angeles for three months until his licence became valid again. He also shared an image of the moment he was clocked speeding in a Sydney tunnel, explaining he didn't realise the speed limit had dropped from 90km to 80km. 'So, on my speed sign recognition, it said 90km. But on the sign in the tunnel, it said 80km,' he insisted. 'I remember Chris Minns, the Premier of New South Wales, sitting with me saying, "We're kicking it [the speed limit] up to 90km." And I thought that some d**khead hasn't updated the sign.' Co-host Jackie O Henderson asked: 'How many points did you lose?' Kyle then revealed that this was the ninth time he had lost his licence. Sofia Vergara was seen with her new love Justin Saliman in Los Angeles on Sunday. The Modern Family alum whose son Manolo, 32, kicked off her 52nd birthday celebrations looked chic in her summertime outfit as the couple shopped in Beverly Hills. Rocking a pink floral sundress, the brunette kept close to the hunky surgeon, who carried a tiny pet pooch in his arms. She completed her look with a white leather handbag and matching sneakers, embracing her natural beauty with minimal makeup. This outing followed a birthday dinner for Sofia, organized by Justin and featuring the star's best friend, Heidi Klum. Sofia Vergara was seen with her new love Justin Saliman in Los Angeles on Sunday The Modern Family alum whose son Manolo, 32, kicked off her 52nd birthday celebrations looked chic in her summertime outfit as the couple shopped in Beverly Hills Heidi, 51, posted several snippets from the evening on her Instagram Stories, showing Sofia and the orthopedic surgeon sharing a close moment at a restaurant. The German supermodel, who first met Sofia in 2020 when they both became judges on America's Got Talent, later appeared behind them to offer birthday wishes. Heidi then leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on Sofia's forehead. Manolo kicked off the birthday wishes from family and friends by sharing a sweet flashback photo. 'Happy birthday, Ma! I love you,' wrote Manolo over the black-and-white image of his mom. In the pic, Sofia sported a leopard print top paired with a dark skirt and high heels, appearing youthful, while he humorously explained his tuxedo attire. 'Went to a kindergarten with a very strict dress code,' Manolo wrote. Another post was from her 48-year-old Modern Family costar Jesse Tyler Ferguson who said, 'I miss you.' Sofia and Justin have been dating since October 2023. She split from her husband, Joe Manganiello, 47, in July 2023 after seven years of marriage due to differing views on having children. 'My marriage broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids and I didn't want to be an old mom,' she told Spanish newspaper El Pais at the time. This outing followed a birthday dinner for Sofia, organized by Justin and featuring the star's best friend, Heidi Klum Heidi, 51, shared a number of clips from the night to her Instagram Stories, including one of Sofia and the orthopedic surgeon cozying up together in a restaurant The group dined at a restaurant with a lot of indoor greenery 'I feel it's not fair to the baby. I respect whoever does it, but that's not for me anymore.' 'I had a son at 19, who is now 32,' she added, 'and I'm ready to be a grandmother, not a mother.' Following her recent split, Sofia found new romance with Justin, a prominent Beverly Hills-based surgeon. He was previously married to Grimm star Bree Turner from 2008 to 2018. Bella Hadid stepped out in The Big Apple in a head-turning, ab-baring look. On Sunday, the 27-year-old wore a chic outfit while in Chelsea, Manhattan just a day after being spotted in a similar look. Bella donned a white Guizio crop top, showing off her toned and tanned abs and black capri pants while toting her essentials in an oversized Coach Brooklyn Shoulder Bag. The social media personality matched her outfit with black heels, shades, and a Coach handbag while keeping her hair in ringlet curls. Bella had an outfit change later in the day, wearing a white shirt, beige jacket, and matching beige trousers. Bella Hadid stepped out in an ab-baring look in The Big Apple on Sunday The 27-year-old donned a white Guizio crop top, showing off her toned and tanned abs and black capri pants The star accessorized with brown boots, gold earrings and sunglasses. Meanwhile, Bella's long dark hair was worn down in waves. Yolanda Hadid's daughter is enjoying her summer amid the news that she was stepping back from modeling. In April, Bella opened up about starting over in Texas with Adan Banuelo, who she referred to as her 'partner' and 'an incredible older businessman.' The couple first sparked romance rumors after being spotted kissing and holding hands in October 2023 at the Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas. Bella noted that these days, she's only focused on what brings her joy and is ditching what doesn't. 'After 10 years of modeling, I realized I was putting so much energy and love and effort into something that, in the long run, wasn't necessarily giving it back to me,' Bella told Allure. In Texas, the influencer lives a very different life than the one she lived before. Bella explained that she has a close group of friends with whom she has the 'best time' with and doesn't feel she needs to do 'too much' when getting ready for a girl's night out. The social media personality matched her outfit with black heels, shades, and a bag while keeping her hair in ringlet curls Yolanda Hadid 's daughter is enjoying her summer amid the news that she was stepping back from modeling 'For the first time now, I'm not putting on a fake face,' she admitted. 'If I don't feel good, I won't go. If I don't feel good, I take time for myself. And I've never had the opportunity to do that or say that before. Now when anybody sees me in pictures and they say, I look happy, I genuinely am. I am feeling better; my bad days now were my old good days.' Bella also launched her first fragrance collection, Orebella, in May. Labeled as the 'skinification of fragrance,' the collection boasts three scents and was created from the former model's love of mixing essential oils. Bella revealed to the outlet that she used to visit a natural health foods store near her family's Pennsylvania farm and mix essential oil scents with glycerin, looking for the right combinations. 'After 10 years of modeling, I realized I was putting so much energy and love and effort into something that, in the long run, wasn't necessarily giving it back to me,' she told Allure in April In Texas, the influencer lives a very different life than the one she lived before. She explained that she has a close group of friends with whom she has the 'best time' with and doesn't feel she needs to do 'too much' when getting ready for a girl's night out She shared that she loved to feel like she had something that was her own. 'I was trying to make them as unique as possible so that when I put them on my body, it felt singular to me,' Bella said. 'So she developed the scent profiles, pitched the brand to investors and created it from the ground up because it was something she felt strongly about.' And she also strived for a creation that consumers haven't seen before. 'I didnt want to just put something on the market that was another product or another perfume,' quipped Bella, 'it was something I was already extremely passionate about, and I didnt want to keep it for myself anymore.' In recent years, in addition to a new relationship and business venture, Bella has also been focused on her mental and physical health. The celebrity also launched her first fragrance collection, Orebella, in May. Labeled as the 'skinification of fragrance,' the collection boasts three scents and was created from the former model's love of mixing essential oils In recent years, in addition to a new relationship and business venture, the former model has also been focused on her mental and physical health Last August, she shared on social media that she was 'finally healthy' after over a decade of serious health issues that included '100+ days of Lyme, chronic disease, [co-infection] treatment [and] almost 15 years of invisible suffering.' 'The little me that suffered would be so proud of grown me for not giving up on myself,' Bella captioned her Instagram post. 'Thankful to my mommy for keeping all of my medical records, sticking by me, never leaving my side, protecting, supporting, but most of all, believing me through all of this.' The businesswoman continued, 'Living in this state, worsening with time and work while trying to make myself, my family and the people who support me, proud, had taken a toll on me in ways I cant really explain.' Last August, she shared on social media that she was 'finally healthy' after over a decade of serious health issues that included '100+ days of Lyme, chronic disease, [co-infection] treatment [and] almost 15 years of invisible suffering' The runway star has started over in Texas with her boyfriend Adan Banuelo. The couple first sparked romance rumors after being spotted kissing and holding hands in October 2023 at the Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas. 'One thing I want to express to you all is that 1, I am okay and you do not have to worry,' Bella wrote to followers, 'and 2:I wouldnt change anything for the world. If I had to go through all of this again, to get here, to this exact moment Im in right now, with all of you, finally healthy, I would do it all again.' After stating that her struggles have 'made me who I am today,' Bella added, 'The universe works in the most painful and beautiful ways, but I need to say that if you are struggling - it will get better.' She concluded her touching post, 'Thank you for the patience of the incredible companys that I work for, my supporters and the people who continued to check in.' Rose McGowan expressed profound grief as she joined fellow celebrities in paying tribute to Shannen Doherty on Sunday, following the actress's death at 53. The 50-year-old actress, who played Shannen's sister on Charmed after the late star exited the CW show, took to her social media to share an emotional message. 'I cant stop crying,' she commented via Instagram. 'A world without Shannen Doherty is inconceivable.' In a lengthier message, Rose showered praise on Shannen, who had courageously battled breast cancer since 2015. 'Shannen Doherty had the heart of a lion,' the Scream star wrote alongside a heartbreaking photo album. 'Passion for craft is often mislabeled as trouble. Shannen was passion.' Rose McGowan expressed profound grief as she joined fellow celebrities in paying tribute to Shannen Doherty on Sunday, following the actress's death at 53; (pictured 2020) The 50-year-old actress, who played Shannen's sister on Charmed after the late star exited the CW show, took to her social media to share an emotional message She continued: I met her in the 90s and was awed. Getting to really know her later in life, a beautiful gift. 'This woman fought to live. Shannen knew how to be a star because she was one since childhood. Her work ethic inspiring to the end.' 'We laughed at dark forces who wanted us to hate each other, instead we chose love and respect. A soft-hearted badass as there ever was. A force of energy that will live forever in hearts. 'May angels and God carry her to the holy kingdom where she is healthy, young and wild forever. Rest now warrior, we will never forget you dear sister #shannendoherty #charmed #warrior #brave #infinity' Shannen, Holly Marie Combs, and Alyssa Milano portrayed the Halliwell witches in Charmed's first three seasons. Doherty left before season 4 amidst reported tensions with Milano (although Milano denies any responsibility for her departure), leading to McGowan's introduction as their younger half-sister. Rose's tribute comes after reports that Shannen said she was 'wrecked' at the thought of starting chemotherapy again, just three weeks before she passed away on Saturday at the age of 53. The star who was was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 got candid about gearing up for the drug treatment during the June 24 episode of her Let's Be Clear podcast. 'I cant stop crying,' she commented via Instagram . 'A world without Shannen Doherty is inconceivable' (Rose, Shannen and Holly Marie Combs speak during a Q&A session at MegaCon Orlando 2024) Shannen, Holly Marie Combs, and Alyssa Milano portrayed the Halliwell witches in Charmed's first three seasons Doherty left before season 4 amidst reported tensions with Milano (although Milano denies any responsibility for her departure), leading to McGowan's introduction as their younger half-sister 'Im having to go back on chemo and its really hard,' the actress said at the time. 'The idea of going through that all over again has wrecked me.' She continued: 'Its wrecked me in the sense of, yes, I knew I had stage 4 and yes, I knew it was really serious, but when you have to go to the hospital and you have to get put under and a port put in you, it becomes very real in an incredibly different way.' The Charmed star also noted that she might have to 'change' her plan based on the chemotherapy results after three months. 'Thats not something that I can predict. Its not something my doctors can predict. And its scary,' she continued. 'Its like a big wake-up call.' In the same podcast episode, she confessed the past year was 'really hard' for her. On Sunday, Doherty's publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed the actor's death. 'It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,' Sloane told People. 'The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace,' Sloane added. Doherty, who played Brenda Walsh in the hit 1990s show, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. Just two years later, the Charmed star revealed that the cancer had returned after going into remission. At the time, she told Good Morning America: 'It's going to come out in a matter of days or a week that I'm stage 4. So my cancer came back, and that's why I'm here. One chimed in : 'So sad to hear about Shannen Doherty. She was an amazing actress and bravely fought her cancer. May she rest in peace. Say hi to Luke for us' Shannen Doherty said she was 'wrecked' at the thought of starting chemotherapy again, just three weeks before she passed away on Saturday at the age of 53; (pictured February) The Beverly Hills 90210 icon got candid about gearing up for the drug treatment during the June 24 episode of her Let's Be Clear podcast On Sunday, Doherty's publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed the actor's death Doherty, who played Brenda Walsh in the hit 1990s show, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. (Pictured: Doherty in March undergoing radiation therapy) The actor is pictured here in June, in what is believed to be the last time she was spotted in public 'I don't think I've processed it. It's a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways,' she said. Last year she announced that her cancer had spread to her brain in an Instagram post that showed her undergoing radiation therapy. She teased a new episode of her podcast Let's Be Clear by sharing a snippet on her official Instagram account. In October 1990, Doherty starred in the original Beverly Hills 90210, but left the series after the fourth season in 1994. She came back to the show as a guest star in 2008 after it rebooted. Following the popular series, she went on to star in the witch drama, Charmed. Doherty played Prue Halliwell, the oldest of the three witch sisters. After directing several episodes of Charmed, Doherty left the series in 2001. She then moved on to reality television, as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars and in the show Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty. She joined the 2019 reboot of 90210 and played the adult version of Brenda Walsh. Doherty initially kept her diagnosis under wraps, but after her co-star Luke Perry suddenly died at 52 in 2019, she opened up about her health battle. Following the popular series, she went on to star in the witch drama, Charmed. Doherty (middle) played Prue Halliwell, the oldest of the three witch sisters "One of the reasons, along with Luke, that I did and didn't really tell anybody [was] because I thought, people can look at that [as] people with stage 4 can work too," she explained. Perry died on March 4 that year after he suffered a massive ischemic stroke at his home in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. 'It's so weird for me to be diagnosed and then somebody who was, you know, seemingly healthy to go first,' Doherty said on Good Morning America in 2020. 'It was really, like, shocking.' On June 24, Doherty gave fans insight into where she's at in her divorce and cancer journey on the latest episode of her podcast. She confessed that her past year has been 'really hard' as she discussed her split from photographer Kurt Iswarienko, 49. 'Obviously, divorce is not easy, especially when you really loved someone. And I did love my husband,' Doherty said. 'And when you get so hurt by their actions that you just feel betrayed and like a sucker, it's really hard.' Doherty also revealed she would be starting another round of chemotherapy 'probably a couple of days after this episode is out.' 'To just be walking into the unknown I just feel like my life has been unknown for over a year now, between divorce and cancer,' she added. The couple were together for 11 years before they divorced. The Hollywood vet referred to the divorce proceedings as 'not the most pleasant thing' and said she may 'never be ready to discuss the full details' of the dissolution of her marriage. In a recent court filing, Doherty criticized her ex Kurt's spending habits in a request for spousal support. She filed paperwork in Los Angeles on Friday, June 14, according to Us Magazine. In the documents, the actress requested $15,343 in monthly support 'retroactive to June 1, 2024.' She also asked that Kurt contribute $9,100 to her legal fees. The actress believed that her ex was intentionally delaying the legal process to avoid paying her. Doherty recently confessed that her divorce and cancer journey was 'really hard' for her over the past year. (Pictured: her ex-husband of 11 years, Kurt Iswarienko, in 2010) 'It is simply not right that Kurt be permitted to prolong our divorce in hopes that I die before he is required to pay me while he continues to live his life and shirk his responsibilities to his dying wife of more than 11 years,' she stated in filed paperwork. Iswarienko's attorney Katherine Heersema fired back, stating that Shannen was offered a settlement deal in October 2023 but denied it. 'Kurt is not "simply wait[ing] for Shannen to die." He wants the best for Shannen and he wants both of them to be able to put this case behind them and move forward,' she said. In response, Doherty said she denied the proposed settlements because they 'skirted around the issues of his original works created during marriage' and 'his earning capacity.' Brigitte Nielsen showed off her incredible figure while enjoying a family day at the beach on Sunday. The Creed II star, 61 who recently put on a leggy display in Germany flaunted her fit frame during a beach day with her husband and two sons in Italy. She enjoyed the sun in a very lowcut black swimsuit with a white neckline. The stunning ensemble flaunted her slender legs and hourglass shape. Her blonde locks were hidden underneath a tan cap that paired with her gold bracelet. Brigitte Nielsen flaunted her fit frame during a beach day in Italy on Sunday The family enjoyed their summer getaway in at Regina Isabella located in Naples, Italy. Brigitte was accompanied by her husband Mattia Dessi, 45, and her sons Aaron, 31, and Killian Marcus, 34. Even at 61, the Danish superstar prioritizes her looks and health attributing her fit frame to her modeling background. Back in April she opened up to Sharon Osbourne on Interview Magazine about when she was discovered. The six-foot-one multihyphenate explained, 'I was 16. I come from a very little suburb outside of Copenhagen. Me and my girlfriend took the train into the city and put five crowns together to share one beer in a square in Copenhagen. We had this little beer, and felt like big girls in a new world. 'This woman kept looking at us and she said, Hey, you should be a model. It was actually a modeling scout from Elite out of New York. They said, Well do some test pictures and see, because youre pretty in person but you might not photograph well,"' she said. Brigitte shared that the process was not easy and detailed the bullying she faced when she was younger. She continued: 'Thats how I started. I was supposed to go to university because I was very good in school even though I was bullied for it. 'When I was 10, I was taller than my teacher and I was very, very skinny. I had braces for years, they pulled out six of my teeth. It was a nightmare. I changed schools three times. Kids can be really cruel,' she shared. She was joined by her husband Mattia Dessi, 45, (right) and her sons Aaron, 31, and Killian Marcus, 34 Brigitte was accompanied by her husband Mattia Dessi, 45, and her sons Aaron, 31, and Killian Marcus, 34 Even at 61, the Danish superstar prioritizes her looks and health attributing her fit frame to her modeling background; seen in 2024 'I was hunched over and very insecure,' she said of her childhood. 'Modeling literally made me stand up straight. I think that insecurity never really leaves you. 'You get to appreciate fame and fortune or whatever else, but the essence of you is always left,' she finsihed. Brigitte famously romanced Hollywood vets Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and rapper Flavor Flav. Channel Seven filmed an expensive photoshoot with axed Queensland newsreader Sharyn Ghidella, just weeks before she was fired from the network. Ghidellla, 58, took part in a lavish photoshoot with her former co-anchor Max Futcher, in which they promoted the Seven 6pm Brisbane news bulletin. However, shortly after taking part in the shoot Ghidella received a phone call informing her the network was ending her employment with them, after 17 years. The firing is said to have come as a surprise to Ghidella, who believed her employment to be secure since the network was paying for a costly photoshoot with her and Futcher, reports The Australian. On the day Ghidella was let go, she was scheduled to take part in another shoot promoting Brisbane's upcoming EKKA show, with her involvement in the production abruptly cancelled. Ghidella made her feelings known to staff shortly after being let go, sending a scathing internal memo which read: 'You might have already worked this out... But I think that promo we just shot, might need a little tweaking.' Last week, the veteran presenter was axed from the network, after almost four decades working in the news industry. Ghidella, the face of Seven News in Queensland since 2007, confirmed the news in a fiery Facebook post on Friday. Channel Seven (pictured) filmed an expensive photoshoot with axed Queensland newsreader Sharyn Ghidella, just weeks before she was fired from the network She said her 'tap on the shoulder' finally came while she was at the salon, admitting it was a 'relief' of sorts after several anxious weeks of media job cuts. But she was determined not to go quietly as she took aim at the failing network for prioritising gimmicks like astrology readings over keeping veteran talent. 'When you work in TV for as long as I have, not a day goes by when you aren't expecting the proverbial tap on the shoulder... After 38 years, my shoulder tap has finally come,' Ghidella began. Ghidellla, 58, recently took part in a lavish photoshoot with her former co-anchor Max Futcher (left), in which they promoted the Seven 6pm Brisbane news bulletin 'It wasn't quite how I expected it to end at Channel Seven. I was actually sitting at the hairdressers for work, when I got the call informing me, that after 17 years with the network, my time was up.' Ghidella then said her recent time at the network had been 'miserable' and she was glad to be heading out the door. 'While somewhat saddened by this decision, there is also some sense of relief. As has been widely reported, the past couple of weeks in TV has, sadly, been a miserable affair,' she wrote. However, shortly after taking part in the shoot Ghidella received a phone call informing her the network was ending her employment with them, after 17 years Ghidella added she was not a fan of the network's rebranding of its news programming, which will see comedian Mark Humphries doing a comedy skit, and 'Astro Tash' start an astrology report. Anthony De Ceglie - the controversial blow-in from Seven's WA newspaper business who now runs the television news division said in a statement: 'Sharyn has made a significant contribution to Seven over the past 17 years.' 'We are grateful for her hard work and are sorry to see her go. She leaves with sincere thanks from everyone at Seven and our very best wishes for the future.' A baby registry set up by Gypsy Rose Blanchard was set to private after a number of trolls filled it up with insults and hateful messages, after she recently revealed she was expecting a child. The 32-year-old Blanchard made national news after she recruited her former boyfriend to kill her mother after years of being forced to pretend she was gravely ill. She said in a YouTube video on Tuesday that her child is due in January, which will be just a little over a year after she was freed from a women's prison northeast of Kansas City, Missouri. In conjunction with the pregnancy announcement, Blanchard posted an online baby registry list with a link via her Instagram Stories, listing items such as a stroller valued at $600 and a crib valued at $530. Insiders told TMZ on Sunday that trolls clicked on the purchase options but did not actually buy the items, instead sending negative comments to Blanchard with the adjacent DM feature. A baby registry set up by Gypsy Rose Blanchard, 32, was set to private after a number of trolls filled it up with insults and hateful messages, after she revealed she was expecting a child. Pictured in LA in May In conjunction with the pregnancy announcement, Blanchard posted an online baby registry list with a link via her Instagram Stories Blanchard subsequently set her site to private, requiring the use of a password to access the site and pay for the items listed, sources told the outlet. Blanchard, who said that her babys father is Ken Urker, a prison pen pal who proposed when she was incarcerated, are planning on holding a gender reveal bash August 10, according to the outlet. In the YouTube video, Blanchard said, 'I just want to be a good mother for my child - I want to be everything my mother wasn't.' Blanchards case sparked national tabloid interest after reports emerged that her mother, Clauddine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard, who was slain in 2015, had essentially kept her daughter prisoner, forcing her to use a wheelchair and feeding tube. Dee Dee Blanchard duped doctors into doing unnecessary procedures by telling them that her daughters medical records had been lost in Hurricane Katrina, Gypsy Rose Blanchard's attorney said. The attorney said the mother had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological disorder in which parents or caregivers seek sympathy through the exaggerated or made-up illnesses of their children. The mother-daughter duo received charitable donations, and even a home near Springfield, Missouri, from Habitat for Humanity. When Gypsy Rose Blanchard turned 23, she supplied a knife to her then-boyfriend, and hid in a bathroom while he repeatedly stabbed her mother, according to the probable cause statement. Blanchard subsequently set her site to private, requiring the use of a password to access the site and pay for the items listed Blanchard has been the subject of a Lifetime docuseries titled The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard Then Gypsy and Nicholas Godejohn, whom she met on a Christian dating website, made their way by bus to Godejohns home in Wisconsin, where they were arrested. Godejohn is serving a life sentence in Missouri. Prosecutors cut Blanchard a deal because of the abuse she had endured. Ultimately she found a way to forgive her mother and herself, she said soon after her release while promoting the Lifetime docuseries, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, and her own e-book, Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom. Earlier coverage includes the 2017 HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest and the 2019 Hulu miniseries The Act. Blanchard said in the new video that she knows some people think she isnt ready to be a mother, that it is too soon. But she was dismissive, saying no one is ever truly ready for parenthood. 'It's an amazing feeling when your whole world shifts and suddenly it's not about you,' she said. 'It's not about anything other than this tiny little life thats inside you that you are now in charge of protecting. 'And 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. And all of the things that I wish I could have had when I was little.' Blanchard was pictured in a Springfield, Missouri courtroom in November of 2018 testifying in the trial of her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn She said the baby's father is Urker but they later broke up, and she instead married Ryan Scott Anderson, a special education teacher from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Soon after her release from prison, however, Blanchard and Anderson split, and now she is back with Urker. Blanchard said the pregnancy wasn't planned but both she and Urker are excited and committed to creating a family together. 'I couldn't be happier,' she said, while acknowledging that the relationship is unconventional. 'Everything that has ever happened to me in my life suddenly doesn't matter because it all led me to be who I am today and it all led me to this moment right here, right now. And thats a blessing.' Lucy Graham was very much in a reminiscing mood on Sunday. The fiancee of NRL star Sam Burgess took to her Instagram story on Sunday to share a 15-year-old throwback snap of the future pair partying with friends, former Leeds rugby league star Ewan Dowes and his wife Amy. Lucy and Sam known each other for over 20 years. The image was coupled with a more recent snap of the friendly foursome and captioned simply with '15 years later'. The throwback photo showed what appeared to be a celebration for Sam with the former Rabbitohs star wearing a white T-shirt adorned with signatures and a childhood photo as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ewan, Lucy and Amy. The image was accompanied with a more recent picture of the gang, who appeared to be enjoying a casual lunch date and catch-up. A beaming Sam looked like there was no place he would rather be as he smiled for the camera, wearing a casual white polo shirt. Lucy meanwhile looked similarly chuffed, wearing a playfully pink sleeveless blouse with gold buttons while her golden locks were left to flow down her shoulders. Lucy Graham, the fiancee of NRL Star Sam Burgess took to her Instagram story on Sunday to share a 15-year-old throwback snap of the future pair partying with friends The former Rabbitohs player proposed to Lucy in June last year, just nine months after they went public with their relationship. He previously revealed he was extremely nervous when he asked the Leeds hairdresser to marry him. Lucy and Sam welcomed their daughter Robbie into the world last September and announced her arrival on Channel Seven's Sunrise. The throwback photo showed what appeared to be a celebration for Sam with the former Rabbitohs star wearing a white T-shirt adorned with signatures and a childhood photo as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ewan, Lucy and Amy Lucy and Sam welcomed their daughter Robbie into the world last September and announced her arrival on Channel Seven's Sunrise Sam also shares two children: daughter Poppy, six, and son Billy, four, with his ex-wife Phoebe Burgess. They were married for four years before splitting in 2019. Recently enjoying a European getaway with their daughter Robbie, Lucy was not afraid to flaunt her insane bikini body as she soaked up the sun in Spain. Sam also revealed his fit figure in blue shorts as he held Robbie in his arms and smiled for the camera. The couple also posed for a family photo with their little girl as they relaxed under an umbrella at the beach. Actor James B. Sikking, known for appearing on shows such as Hill Street Blues and Doogie Howser, M.D., has died at the age of 90 after a battle with dementia. The actor passed away 'peacefully at his Los Angeles home surrounded by family,' his rep Cynthia Synder said in a statement, according to People. Among other TV and film productions Sikking appeared in amid his career that spanned more than five decades include the shows Little House on the Prairie, General Hospital and Brooklyn South; and films such as The Pelican Brief, Fever Pitch and Ordinary People. Both of Sikking's most-prominent TV roles came on the series created by late producer Steven Bochco, who died in April of 2018 following a battle with leukemia. From 1981-1987 he portrayed Lt. Howard Hunter - the head of the Emergency Action Team - on 144 episodes of the NBC police procedural series Hill Street Blues. Actor James B. Sikking, known for appearing on shows such as Hill Street Blues and Doogie Howser, M.D., has died at the age of 90 after a battle with dementia. Pictured in LA in 1986 The veteran actor was pictured at an event in Hollywood, California in January of 2011 He garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1984. Sikking was born in 1934 in Los Angeles and an alum of El Segundo High School and UCLA, where he got a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts, according to the outlet. He also served in the Army, later saying that he drew upon traits exhibited by his drill instructor for the Lt. Howard Hunter role on Hill Street Blues. Sikking in April of 2014 said in an interview with The Fresno Bee, 'The drill instructor looked like he had steel for hair, and his uniform had so much starch in it, you knew it would sit in the corner when he took it off in the barracks. 'So when I started to play Howard, I picked out the way he should be dressed. It had to be a very military look. He had to have those jump boots. When people asked me where I got the idea for his look, I told them it was the same look I had in the Army.' Sikking early on his career was active in plays, performing at the Barn Theatre School in Michigan, while working steadily on TV over the 1960s and 1970s. Among the shows he appeared on in the 1960s included Perry Mason, General Hospital, My Mother the Car, The Fugitive, Bonanza and Adam-12. In the 1970s, Sikking was seen on shows such as M*A*S*H, Hogan's Heroes, Night Gallery, Mission: Impossible, The Doris Day Show, The Streets of San Francisco, Mod Squad, Columbo, The F.B.I., Eight Is Enough, Starsky and Hutch, Charlie's Angels and The Rockford Files. Sikking portrayed Lt. Howard Hunter on 144 episodes of the NBC police procedural series Hill Street Blues. Pictured opposite Jan Stratton on a 1982 episode of the show Sikking garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of the head of the Emergency Action Team in 1984. Pictured in 1983 Sikking, pictured with the late Richard Roat on a 1984 episode of Hill Street Blues, which he called the 'best show I was ever on' in a 2014 interview Sikking was remembered by a number of fans on social media amid news of his passing Sikking in 1981 began with Hill Street Blues, a police show that didn't initially command large ratings, but racked up acclaim from critics, garnering eight Primetime Emmys on eight nominations in its debut year. 'When the Emmy nominations were announced, I was dumbfounded,' he told The Fresno Bee. 'I thought I was about to be unemployed and we ended up being the most-awarded show that year.' In all, the series would claim 26 Emmy wins over 55 nominations in its seven-season run. 'I've been an actor for 50 years, and when I look back at the show, I think it was the best show I was ever on,' he told the outlet. During his Hill Street Blues run, he also appeared in the 1984 movie Star Trek III: The Search for Spock as Captain Styles. Other 1980s series he appeared on included the Bochco series L.A. Law, Who's the Boss? and Hunter, as well as films such as Outland, The Star Chamber and Up the Creek. In 1990, he appeared in the Gene Hackman mystery thriller Narrow Margin with Anne Archer and late character actors J.T. Walsh and M. Emmet Walsh. Sikking played Dr. David Howser, the father of child prodigy Doogie Howser (played by Neil Patrick Harris), on 97 episodes of the ABC series on Doogie Howser, M.D. from 1989-1993. Sikking, Neil Patrick Harris and Belinda Montgomery pictured on Doogie Howser, M.D. in 1993 Sikking and Harris were pictured on the ABC series in May of 1992 Sikking was seen with actor Jon Tenney (L) on the CBS series Brooklyn South in 1997 After his run on Doogie Howser, M.D. from 1989-1993, Sikking appeared in a multitude of TV shows and films throughout the rest of the decade, most notably 1993's The Pelican Brief with Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts; and on the series Brooklyn South from 1997-1998. He went on to appear on two episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2004, in the 2005 film Fever Pitch, and on the TNT series The Closer in 2012. Sikking was remembered by a number of fans on social media amid news of his passing. A tweet from the account Hill Street Blues Fan Group read: 'Saddened by the passing of James B Sikking. Howard was my favourite character on the show. R.I.P.' Another user said, 'R.I.P. James, thanks for all the memories. Hill Street Blues was a huge part of my cultural life in the 1980s. Magnificent show and Howard was a great character. So many other great roles, Outland, Narrow Margin, Star Chamber and more.' Said one fan: 'Aw, man. Howard was one of my favorite characters on Hill Street Blues. Enjoyed Sikking's performance in OUTLAND as well. R.I.P.' One fan called the late actor 'a favorite and a dynamic personality of roles,' adding, 'Rest In Peace.' The veteran actor had been married to wife Florine Caplan in 1962, and had been wed to her more than six decades. According to People, he is survived by Florine, son Andrew, daughter Dr. Emily Sikking (Mallory 'Chip' Milam), and four grandchildren. The Twisters cast is showing off their dance moves. Daisy Edgar-Jones shared a video of herself and co-stars Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos performing the viral Charli XCX TikTok dance to her hit song Apple. The dance was created by TikTok user Kelley Heyer a month ago and has taken the internet by storm ever since. Daisy captioned the Sunday Instagram post, 'Caught the lads up on Brat summer.' Glen cheekily commented, 'Hard to remember my life before this dance. Thank you, Daisy.' The Twisters cast is showing off their dance moves. Daisy Edgar-Jones shared a video of herself and co-stars Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos performing the viral Charli XCX TikTok dance to her hit song Apple But these days, along with hopping on the lighthearted dance trends, the Hit Man star is also getting candid on wanting more movies for Middle America. 'Having grown up in and around Texas, Im aware there are vast parts of America that have been underserved in terms of movies that they want to see,' Glen shared in an interview with The Telegraph. 'You sort of have New York and Los Angeles making the decisions about what gets made, but theres a whole lot more audience out there you need to think about.' The Twisters star also noted that filming his 2023 romcom Anyone But You with Sydney Sweeney helped him realize what was missing. 'One of the things that Ive realized recently is that when studios say a genre is dead, all it means is that theres a huge opportunity, because a market is not being served,' Glen continued. 'The business stopped making romantic comedies, apparently, because romantic comedies werent making any money in theaters. But my belief is theres no problem facing Hollywood that cant be solved by a really good movie.' The Scream Queens alum is hopeful he can serve the areas - like the 'vast part' he is from - with more of the films they want. In fact, Glen has decided to move back to his home state of Texas to finish his college degree and be closer to his family. In May, he told The Hollywood Reporter that he is reaping the benefits of 'getting to this point in Hollywood is that I can now leave Hollywood. Its like Ive earned the ability to go back to my family.' Talking about Hollywood functions, Glen noted, 'I think you get enough of those that you just want to bring your family as close as possible - or run to them.' The Top Gun: Maverick actor continued, 'I think this is going to be good for my head, heart and soul.' The dance was created by TikTok user Kelley Heyer a month ago and has taken the internet by storm ever since But looking back at the start of making it in Hollywood, Glen reflected on being cast in Denzel Washingtons 2007 film, The Great Debaters. The 69-year-old was so impressed by a young Glen that he hired him as a Harvard debater and even introduced him to his agent, Ed Limato. Afterward, Glen headed to his first year at the University of Texas, but soon after, he received a call from Ed, inquiring if he would be coming to Los Angeles for the film's premiere. Once he touched down in the City of Angels, the trio discussed the Set It Up star's future. 'Ill never forget it. I sat down with him and Denzel, and it was quick,' Glen shared. 'Ed goes, "You should move out here and give this a shot." Hes like, "This shit doesnt happen overnight, but you should take the plunge".' The actress captioned the Sunday Instagram post , 'Caught the lads up on Brat summer,' while the Hit Man star cheekily commented, 'Hard to remember my life before this dance. Thank you, Daisy' These days, along with hopping on the lighthearted dance trends, the Anyone But You actor is also getting candid on wanting more movies for Middle America: 'Having grown up in and around Texas, Im aware there are vast parts of America that have been underserved in terms of movies that they want to see' Meanwhile, Denzel felt the same way. Glen recalled: 'Hes like, "This guys discovered everybody; dont run from this, Glen".' And Glen didn't run. Fast-forward to years of hard work, and now the actor is in the business of turning down deals that don't suit him. Glen revealed to the outlet that he turned down a potential role in the latest Jurassic World film - despite the 1993 classic being one of his 'favorite movies.' 'Its one of the things Ive wanted to do my whole life,' he admitted. 'Im not doing that movie because I read the script and I immediately was like, my presence in this movie doesnt help it.' 'And the scripts great,' Glen continued. 'The movies going to f---ing kill. Its not about that. Its about choosing where youre going to make an audience happy and where youre going to make yourself happy.' The Scream Queens alum is hopeful he can serve the areas - like the 'vast part' he is from - with more of the films they want: 'One of the things that Ive realized recently is that when studios say a genre is dead, all it means is that theres a huge opportunity, because a market is not being served' The Top Gun: Maverick actor decided to move back to his home state of Texas to be closer to his family and finish his college degree: 'I think this is going to be good for my head, heart and soul' As for where the Hollywood hunk stands in his love life? Well, these days, he's focused on his career. 'This is a time where life is moving so fast that I dont even know if I could bring someone into it in a healthy way, even if I tried,' Glen told CBS Sunday Mornings in June. When host Gayle King suggested he could 'for the right person,' he replied, 'For the right person, I think thats right.' Glen added that while he isn't 'chasing love,' he would be open to it if something came his way. 'If love comes and hits me in the face and knocks me over, I welcome it with open arms because thats something I really want,' he gushed. 'You know, its like - even just being with my niece and nephew today, its like, I really want kids.' He told The Hollywood Reporter that he is reaping the benefits of 'getting to this point in Hollywood is that I can now leave Hollywood. Its like Ive earned the ability to go back to my family' As for where the Hollywood hunk stands in his love life? Well, these days, he's focused on his career: 'This is a time where life is moving so fast that I dont even know if I could bring someone into it in a healthy way, even if I tried' 'I really want that phase of life. Its not far away,' stated Glen. 'And at the same time, I realize [that] its going to take a very specific type of person to navigate this [lifestyle]. Its a lot.' He also shared that through his time in the film industry he has realized 'theres new aspects and new complexities to this life and this job,' which at one point he didn't even 'understand.' 'So to bring someone into that and to make them feel comfortable, to make them feel seen, to make them feel loved, when a lot of the elements around that can really eat at someones self confidence or worth or any of that stuff,' Glen reiterated. 'Im not willing to have somebody sign up for that if theyre not ready for it.' The Fast Food Nation vet was previously in a relationship with model Gigi Paris, before the two called it quits in August 2023. The Fast Food Nation vet was previously in a relationship with model Gigi Paris , before the two called it quits in August 2023 In December, Glen opened up about his chemistry with Sydney while promoting Anyone But You. 'Well, look, the only reason it made things harder for me to lean into that stuff was that I was going through a very real breakup amidst a promotional tour,' he elaborated to Business Insider. 'I was with someone that I really loved and cared about and was trying to kind of make sense of a lot of stuff.' Added Glen, 'It was a lot easier for Sydney to lean into something like that because she's in a very committed and wonderful relationship and she's very happy. So it was a little harder for me.' Olivia Munn is among the many people who feel the need to share about the life and death of Shannen Doherty, following her passing on Saturday, July 13. The former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress died surrounded by loved ones, as well as her beloved dog Bowie, some eight years after first being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. Knowing Doherty had already faced some experiences she would be facing, Munn latched on to the actress as a source of strength and knowledge after seeking her out and meeting her. 'I am absolutely heartbroken over the passing of Shannen Doherty. When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer I remembered how bravely she let the world into her journey and reached out to her,' The Newsroom alum, 44, revealed in an Instagram Story post on Sunday, one day after her death. 'We became instant friends which I honestly couldn't comprehend at times because watching her on [Beverly Hills,] 90210 was everything to me when I was 10.' Olivia Munn, 44, took to her Instagram Story to share an emotional tribute to Shannen Doherty, where she revealed how they became 'instant friends' after she reached out to her following her own breast cancer diagnosis 'We bonded through a shared battle and a desire to help other women,' The Newsroom alum shared of her friendship with Shannen Doherty Munn was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2023, but she decided to wait until this past March publicly to disclose her diagnosis in March. 'We bonded through a shared battle and a desire to help other women,' she explained in her new tribute. 'Looking back at the last text she sent me just a couple of months ago, she asked how I was doing and if she could do anything for me.... True to form, Shannen was offering me her support even though she was in the final stage of fighting this horrific disease.' She then got brutally honest, writing, 'Cancer is really f***ing' scary and Shannen faced it with such dignity, strength and grace.' Munn ended her tribute by 'sending all my love to her mother who was her best friend, hero and champion every step of the way. Fly so high my friend.' The grateful actress also shared an interview with Doherty that she did with People, where she talked about dying. 'I'm not afraid of death because I know where I am going,' the Memphis, Tennessee native shared in an interview with publication in November. 'I know the people that i'm going to see. I think I would be afraid of death if I wasn't a good person but I am.' While she sounded secure in her thoughts and beliefs on death and an afterlife, the former Charmed star added, 'I don't want to die - that's the difference.' Munn went on to share a photo of Doherty with her Beverly Hills, 90210 castmates during the height of the show's popularity in the 1990s, along with a message to TV fans all over the world. The actress and mother of son Malcolm shared a heartwarming tribute to Doherty, where she talked about becoming friends and how she was grateful for the support she offered Doherty, who passed away on Saturday, July 13, discussed death in an interview in November Munn says she was a big fan of Doherty and Beverly Hills, 90210 when she was growing up 'Shannen Doherty as Brenda Walsh is and was and will always be an icon,' she gushed at the bottom of the photo. Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and due to the presence of multiple tumors underwent a mastectomy in May of the next year. She followed up with chemotherapy treatments and radiotherapy, in the wake of learning that the cancer was more advanced than previously thought. By 2017, Doherty went public and announced that her cancer was in remission. But in February 2020, she revealed the cancer had returned the previous year, and that she is now in stage four. In a statement from Doherty's longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, the day after her passing to USA Today, she said the actress 'lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,' before adding, 'the devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.' Munn shared her breast cancer diagnosis publicly in hope that 'it will help others find comfort, inspiration and support on their own journey' The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native chronicled her cancer journey in a three-page letter she shared to her Instagram page in March There were several photos of Munn during a hospital visit with her doctors Munn says by being proactive about her health, she found out about her cancer a year before she would have had she waited until her next mammogram Munn thinks the early detection gave her many more options to beat the cancer The actress also shared her gratitude for family, friends and hospital staff for their support As for Munn, she went public with her cancer diagnosis in a March 13 post on Instagram, in hope that by sharing the news 'it will help others find comfort, inspiration and support on their own journey.' She not only shared several photos of herself in the hospital, but also wrote a three-page statement laying out how her journey living with cancer began. 'In February 2023, in an effort to be more proactive with my health, I took a genetic test that checks you for 90 different cancer genes, I tested negative for all,' she began. But then 'two months later I was diagnosed with breast cancer.' Visibly scared, Munn got emotional and shed some tears, but got the support of hospital staff in the form of a hug and some thoughtful words of wisdom Munn and John Mulvaney, who only just got married this past week, welcomed their son Malcolm in November 2021; the couple are pictured June 23 in Paris, France She proceeded to chronicle her health since then, which includes 'four surgeries in the past 10 months,' she wrote at the time. Munn goes on to reveal that had she not gone on her health kick to be more proactive she wouldn't have had her breast cancer diagnosis until her next scheduled mammogram the following year. 'Dr. Thais Aliabadi decided to calculate my Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score. The fact that she did saved my life,' she explained, eventually adding, 'I'm lucky. We caught it with enough time that i have some options. I want the same for any woman who might have to face this one day.' Munn goes on the give thanks to her now husband, John Mulaney, her friends, and the doctors, nurses, and other employees at Cedars-Sinai LA and Saint John's in Santa Monica. Strictly Come Dancing bosses reportedly received two complaints surrounding Graziano Di Prima's behaviour towards Zara McDermott during training last year, but only issued warnings in response. The professional dancer, 30, has been axed by the BBC following claims of gross misconduct towards his former celebrity partner Zara, 27. Following this, The Mail on Sunday revealed that the Love Island star was victim to repeated physical and verbal abuse behind the scenes of the Saturday night show. And as more details have emerged, public support for Graziano has dwindled, with one of his pals even quietly deleted a praising comment to him. It had been said that BBC bosses acted swiftly once made aware of Graziano's 'abusive' actions towards Zara, after reviewing video evidence and speaking to the reality star. Strictly Come Dancing bosses reportedly received two complaints surrounding Graziano Di Prima 's behaviour towards Zara McDermott during training last year, but only issued warnings in response (pictured on show) The professional dancer, 30, has been axed by the BBC following claims of gross misconduct towards his former celebrity partner Zara, 27 (Graziano pictured last year) However, it has now been alleged that complaints had already been raised in the autumn, but bosses did not take any serious action. According to The Sun, they were presented with video of Graziano's actions on Thursday, before speaking to Zara ahead of the weekend and finally sacking the Italian on Monday. A source told the publication: 'Graziano has held up his hands and admits his behaviour was extreme and unacceptable. He knows there is no return and quite rightly. Yet why was no action taken sooner to nip this situation in the bud? 'Graziano feels if he had received proper support and some sort of anger management training, an escalation could have been prevented. 'For the Beebs part, Graziano was not the only dancer being spoken to and they had absolutely no idea about the alleged kicking which it is claimed happened twice and as soon as they were alerted, they took decisive action and fired him.' They added: 'Graziano is in bits. He is being monitored 24/7 by his wife Giada and mum who has moved in to take care of him. 'This whole Strictly fiasco is getting increasingly toxic, and the BBC finds itself trying to complete an investigation while overseeing duty of care to all.' While a BBC insider insisted: 'There was no procrastinating. The video evidence was completely and utterly undeniable. It has now been alleged that complaints about the dancer had already been raised in the autumn, but bosses did not take any serious action As more shocking allegations have come to light over Graziano's sacking, there has been a marked difference in public support for him (pictured with Katya Jones in January) Previously, his fans and famous friends had rallied behind him, including fellow Strictly stars Katya Jones , Susannah Constantine (pictured) and Catherine Tyldesley , who liked and commented on his Instagram post announcing his departure. 'It only showed one incident, but it quickly became apparent from talking to Zara that verbal and physical abuse allegedly took place multiple times. She was incredibly brave.' As more shocking allegations have come to light over Graziano's sacking, there has been a marked difference in public support for him. Previously, his fans and famous friends had rallied behind him, including fellow Strictly stars Katya Jones, Susannah Constantine and Catherine Tyldesley, who liked and commented on his Instagram post announcing his departure. However, Catherine - who was partnered with Johannes Radebe in the show in 2019 - has now removed one of her more supportive comments. The Corrie star originally wrote: 'What noooo' before adding: 'You are the kindest, incredibly talented, most gentle man... I'm so sorry. Sending you so much love x'. But now the second gushing comment has been deleted, with only the first remaining on Graziano's post. The message on Graziano's Instagram reads: 'I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime. 'While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it's only right for the sake of the show that I step away. I am saddened that I wasn't allowed to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the situation. However, Catherine - who was partnered with Johannes Radebe in the show in 2019 - has now removed one of her more supportive comments (pictured) The Corrie star originally wrote: 'What noooo' before adding: 'You are the kindest, incredibly talented, most gentle man... I'm so sorry. Sending you so much love x'. But now the second gushing comment has been deleted, with only the first remaining on Graziano's post 'There's more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, but I am committed to being strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family nothing but success in the future.' Meanwhile, both Zara and her boyfriend Sam Thompson have since unfollowed Graziano, but she still follows his wife, Giada Lini. Fellow Italian Giada, who also danced as a professional on Strictly, has yet to speak out about her husband's untimely departure. It is the latest blow suffered by the BBC show, which is still watched by more than ten million people, as allegations against fellow Strictly star Giovanni Pernice are still being investigated. Graziano joined Strictly in 2018 and was last year partnered with Love Island star Zara but they were eliminated in week six. He was previously paired with presenter Vick Hope, Loose Women star Judi Love and in 2022 he reached the quarter-final with actor Kym Marsh. The complaint was made recently and prompted the BBC to extend the inquiry that was ongoing over claims that Giovanni had bullied his partner Amanda Abbington during training. Sources on the show say that Graziano's behaviour makes Amanda's claims that Giovanni bruised her toe during rehearsals seem 'miniscule.' The message on Graziano's Instagram reads: 'I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime' Meanwhile, both Zara and her boyfriend Sam Thompson have since unfollowed Graziano, but she still follows his wife, Giada Lini (Zara and Sam pictured) Fellow Italian Giada, who also danced as a professional on Strictly, has yet to speak out about her husband's untimely departure (pictured with Graziano) A source said: 'It was during that meeting that it all unfolded.' One source said: 'It seems that whatever Gio has done it opened a can of worms. 'It is incredibly brave of Zara to have come forward, it is never easy for a woman or indeed anyone who has been mistreated to do that.' The complaint was not made by Zara herself but followed a number of Strictly's production staff raising Graziano's behaviour with bosses. BBC chiefs then contacted her management and she was invited in to be interviewed about his behaviour. While appearing on Strictly in 2023, Zara said of her dance partner: 'Bless Graz, I have started with literally no dance or performance experience whatsoever and he has been putting all of his energy into teaching me, with so much kindness, patience and passion.' When she was eliminated from the BBC show, she broke down in tears as she said: 'I have had the time of my life. Just to be here is incredible. Thank you to the judges and my amazing partner obviously.' A BBC spokesperson confirmed Graziano had been sacked, saying: 'We can confirm that Graziano Di Prima is no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing. 'While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known that the BBC has established and robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate.' Olivia Washington has defended her new play as it lands on London's West End beneath a shroud of controversy. The actress daughter of Academy Award winner Denzel Washington takes a starring role in Slave Play, a three-act production focusing on themes of sex, race, power and interracial relationships. The play, a runaway success on Broadway, received a record breaking 12 nominations at the 74th annual Tony Awards in 2021 - the most for a non-musical play. It is now enjoying a three-month engagement at London's Noel Coward Theatre despite facing criticism on both sides of the Atlantic. American critics have previously petitioning for its cancellation, while disgruntled British theatre-goers accused producers of 'infantilising' audience members by giving advice on how to breathe. Olivia Washington has defended her new play as it arrives on London's West End beneath a shroud of controversy The actress takes a starring role in Slave Play, a three-act production focusing on interracial relationships According to the Guardian, some argued the play also made light of chattel slavery and left at least one audience member 'offended and traumatised'. Reflecting on the divisive response, Washington, 33 - who plays Kaneisha - told the Sunday Times Style: 'Isnt that what art is supposed to do? 'Its supposed to challenge the norm. Its not supposed to necessarily make you comfortable.' Born and raised in Los Angeles, Washington - the daughter of Denzel and Pauletta Washington and twin sister of filmmaker Malcom Washington - also hit back at any suggestion of nepotism. 'All I can really say is I mean, I love my family,' she said of her upbringing. 'And I understand that Im blessed.' The actress stars alongside Game Of Thrones' Kit Harington, whose role as Kaneisha's white partner Jim includes an explicit nude scene - so explicit that theatre bosses have issued special stickers for every camera-phone and threatened legal action to anyone who tries to take a photo. A source told The Sun: 'The sex scene Kit's in is quite shocking. There are lots of mirrors on stage so the audience can see his tackle from all angles. 'The scene lasts more than ten minutes and bosses seem very concerned about it being recorded and leaked online hence the stickers. The play, a runaway success on Broadway, received a record breaking 12 nominations at the 74th annual Tony Awards in 2021 - the most for a non-musical play Washington stars alongside Game Of Thrones' Kit Harington, whose role as her white partner Jim includes an explicit nude scene The actress is the daughter Academy Award winner Denzel Washington (pictured together at the MTV Movie Awards in 2009) 'Management really want to protect his modesty so they've threatened legal action if anyone is caught filming.' The London production of the play, which opened on Broadway in 2019, caused uproar in February when it announced that two performances might be set aside for black theatre-goers to watch uninhibited by the 'white gaze'. Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, said: 'It is now normal to infantilise an adult audience through communicating the idea that they may well be traumatised by exposure to a drama.' And Professor Jeremy Black, author of A Brief History Of History, said: 'Should we all issue trigger warnings? Having written histories both of slavery and the slave trade, I wonder whether I should coat them in warnings?' A spokesman for Delfont Mackintosh, which owns the Noel Coward Theatre, said: 'We have provided a link to the play's website, where the producers have published information, support and resources for those audience members who may wish to find out more in advance of their visit.' The play's producers declined to respond to The Mail on Sunday's requests for comment. Slave Play is enjoying a three-month engagement at London's Noel Coward Theatre (pictured), but has faced criticism on both sides of the Atlantic Anna Paul appears to have hard launched her new boyfriend. Taking to Instagram on Monday, the 25-year-old shared a video from her summer holiday in Europe. The TikTok and OnlyFans creator showed off her eye-popping assets in a skimpy G-string bikini as she stood on a high cliff above a cove in Mallorca, Spain. Her new beau Aymeric Urbain stood to her right, and together they jumped into the crystal clear water. Anna captioned her post with a celebratory note about her European summer getaway, writing 'It feels like summer'. Fans took to the comments to speculate about whether the post in question was an official hard launch with Aymeric. 'Hard launch or?' one fan asked, while another answered, '100%' 'If this isn't a sign, then I don't know what is,' wrote another follower. Anna Paul appears to have hard launched her new boyfriend. Pictured The TikTok and OnlyFans creator showed off her eye-popping assets in a skimpy G-string bikini as she stood on a high cliff above a cove in Mallorca, Spain 'It feels like this is your new boyfriend,' another more direct commenter stated. 'Love how y'all launchedinto the water,' quipped one more follower. The Paul clan have been travelling in Europe for the last few weeks and arrived in Spain this week after visiting Turkey. Anna is riding off the incredible success of her Paulie skincare line, which sold out in minutes when it launched last year. Fans were initially shocked Anna created a beauty brand, as she already makes hundreds of thousands through her OnlyFans account where she posts explicit content. Her new beau Aymeric Urbain stood to her right, and together they jumped into the crystal clear water According to online sleuth account Dutch Minty, Anna makes a whopping $220,000 per month on OnlyFans before tax as she charges subscribers $9.99 per month for a subscription. Anna first found fame on TikTok by sharing lip-sync videos and vlogs documenting her life. She then moved into a lucrative career posting content on subscription-based site OnlyFans, where she charges fans a fee in exchange for raunchy, nude pictures and saucy strip videos. Jessika Power looked unrecognisable as she stepped out in Cannes on Monday. The former Married At First Sight bride, 31, took to Instagram to share some cute pictures with her dog on Baoli Beach in the French coastal city. Jessika swapped her customary long blonde hair for a slicked back style coloured with black and auburn highlights. The Celebrity Ex On The Beach contestant worked her angles in green pants and a white tube top while she held her Dachshund, Sushi. She completed her look with statement sunglasses and a leather cross body bag. Jess's post was soon inundated with comments from her legion of fans, with many questioning where her boyfriend Brent Anthony was. 'Where's your man Jess?' wrote on follower. Jessika Power looked unrecognisable as she stepped out in Cannes on Monday. Pictured Jessika swapped her customary long blonde hair for a slicked back style coloured with black and auburn highlights Someone else replied to this comment, saying 'I think gone.' 'The man definitely gone, all pics are gone,' one more commenter observed. Last year, Jessika revealed plans to extend her stay in the UK after finding love with Brent, a British DJ. She first relocated to England in 2021 to be with her former flame Connor Thompson, who she broke up with in 2023. Jessika recently opened up about her new romance and said she was smitten. 'It's only been a month or so but they're pretty inseparable,' a source told Yahoo Lifestyle. Last year, Jessika revealed plans to extend her stay in the UK after finding love with Brent, a British DJ and music producer. Both pictured Meanwhile, Brent recently posted some intimate snaps to his Stories showing Jessika cuddling him in bed. The bombshell appeared on MTV's Celebrity Ex On The Beach UK in 2024 and was said to be contractually obligated to remain single until the show finished airing. Following her time on Married At First Sight Australia in 2019, Jessika moved to the UK to pursue a television career, having also starred on Celebs Go Dating. Jeff and Fleur Anning have purchased a stunning home in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast for $5.65million. The Evolve Skateboards founders, who recently sold their Cabarita Beach home in northern New South Wales for over $14 million, have come back to their roots on the Gold Coast. The couple sold their first property to gather $60,000 to fund their skateboard business back in 2012. The Annings, who achieved a remarkable $1 million in skateboard sales on the inaugural day of launch, acquired their new luxury home in Burleigh Heads after it passed in at auction in February. The listing touted the property's impressive ocean views as 'the best' in Burleigh. Jeff and Fleur Anning have purchased a stunning home in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast for $5.65million. Both pictured The listing touted the property's impressive ocean views as 'the best' in Burleigh The opulent four-bedroom pad not only offers ocean views, but views of the city skyline and bushland from every level. It has been renovated with a new kitchen and bathrooms. A lift connects all four floors, with high ceilings enhancing the light-filled open-plan living and dining areas on the top level, opening onto an al fresco terrace through bi-fold doors. The opulent four-bedroom pad not only offers ocean views, but views of the city skyline and bushland from every level The home has been renovated with a new kitchen and bathrooms Meanwhile, a second-floor entertaining zone includes a kitchenette and bar, a games lounge, a media room, and one bedroom. Located on the third level are the remaining bedrooms and a generously sized study. Additional features include a pool, wine cellar, a gas fireplace, and a firepit. According to PropTrack data, house prices in Burleigh Heads have decreased by 3.6 percent over the past year. The median price in the area sits at $1.35 million following the market's peak in December 2022. Additional features include a pool, wine cellar, a gas fireplace, and a firepit A lift connects all four floors, with high ceilings enhancing the light-filled open-plan living and dining areas on the top level, opening onto an al fresco terrace through bi-fold doors Zoe Marshall treated herself to some pampering on Monday. But the WAG left some of her fans concerned when she showed off the results in an Instagram video. The 40-year-old offered her social media followers a close look at the skin under her eyes, which was dimpled, pock marked and puffy. 'What in the armadillo skin happened to your eyes!?' asked one concerned person in the comments. 'That jump scare,' said someone else, before another wrote, 'What did you have done under your eyes?' Zoe replied directly, suggesting they could find the answer on her Instagram Stories, where she had posted footage of the procedure. The brunette underwent an NCTF Under Eye Skin Booster, which injects 59 ingredients, such as Vitamin C, copper peptides and hyaluronic acid in a series of micro needle injections to smooth fine lines and lessen under-eye darkness. These treatments are done over 30 minutes and cost around $499 per session. Zoe Marshall treated herself to some pampering on Monday. But the WAG left some of her fans concerned when she showed off the results in an Instagram video. Pictured before her procedures (left) and after (right) Zoe also had a Prodigy Peel, a medical grade facial peel that targets acne and ageing skin, and takes around 45 minutes with a price tag of $300 and up. The beauty said she went 'HAM' at the clinic and also got some vascular laser done to target her broken capillaries. The treatment costs around $199 per session and takes around 30 mins, and can also target facial reddening. Zoe had the work done at the One Cosmetic clinic in Sydney's upmarket Double Bay and she thanked her cosmetic nurse, Nurse Chelsea, personally for her good work. The 40-year-old offered her social media followers a close look at the skin under her eyes, which was dimpled, pock marked and puffy The brunette underwent an NCTF Under Eye Skin Booster, which injects 59 ingredients in a series of micro needle injections to smooth fine lines and lessen under-eye darkness Zoe later showed off her glam look after her skin settled down Last year, Zoe opened up about her marriage to NRL legend Benji Marshall. She spoke about the couple's 10-year wedding anniversary during an appearance on Channel Seven's The Morning Show. 'In this day and age, ten years is a feat,' she told co-hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies. The Marshalls' marriage has seen the pair move interstate and abroad while also welcoming two children, son Benjamin Fox, five, and daughter Ever, two. The rugby league WAG said she was proud the couple had maintained a strong relationship over the years. Zoe and Benji walked down the aisle for a second time last year when they renewed their vows at home, surrounded by family and friends. Matt Damon found himself caught up in a hoax bomb scare on Saturday evening while holidaying in Mykonos with wife Luciana Barroso. The Mykonos Police Sub-Directorate took immediate action after receiving an anonymous email at 11:00pm, falsely claiming explosive devices had been placed in four beach bars across the Greek island, a popular tourist destination. With an estimated 4,000 revellers enjoying a night out on Saturday, bar owners were urged to lower music levels and guide patrons the exits in a calm and orderly manner. Damon, who has spent the last week in Mykonos with his family, was among those in the third targeted venue as they were promptly evacuated. In social media content filmed at the scene the actor, 53, appeared calm and amenable as he followed instructions and made his way outside. Matt Damon found himself caught up in a hoax bomb scare on Saturday evening while visiting a beach bar in Mykonos (pictured during the evacuation) Damon has been holidaying in Mykonos with wife Luciana Barroso and their children for the last week (pictured in Mykonos on July 12) In the Paranga area, where two of the four beach bars were located, as many as 4,000 tourists were out when the evacuations took place. The subsequent demand for vehicles as customers left the scene sparked traffic jams on at least half of the island's roads. Describing the scene, one bar owner told Greek outlet Protothema: 'Upon receiving notification from the police, we promptly reduced the music and calmly guided our guests to safety. 'It was a challenging situation, but we managed to maintain order.' Local police later confirmed the threat was a hoax. Damon is holidaying on the island with wife Luciana and their four daughters, Alexia, 25, Isabella, 18, Gia, 15, and Stella, 13. Alexia, Damon's stepdaughter, was four-years old when he met Luciana in a crowded Miami nightclub in 2003, while he was filming Stuck On You on location in Florida. 'Matt's story is that he saw me across the room and there was a light on me. And I'm like: 'Yeah it was a nightclub there were lights everywhere!' Luciana said in a rare interview with Vogue Australia in 2018. Damon with wife Luiciana and their children Isabella, 18, Gia, 15, and Stella, 13, in 2023 The Hollywood star with wife Luciana in Mykonos during their latest European holiday Even though she felt a spark with the Hollywood star, she was reticent to act on it because she had a young daughter. 'But I was like: "I can't, I have a four-year-old daughter, I'm not going anywhere" and that was one of the things he loved, that I had a daughter,' she explained. The couple confirmed their engagement in September 2005 and wed nearly three months later in a private civil ceremony at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau. 'He said: "I love that you're a mum and that's your priority." Some guys might have been different, they might think it's complicated, but for him it wasn't.' This Morning viewers slammed a 'painful to watch' segment as Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary took over hosting duties from Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on Monday. Alison, 49, and Dermot, 51, welcomed two experts who claimed that faking your own laugh can 'cheer you up' and help people become happier over time - with a technique called laughter yoga. As the pair - who have taken over from the main hosts of the ITV1 daytime show during their seven-week summer break - discussed the odd technique, they proceeded to demonstrate a forced laugh on air. The duo joined them in trying the 'fake laughter' method - but ended up cackling in hysterics, leaving viewers of the daytime show bewildered. Viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their disappointment with the 'lack of content'. This Morning viewers slammed a 'painful to watch' segment as Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary took over hosting duties from Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard on Monday Alison, 49, and Dermot, 51, welcomed two experts who claimed that faking your own laugh can 'cheer you up' and help people become happier over time 'What is this hell? @thismorning is scraping the barrel for content #thismorning'; 'The show is f******* painful today #thismorning'; 'You do realise there are millions of us who dont need cheering up and woke up in a great mood right? Some of us havent stopped laughing since the final whistle #thismorning'; 'What the hell is he waffling on about, I dont know about cheering me up, im not the verge of sticking my head in the oven. #ThisMorning'; 'Cackling and wheezing, shut up, just f***** shut up #thismorning'; 'Cheer yourselves up by superglueing a pound coin to the pavement outside Aldi#thismorning'; 'Me watching this segment like... #ThisMorning,' one added with a funny gif of a baffled Ricky Gervais in The Office. 'It doesn't need to take much to make Alison laugh #ThisMorning.' As the pair discussed the odd technique, they proceeded to demonstrate a forced laugh on air The duo joined them in trying the 'fake laughter' method - but ended up cackling in hysterics, leaving viewers of the daytime show bewildered Viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter , to share their disappointment with the 'lack of content' Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley are currently enjoying seven-week break from This Morning just four months after landing the job. The new hosts joined the ITV daytime show on March 11 and are said to be receiving an annual salary of 555,000. Now they're set to be away for nearly two months as part of the show's annual summer break, which sees a rotation of guest presenters brought in to front the show in their absence. Friday favourites Alison and Dermot kicked off the summer shows on Monday, before a mix of familiar faces will return to the sofa. Also stepping in to host will be Josie Gibson, Craig Doyle, Rylan Clark, Rochelle Humes and Joel Dommett, plus new mum Sian Welby also making her return to broadcasting since welcoming her baby daughter Ruby last month. Ben and Cat return to ITV's flagship daytime show on September 2, and Alison and Dermot return to fronting Fridays on September 6. This Morning's editor, Martin Frizell, said of the summer lineup: 'Viewers will not want to miss a moment this summer! 'The shows will be packed and whatever the weather, the team in front of the cameras and behind will deliver plenty of content to keep the nation smiling. 'I'm delighted Alison and Dermot are kicking things off and together with our brilliant family of hosts - made up of the biggest names in TV - they will be serving up really exciting content on Britain's biggest daytime show.' However, viewers were left baffled when the early exit was announced on Thursday's show. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, they shared: 'Ben and Cat only joined #ThisMorning back in April of this year'; 'Back in September?? 'Its July 11... ITS ONLY THE 11th of July part timers basically got TWO month off work what a Joke!'; 'Let's see if they do come back in September. Their viewing figures suggest maybe not #thismorning.' (sic) Regular hosts Cat and Ben are currently enjoying a seven-week break from This Morning just four months after landing the job Other viewers were delighted by the shakeup, however, as they expressed their delight at seeing Irish presenter Craig back on their screens. Ben and Cat's summer break comes weeks after they took time off for Easter. The duo enjoyed two weeks away from the programme in April, during which time Alison and Dermot fronted Monday to Friday for the fortnight. Ben and Cat were officially announced as the new This Morning hosts in February after months of whispers. Sources at the channel said that they were 'thrilled' at the signing of the pair after 'so many obstacles had to be negotiated to get there'. The Mail first revealed that the duo were top of the list but in December Cat turned down the role because she wasn't able to commit the time to the programme. However, after further negotiations and the offer of more money, she agreed. One source said: 'Cat was the one they wanted all along and finally they have her. It is incredible news for them.' It's possible the reason for the sudden U-turn was financial, with Cat set to nab a bumper payday as the new host. When reports of her joining the show first emerged last year it was claimed she and Ben would receive an annual salary of 555,000. While hefty, the salary still paled in comparison to former hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, who were said to have been paid 700,000 annually for their role. Holly left the show last October 'for the sake of her family' after discovering she was the target of a foiled kidnap and murder plot and has since not been replaced permanently. Her departure came five months after Phillip's, when his affair with a young male showrunner was made public, followed by claims of an increasingly strained relationship with his co-host. Phillip bowed out of the spotlight following his affair scandal in May, which led to his departure from This Morning after over 20 years on the show. After much speculation about his private life, his affair finally went public and he admitted he had been left 'broken and ashamed' but insisted he was not a groomer. He said the affair 'never came across' as an abuse of power because he and his lover were 'mates'. He told The Sun: 'I was unprofessional, one time, in a 41-year career. There is no excuse. No one did anything wrong apart from me.' In his first interview since leaving the broadcaster and This Morning, the 61-year-old presenter said: 'I did not, I did not [groom him]. 'There are accusations of all sorts of things. It never came across that way because we'd become mates. I don't know about that. But of course I understand that there will be a massive judgment, but bearing in mind, I have never exercised that.' At the time, Phillip offered a number of apologies, including to his co-presenter of 14 years Holly and his wife of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe. This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV, ITVX, STV and STV Player The Yorkshire Vet David Melleney has tied the knot with his fiancee Megan Denny in a stunning ceremony at the Chateau du Doux in Dordogne, France. The couple were joined by 70 guests as they celebrated in style in scenes filmed for last week's episode of the Channel 5 series, before they jetted off for a honeymoon safari in Africa. Megan looked sensational in a Bellissima white dress adorned with sheer sleeves patterned with lace leaf detailing. Tying her brunette locks back in an elegant low bun, the dentist looked beautiful as they exchanged vows in the sun in front of their friends and family. Losing her veil halfway down the aisle, the officiant joked: 'Could everyone please be seated while we have this wardrobe correction,' as one of her bridesmaids rushed to reattach it. The Yorkshire Vet is married! David Melleney has tied the knot with his wife Megan in a stunning ceremony in France in scenes aired in last week's episode (pictured with fellow stars from the Channel 5 series Matt Jackson-Smith and Shona Searson) The couple were joined by 70 guests as they celebrated in style in scenes filmed for last week's episode of the Channel 5 series, before they jetted off for a honeymoon safari in Africa The couple first met after he joined Donaldson's Vets in Huddersfield after graduating in 2017 and now live together in Holmfirth with their dog Yogi. After exchanging their vows and sealing the deal with a kiss the guests threw their confetti over the happy couple. David opted for a light blue checked suit which he paired with a gold bow tie, while his groomsmen all wore matching beige suits and white shirts. Vets Matt Jackson-Smith and Shona Searson, who also appear on The Yorkshire Vet, were among the wedding guests as they gathered to enjoy the special day. Speaking about the highly anticipated first dance, David said nervously: 'Just got the dance to smash,' as Megan added: 'Dave's nervous'. The vet's colleague Shona then joked: 'You've had all the dancing practise, you've been skiving off work, "Shona I've got to go because I've got dance practise'. As their guests waved their napkins in the air the guests soon tucked into their meal before his speech. 'Asking Meg to marry me was the best decision I ever made and I just want to raise a toast to my beautiful wife', gushed the groom. Megan looked sensational in a Bellissima white dress adorned with sheer sleeves patterned with lace leaf detailing David opted for a light blue checked suit which he paired with a gold bow tie, while his groomsmen all wore matching beige suits and white shirts Losing her veil halfway down the aisle, the officiant joked: 'Could everyone please be seated while we have this wardrobe correction,' as one of her bridesmaids rushed to reattach it Limbering up with some lunges and squats the pair hit the floor for their first dance to Michael Buble's hit Everything before he ducked her into a romantic kiss The couple first met after he joined Donaldson's Vets in Huddersfield after graduating in 2017 and now live together in Holmfirth with their dog Yogi And it isn't the first cast wedding to be aired as part of the show, after Matt also filmed his marriage to his wife Katherine in 2022 Limbering up with some lunges and squats the pair hit the floor for their first dance to Michael Buble's hit Everything before he ducked her into a romantic kiss. As night fell the happy couple danced between their guests who held sparklers before they sliced into a four tier French cheese cake before watching a spectacular fireworks display. Speaking about their wedding, Megan gushed: 'It's just so exciting - I couldn't wait to marry David'. David added: 'It was such an amazing day for us, I'm so happy I could share our joy with our loyal viewers.' And it isn't the first cast wedding to be aired as part of the show, after Matt also filmed his marriage to his wife Katherine in 2022. David was Matt's best man, and he said during the show: 'I remember how excited Matt was going on his first date and now to see it all the way through is brilliant.' The Yorkshire Vet is available on my5.tv and The Yorkshire Vet at Home With The Greens starts on Tuesday at 9pm on Channel 5. Luke Perry's daughter Sophie Perry has shared an image of her late father with his Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Shannen Doherty. Doherty died on Saturday, July 13, after battling breast cancer. The 24-year-old posted a poignant black and white image of her father Luke posing with Shannen to her Instagram stories. Luke was seen playfully grabbing Shannen's pearl necklace around her neck. Perry died in 2019 at age 52 due to a stroke. Luke Perry's daughter Sophie Perry has shared an image of her late father with his Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Shannen Doherty The 24-year-old posted a poignant black and white image of her father Luke posing with Shannen to her Instagram stories; Sophie pictured Both Luke and Shannen smiled ear to ear in the striking image. Sophie added a white heart to the story she posted. Luke and Shannen starred on Beverly Hills, 90210 together, playing love interests Dylan and Brenda. Her post comes just one day after Shannen's death at age 53 following a nine-year battle with breast cancer. Shannen's publicist Leslie Sloane announced her death on Sunday via a statement: 'On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease. 'The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.' Gabrielle Carteris, who played Andrea in the iconic series, also remarked about Luke in her Shannen tribute. 'I know Luke is there with open arms to love you,' in her tribute, as reported by People. Just this past February, Doherty got emotional when she shared about the time she learned of Perry's death while attending a panel at MegaCon Orlando. Her post comes just one day after Shannen's death at age 53 following a nine-year battle with breast cancer; Luke and Shannen pictured Luke and Shannen starred on 90210 together - playing love interests Dylan and Brenda The two actors remained close after playing love interests Brenda Walsh and Dylan McKay for the four seasons they shared together on Beverly Hills, 90210 'It was shocking,' Doherty said of the loss of her former co-star and friend. 'I have a very visceral reaction whenever someone brings up Luke because as someone with cancer and a really horrible cancer at stage 4 I thought I would be the first to go. So when it was Luke, it really just sent me for a tailspin.' Heartbroken over his loss, Doherty finally found the strength to share a tribute to Perry on social media the day after he died. 'Yesterday morning I got a phone call that devastated me,' she began in the caption with obvious emotion to her words. 'I'm struggling with this loss and am having a hard time with my thoughts. But, my heart goes out to his family and friends who were blessed by his light in their (and mine) lives. Processing this is impossible right now.' It turns out she and Perry wanted to create some new onscreen magic together, and were trying to find the right production to work on together. 'There is a special kind of love one has for each other when you are experiencing the journey we did on 90210 and of course life in general,' Doherty said, before revealing, 'Luke and I were working on show ideas for us. We wanted to work with each other again and create something special and meaningful for our fans at this stage in our lives.' She added, 'I will miss him everyday. Every minute. Every second.' During that same interview with People in 2019, the Memphis, Tennessee native revealed that she last saw Luke Perry when 'they met up for lunch' only a few weeks before his death. 'I walked in and there he was, smiling, with his dog Penny and her bed under the booth, happy as can be,' she recalled. 'I will never forget and will miss Luke looking at me with that smile of his saying "Shan."' Doherty and Perry starred together on Beverly Hills, 90210 for the first four seasons of the hit series from 1990-1994; Perry would stay for two more seasons and then leave, only to return for the finale 10th season; they starred with Ian Ziering, Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, and Gabrielle Carteris 'There is a special kind of love one has for each other when you are experiencing the journey we did on 90210 and of course life in general,' Doherty told People during an interview in 2019, soon after sudden Perry's death While attending a 90210 panel at RewindCon Chicago, weeks before his death in 2019, Perry heaped high praise on Doherty, telling the audience, 'None of us are up here today without Shannen.' He proceeded to share, 'The reality is that she was a very big part of the success of the program. She taught me a lot and I'm just really glad she was there for me as a scene partner.' They also connected after her cancer diagnosis and they 'picked right back up, albeit older and wiser, but that connection remained in tact.' She described him as a 'smart, quiet, humble and complex man with a heart of gold and never-ending well of integrity and love.' Stranger Things fans have been given a first look into the final season of the hit Netflix show after production finally reached the halfway mark in production. Netflix offered fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of the beloved sci-fi show, as viewers and stars alike prepare to say goodbye to the nostalgic series. Returning cast includes Winona Ryder, 52, Millie Bobby Brown, 20, Finn Wolfhard, 22, Noah Schnapp, 19, Caleb McLaughlin, 22, Gaten Matarazzo, 21, Sadie Sink, 22, Joe Keery, 32, and Maya Hawke, 26. The show debuted in 2016 and much of the cast were just children when the series hit Netflix. 'So I started when I was 10. I am now turning 20 years old. It feels very weird,' star Millie says as she arrives to the set. Stranger Things fans have been given a sneak peek into the final season of the hit Netflix show as production continues on season five Stars Winona Ryder, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp , Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo , Sadie Sink , Joe Keery, and Maya Hawke are returning to the show 'This is home,' star Gaten, 21, says. 'You just remember why you're doing it and how much fun you have.' The nearly minute and a half long trailer begins with one person musing, 'We're about halfway through filming and it's exciting. So much going on.' Joe and Maya on day one of season five filming. Maya holds a clapboard as Joe says, 'This is day one!' 'On Stranger Things five!' Maya chimes in. Next, Sadie Sink walks through the massive warehouse where their costumes are stored. Viewers are also shown some of the wild special effects - which include a gooey, blood-like substance adding to the eerie mood. In addition, viewers are shown some of the wild stunts set to occur next season - with one man shown being catapulted through the woods and another falling off a tree. Eleven (Millie) is shown wielding her powers as she jumps out of hiding and dramatically opens her first for the camera. The next installment will also see the cast at Hawkins High, as the group are shown walking through the halls together. Stranger Things will officially be coming to an end later this year, but fans have been given a sneak peek into the final season Millie Bobby Brown is shown heading to the set after reflecting on just how long she had been working on the show Netflix offered fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of the beloved sci-fi show, as the stars prepare to bid farewell to Hawkins, Indiana The show shot scenes at Hawkins High Fans were given a glimpse into the wild set Linda Hamilton has joined the cast for season five The next season will also include crazy stunts - including this one of one of the characters falling off a tree It comes several days after Ross Duffer, the co-creator of the show, revealed the final season had reached the halfway mark in production Speculations among followers hinted that with production now halfway completed, Stranger Things season five might potentially premiere as early as January 2025 Fans were also given a look at some of the new stars joining the cast - Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, Alex Breaux, and Terminator alum Linda Hamilton. 'I love this show so much,' Linda muses as she arrives to the set. 'I really am a fan.' Fans reacted on X to the new sneak peek, with one musing, 'Stranger things f**king did it again best show ever.' 'Aaahhh i soo can't wait for this masterpiece to happen, but i am also very sad that this will be the End of an Era... i never ever wanted to miss this in my life,' one fan posted. Another posted: 'Stranger Things f**king did it again the best show ever.' '#StrangerThings5 #StrangerThings Cant wait!!!' one posted. Another wrote: 'Im excited for #StrangerThings5 but very nervous for these characters. I miss Steve Harrington.' 'I'm so glad to see them together again,' one posted. 'So unbelievably excited for this to be released,' another wrote. The new sneak peek comes several days after Ross Duffer, the co-creator of the show, revealed the final season had reached the halfway mark in production. Alongside a behind-the-scenes photo of the cast and crew, Duffer wrote: 'Week 24. Happy halfway to the best cast and crew ever.' The post also featured a video showing Finn, who plays Mike Wheeler, dropping a marble into a jar to track their progress on the show's production days. Speculations among followers hinted that with production now halfway completed, Stranger Things season five might potentially premiere as early as January 2025. A premiere date has yet to be unveiled. Alabama Barker showed off her ample curves in a green bikini on Sunday. The daughter of Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler posed in front of a mirror which reflected the flash of the camera on her phone. The stepdaughter of Kourtney Kardashian captioned the post: 'WhenICallTreatMeLike911,' referring to the song 911 by rapper Roddy Ricch. Alabama, 18, also shared the images on her Instagram Story with the song playing in the background and the lyric she quoted typed out over her photo. The first two photos showed off her torso, blonde hair and tan, while the third photo gave fans a glimpse of her bodacious backside. Alabama Barker showed off her ample curves in a green bikini on Sunday with this Instagram post The daughter of Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler posed in front of a mirror which reflected the flash of the camera on her phone Her fans flooded the comments section of her post praising her beauty and her body. One commenter called Alabama 'body goals,' while another wrote, 'Bama is my obsession,' and a third person added, 'You're actually so gorgeous I wish I looked like you.' Another fan couldn't help notice how much she looked like a certain blonde, curvy pop star, writing, 'She looks so much like Christina Aguilera!!!' Someone else made a joke, writing, 'But 911 dont usually call youjust sayin.' Yet another fan wrote that she looks like her beauty queen mother, while another complemented her new, shorter hairstyle: 'Short hair looks so amazing on you.' Previously, the social media influencer's hair was down to her buttocks. Fans and followers have speculated as to whether or not the teenager has had plastic surgery to amplify her curves. 'I'm natural, besides my lips, accept the fact I'm naturally beautiful,' she wrote on Instagram at the time. In September 2023, she opened up on her Instagram Stories about wanting to take the high road when it comes to negative comments on social media. She captioned the post: 'WhenICallTreatMeLike911,' referring to the song 911 by rapper Roddy Ricch Alabama, 18, also shared the images on her Instagram Story with the song playing in the background and the lyric she quoted typed out over her photo. Alabama Barker Instagram The first two photos showed off her torso, blonde hair and tan, while the third photo gave fans a glimpse of her bodacious backside. Alabama Barker Instagram A fan wrote that she looks like her beauty queen mother, while another complemented her new, shorter hairstyle, 'short hair looks so amazing on you.' Previously, the social media influencer's hair was down to her buttocks. Alabama Barker Instagram 'Sometimes I find myself wanting to clap back. Bite at everyone who barks at me.' 'But then I look at those people, like really look at themwhat kind of life they're living. The choice they're making. The things they do. Compared to who I am, what I do & how I live,' she wrote. 'And that, itself keeps me humble. Misery loves company, but we're cut from different cloths, made from different sauces.' In conclusion, she added, 'Stay blessed, wish them well, and remind yourself that the evil-hearted never wins.' Armie Hammer took his image rehabilitation tour to the basement of Bill Maher's $20M Beverly Hills mansion on Sunday where they discussed cancel culture on his podcast Club Random. It's been well over three years since the 37-year-old disgraced movie star was dropped by his WME agent, publicist, and future films after being publicly accused by four women of sexual abuse despite him maintaining their encounters were consensual. And while text messages confirmed Armie's violent BDSM fetishes ('I am 100% a cannibal'), the LA District Attorney's Office told TMZ in May 2023 there was 'insufficient evidence' to prove he raped Effie Angelova due to the 'complexity of the relationship.' 'They went through phones, emails, eyewitness reports. They investigated me for two and a half years in a time where if they could have nailed someone like me, it would have been such a boon for the LAPD,' Hammer noted. 'And after two and a half years they came to the conclusion that there is no evidence any crime had been committed.' Armie Hammer (R) took his image rehabilitation tour to the basement of Bill Maher's (L) $20M Beverly Hills mansion on Sunday where they discussed cancel culture on his podcast Club Random It's been well over three years since the 37-year-old disgraced movie star was dropped by his WME agent, publicist, and future films after being publicly accused by four women of sexual abuse despite him maintaining their encounters were consensual The Call Me by Your Name alum also underwent a 'full psychological evaluation' in the Cayman Islands due to his custody battle for nine-year-old daughter Harper and seven-year-old son Ford amid his divorce from BIRD Bakery CEO Elizabeth Chambers, which was finalized a year ago. 'So I had to subject myself for a multi-month full psychological evaluation, and the report at the end of that was was glowing,' Armie claimed. 'They're like, "He's got issues. [But] he's not what people are saying."' Hammer - who used to 'smoke 20 joints a day' - has remained happily sober following his nine-month stint at a Florida rehab to battle his addictions to drugs, alcohol, and sex issues. 'Therapy for me has been a life changer,' the Golden Globe nominee gushed. 'Listen, I needed an adjustment. There was some s*** going on. Here's what I think would have happened had none of this gone on and like the cataclysmic tectonic shift in my life wouldn't have happened. My life would have kept going exactly as it was, and I know that would ultimately only lead in one place and that's death... 'I experienced an ego death, a career death, a financial death - all of these things, right? And [William Paul] Young talks about this. Joseph Campbell talks about this. You've got to die and once you die you can then be reborn. A phoenix isn't going to rise if there's no ashes.' Before his cancellation, Armie fully admitted he was 'drinking a lot. I was doing a lot of drugs. I was partying hard. I was being real fast and loose about what I put in text messages and I was also engaging in risky behavior that, if you really think about it, was stupid!' And while text messages confirmed Armie's violent BDSM fetishes ('I am 100% a cannibal'), the LA District Attorney's Office told TMZ in May 2023 there was 'insufficient evidence' to prove he raped Effie Angelova due to the 'complexity of the relationship' Hammer noted: 'They went through phones, emails, eyewitness reports. They investigated me for two and a half years in a time where if they could have nailed someone like me, it would have been such a boon for the LAPD. And after two and a half years they came to the conclusion that there is no evidence any crime had been committed' The Call Me by Your Name alum also underwent a 'full psychological evaluation' in the Cayman Islands due to his custody battle for nine-year-old daughter Harper and seven-year-old son Ford amid his divorce from BIRD Bakery CEO Elizabeth Chambers (L, pictured March 31), which was finalized a year ago Armie claimed: 'So I had to subject myself for a multi-month full psychological evaluation, and the report at the end of that was was glowing. They're like, "He's got issues. [But] he's not what people are saying"' Hammer - who used to 'smoke 20 joints a day' - has remained happily sober following his nine-month stint at a Florida rehab to battle his addictions to drugs, alcohol, and sex issues The Golden Globe nominee gushed: 'Therapy for me has been a life changer...Listen, I needed an adjustment. There was some s*** going on. Here's what I think would have happened had none of this gone on and like the cataclysmic tectonic shift in my life wouldn't have happened. My life would have kept going exactly as it was, and I know that would ultimately only lead in one place and that's death' He added: 'I experienced an ego death, a career death, a financial death - all of these things, right? And [William Paul] Young talks about this. Joseph Campbell talks about this. You've got to die and once you die you can then be reborn. A phoenix isn't going to rise if there's no ashes' The 68-year-old Emmy-winning producer - whose movie poster for Cannibal Women ironically hung behind the pair - overlooked most of Hammer's past behavior but drew the line at him drinking and driving while filming himself back in 2021. '100 percent! 100 percent! To be fair, it was MDMA. I'm a little hazy,' Armie admitted. 'I mean who hasn't done MDMA in the passenger's seat of a car?' When Bill asked again if he was behind the wheel, Hammer shrugged: 'Maybe I was? Also 100% I definitely drove irresponsibly for sure and and by the way I did all kinds of crazy s*** that if I really think about it now. I kind of look at it, there's no way I didn't expect this even unconsciously subconsciously. It was self-destruction.' Maher was also visibly uncomfortable asking the high school drop-out why he carved his first initial 'A' into Paige Lorenze's pubic area with a knife and started licking the blood during their four-month fling. 'You get in these moods, like especially if you're inebriated or especially if whatever, you start to go, "This is a great idea!"' Armie - whose texts were 'negotiating boundaries' - explained. 'And it's like, wait, people get tattoos of each other's initials all the time. And by the way, like, I'm not performing surgery. All of these things in a consensual relationship that were prediscussed and consented to, whatever they might have been between two people.' The 68-year-old Emmy-winning producer - whose movie poster for Cannibal Women ironically hung behind the pair - overlooked most of Hammer's past behavior but drew the line at him drinking and driving while filming himself back in 2021 Armie admitted: '100 percent! 100 percent! To be fair, it was MDMA. I'm a little hazy...I mean who hasn't done MDMA in the passenger's seat of a car?' When Bill asked again if he was behind the wheel, Hammer shrugged: 'Maybe I was? Also 100% I definitely drove irresponsibly for sure and and by the way I did all kinds of crazy s*** that if I really think about it now. I kind of look at it, there's no way I didn't expect this even unconsciously subconsciously. It was self-destruction' Maher was also visibly uncomfortable asking the high school drop-out why he carved his first initial 'A' into Paige Lorenze's pubic area with a knife and started licking the blood during their four-month fling Armie - whose texts were 'negotiating boundaries' - explained: 'You get in these moods, like especially if you're inebriated or especially if whatever, you start to go, "This is a great idea!" And it's like, wait, people get tattoos of each other's initials all the time. And by the way, like, I'm not performing surgery' Hammer - who, at age 13, was molested by a 'member of the clergy' for 'about a year' - concluded: 'At the end of the day, hurt people hurt people' The two-time SAG Award nominee - who was ordered to pay $1,500 a month in child support - fully admitted he's broke and said he applied to be a drama teacher, landscaper, building manager, and timeshare salesman but 'the Cayman Islands refuses to give me work permits' Armie said: 'Someone might look at me and go, "Yeah but financially you're in a very different position than you've ever been in your entire life." And I look at that and I go, "Yeah and you know what? It's taught me that I don't need that because I've never been happier than I've ever been in my entire life' Hammer's last acting role was portraying Alex Magnussen in Taika Waititi's 2023 film Next Goal Wins, but the entire role was reshot in December 2021 with seven-time Emmy nominee Will Arnett (R) The last time audiences saw Armie he played the two-timing Simon Doyle in Kenneth Branagh's 2022 film Death on the Nile, but he was completely edited out of the trailers Hammer - who, at age 13, was molested by a 'member of the clergy' for 'about a year' - concluded: 'At the end of the day, hurt people hurt people.' 'What would happen is I would suck these women into this whirlwind and then the minute it got real or the minute it got intimate or the minute it got serious, I would go, "Whoa! I never signed up for this!" And I would just I would move on and, like the Seinfeld episode, I was a terrible breaker-upper,' the two-time SAG Award nominee recalled. 'I cheated on my wife. I used people to make me feel better. I was callous and inconsiderate with people and their emotions and their well-being. I wanted what I wanted and I was going to take it at any cost even if it was at an emotional cost of someone else, and that is s****y behavior...I have to take accountability because that is pivotal for me learning and growing from it.' Armie - who was ordered to pay $1,500 a month in child support - fully admitted he's broke and said he applied to be a drama teacher, landscaper, building manager, and timeshare salesman but 'the Cayman Islands refuses to give me work permits.' 'You say what you want, I loved it. I would love to be a timeshare salesman it is so fun,' Hammer quipped. 'Someone might look at me and go, "Yeah but financially you're in a very different position than you've ever been in your entire life." And I look at that and I go, "Yeah and you know what? It's taught me that I don't need that because I've never been happier than I've ever been in my entire life.' Armie's last acting role was portraying Alex Magnussen in Taika Waititi's 2023 film Next Goal Wins, but the entire role was reshot in December 2021 with seven-time Emmy nominee Will Arnett. The last time audiences saw Hammer he played the two-timing Simon Doyle in Kenneth Branagh's 2022 film Death on the Nile, but he was completely edited out of the trailers. The architectural designer's family have been left 'very confused' by her decision to stay in the relationship after telling loved ones that she was 'getting ready to leave.' Bianca's marriage to the controversial rapper, 47, appeared to be on the rocks on Monday when multiple reports claimed the couple had been spending time apart , with an insider telling DailyMail.com that Bianca, 29, had told her family that they had been 'drifting.' Michelle Dockery and Laura Carmichael dressed to impress as they shot scenes for the highly-anticipated third film at Ripon Racecourse in north Yorkshire on Monday. The actresses, who play who play Lady Mary Crawley and Lady Edith Crawley respectively, were spotted on set in their race day finery. Michelle, 42, cut a chic figure in a navy lace dress which she wore with a matching hat, while Laura, 37, looked elegant in a pale pink ensemble. Elsewhere Elizabeth McGovern, 62, - who plays the Cora, Countess of Grantham - stunned in a light blue dress as she was seen on set in sunny Ripon. Her on-screen husband Hugh Bonneville, 60, known for his role as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham meanwhile looked dapper in a light blue suit. Michelle Dockery (left) and Laura Carmichael (right) dressed to impress as they shot scenes for the highly-anticipated third film at Ripon Racecourse in north Yorkshire on Monday Elsewhere Elizabeth McGovern, 62, - who plays the Cora, Countess of Grantham - stunned in a light blue dress as she was seen on set in sunny Ripon Her on-screen husband Hugh Bonneville, 60, known for his role as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham meanwhile looked dapper in a light blue suit Filming in north Yorkshire took place over four days as the main cast and hundreds of extras watched a horse race. The extras were spotted shielding from the sun under umbrellas and sipping from cups of water as cameras rolled for hours on some of the hottest days of the year so far. Allen Leech, who plays Tom Branson in Downton, was spotted filming scenes where he was left disappointed when his horse failed to win. Nathan Wiley as John Bevan, meanwhile, appeared to enjoy success. At the end of last month the release date for the third Downton Abbey film was revealed as filming began in Yorkshire. The new movie will be released worldwide on September 12, 2025, with Universal Pictures UK confirming the news on Instagram. The caption read: 'A new motion picture event. The third film in the beloved #DowntonAbbey franchise will be released only in cinemas September 12, 2025.' Hugh, Dominic West, Elizabeth, Michelle, Laura, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Robert James-Collier are to return for the hotly-anticipated movie. The actresses, who play who play Lady Mary Crawley and Lady Edith Crawley respectively, were spotted on set in their race day finery Elizabeth is returning to her much-loved character Cora in the new film Michelle, 42, (left) cut a chic figure in a navy lace dress which she wore with a matching hat, while Laura, 37, looked elegant in a pale pink ensemble Filming in north Yorkshire took place over four days as the main cast and hundreds of extras watched a horse race At the end of last month the release date for the third Downton Abbey film was revealed as filming began in Yorkshire The new movie will be released worldwide on September 12, 2025, with Universal Pictures UK confirming the news on Instagram Allen Leech, who plays Tom Branson in Downton, was spotted filming scenes where he was left disappointed when his horse failed to win Nathan Wiley as John Bevan, meanwhile, appeared to enjoy success The caption read: 'A new motion picture event. The third film in the beloved #DowntonAbbey franchise will be released only in cinemas September 12, 2025' Hugh , Dominic West, Elizabeth, Michelle , Laura, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Robert James-Collier are to return for the hotly-anticipated movie Last month, it was revealed Paul Giamatti will also be part of the cast Elizabeth looked stunning in her pale blue dress and matching hat as she strolled around on set The extras were spotted shielding from the sun under umbrellas and sipping from cups of water as cameras rolled for hours on some of the hottest days of the year so far Last month the cast looked in high spirits as they reunited to film scenes at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate Joanne Froggatt - who confirmed last week she is pregnant with her first child - Allen Leech, Penelope Wilton, Lesley Nicol, Michael Fox, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sophie McShera, and Douglas Reith will also be back at Downton Joanne Froggatt - who confirmed last week she is pregnant with her first child - Allen Leech, Penelope Wilton, Lesley Nicol, Michael Fox, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sophie McShera, and Douglas Reith will also be back at Downton. Last month, it was revealed Paul Giamatti will also be part of the cast. The Oscar-nominee is to reprise his role from the TV series as Cora's brother Harold Levinson. Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola and House of the Dragon actors Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan are also expected to join the third film in the franchise. Last month the cast looked in high spirits as they reunited to film scenes at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate. Plot details have so far remained under wraps about the upcoming motion picture, which is written by Julian Fellowes and produced by Gareth Neame, Fellowes and Liz Trubridge. However it can be expected to follow 2022's A New Era, which ended in the late 1920s with the heartbreaking passing of Crawley matriarch, Lady Violet. The third instalment was first let slip early by actress Imelda Staunton, who unashamedly announced that there would definitely be a 'third and final' film. It was later confirmed by the show runners, who announced that there would be a 'third film in the beloved Downton Abbey franchise'. However, while producers have 'tried to reunite the cast' some stars will be unable to return. A TV insider told The Sun: 'None of the cast members were guaranteed to return. 'Although the producers have tried to reunite most of the Downton stars, not all of them have been able to commit, even if they did appear in the first two films.' In February, The Mail revealed the period drama would be making a surprise comeback. Plot details have so far remained under wraps about the upcoming motion picture, which is written by Julian Fellowes and produced by Gareth Neame, Fellowes and Liz Trubridge However it can be expected to follow 2022's A New Era, which ended in the late 1920s with the heartbreaking passing of Crawley matriarch, Lady Violet The third instalment was first let slip early by actress Imelda Staunton, who unashamedly announced that there would definitely be a 'third and final' film It was later confirmed by the show runners, who announced that there would be a 'third film in the beloved Downton Abbey franchise' However, while producers have 'tried to reunite the cast' some stars will be unable to return A TV insider told The Sun: 'None of the cast members were guaranteed to return. 'Although the producers have tried to reunite most of the Downton stars, not all of them have been able to commit, even if they did appear in the first two films' In February, The Mail revealed the period drama would be making a surprise comeback The stars of the show were busy on set It was a lovely sunny day for filming Laura and Michelle stroll around the set They intently watched the races They wore their outfits of the era The crew were on hand too with their equiptment The first two films, released in 2019 and 2022, grossed a combined $287.3 million worldwide The hugely successful period drama started on ITV in 2011 and has spawned six seasons and two movies The show, which covered the many societal changes and world events between 1912 and 1928, is back on screens next year Downton Abbey 3 will be released worldwide on September 12, 2025, it has been announced The release date was announced on Instagram Bosses hoped to be able to bring back some of the big name actors who appeared in the previous six seasons and two movie spin-offs. The show, which covered the many societal changes and world events between 1912 and 1928, is back on screens next year. The hugely successful period drama started on ITV in 2011 and has spawned six seasons and two movies. The first two films, released in 2019 and 2022, grossed a combined $287.3 million worldwide. Armie Hammer was told 'he had issues' but he's 'not what people are saying' in a psychiatric evaluation report - after cannibalism and abuse allegations imploded his career in 2021. The Call Me By Your Name actor, 37, who was at the peak of his fame, fell from grace when a series of disturbing allegations were made against him by multiple women, who accused him of violent abuse and harboring cannibalism fantasies. In February 2021 his ex-girlfriend, Effie Angelova, 26, accused him of 'violently' raping and abusing her in 2017. He denied the accusations of rape through his attorney and said all of his sexual encounters were 'completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in advance and mutually participatory'. On Bill Maher's Club Random podcast, the star discussed his 'glowing' evaluation in the Cayman Islands, saying: 'I had to subject myself for a multi-month full psychological evaluation, and the report at the end of that was glowing. By the way, theyre like, "hes got issues, but hes not what people are saying.' Maher also gave Hammer the chance to speak to camera and 'take accountability' for his actions - including cheating on his former wife Elizabeth Chambers - with whom he shares two children. Armie Hammer was told 'he had issues' but he's 'not what people are saying' in a psychiatric evaluation report - after cannibalism and abuse allegations imploded his career in 2021. Maher also gave Hammer the chance to speak to camera and 'take accountability' for his actions - including cheating on his former wife Elizabeth Chambers - with whom he shares two children - pictured 2018 He said: 'I cheated on my wife. I used people to make me feel better. I was callous and inconsiderate with people and their emotions and their well-being. I wanted what I wanted and I was going to take it at any cost, even if it was at an emotional cost of someone else. 'And that is s****y behavior. There are things in my behavior that I have to take accountability for, because that is pivotal for me learning and growing from it.' The actor retreated to the Cayman Islands in the wake of the scandal - and said he would rather work than ask his wealthy family to support him with 'free lunches.' Armie - who was ordered to pay $1,500 a month in child support - fully admitted he's broke and said he applied to be a drama teacher, landscaper, building manager, and timeshare salesman but 'the Cayman Islands refuses to give me work permits.' 'You say what you want, I loved it. I would love to be a timeshare salesman it is so fun,' Hammer quipped. 'Someone might look at me and go, "Yeah but financially you're in a very different position than you've ever been in your entire life." 'And I look at that and I go, "Yeah and you know what? It's taught me that I don't need that because I've never been happier than I've ever been in my entire life.' He said: 'I would rather go get a job selling time-shares. I applied for a job to be a drama teacher. I applied for a job to be a landscaper. I applied for a job to be a building manager, and the Cayman Islands refuses to give me work permits.' On Bill Maher's Club Random podcast, the star discussed his 'glowing' evaluation, saying: 'I had to subject myself for a multi-month full psychological evaluation, and the report at the end of that was glowing' Discussing the police investigation - he said: 'They went through phones, emails, eyewitness reports. They investigated me for two and a half years in a time where if they could have nailed someone like me, it would have been such a boon for the LAPD,' Hammer noted. 'And after two and a half years they came to the conclusion that there is no evidence any crime had been committed.' Hammer - who used to 'smoke 20 joints a day' - has remained happily sober following his nine-month stint at a Florida rehab to battle his addictions to drugs, alcohol, and sex issues. 'Therapy for me has been a life changer,' the Golden Globe nominee gushed. 'Listen, I needed an adjustment. There was some s*** going on. Here's what I think would have happened had none of this gone on and like the cataclysmic tectonic shift in my life wouldn't have happened. My life would have kept going exactly as it was, and I know that would ultimately only lead in one place and that's death... 'I experienced an ego death, a career death, a financial death - all of these things, right? And [William Paul] Young talks about this. Joseph Campbell talks about this. You've got to die and once you die you can then be reborn. A phoenix isn't going to rise if there's no ashes.' Before his cancellation, Armie fully admitted he was 'drinking a lot. I was doing a lot of drugs. I was partying hard. I was being real fast and loose about what I put in text messages and I was also engaging in risky behavior that, if you really think about it, was stupid!' The 68-year-old Emmy-winning producer - whose movie poster for Cannibal Women ironically hung behind the pair - overlooked most of Hammer's past behavior but drew the line at him drinking and driving while filming himself back in 2021. Hammer recently revealed he is grateful for the shock cannibalism and abuse allegations which imploded his once-stellar Hollywood acting career The Call Me By Your Name star, 37, who was at the peak of his fame, fell from grace when a series of disturbing allegations were made against him by multiple women, who accused him of violent abuse and harboring cannibalism fantasies - pictured 2019 '100 percent! 100 percent! To be fair, it was MDMA. I'm a little hazy,' Armie admitted. 'I mean who hasn't done MDMA in the passenger's seat of a car?' When Bill asked again if he was behind the wheel, Hammer shrugged: 'Maybe I was? Also 100% I definitely drove irresponsibly for sure and and by the way I did all kinds of crazy s*** that if I really think about it now. I kind of look at it, there's no way I didn't expect this even unconsciously subconsciously. It was self-destruction.' Maher was also visibly uncomfortable asking the high school drop-out why he carved his first initial 'A' into Paige Lorenze's pubic area with a knife and started licking the blood during their four-month fling. 'You get in these moods, like especially if you're inebriated or especially if whatever, you start to go, "This is a great idea!"' Armie - whose texts were 'negotiating boundaries' - explained. 'And it's like, wait, people get tattoos of each other's initials all the time. And by the way, like, I'm not performing surgery. All of these things in a consensual relationship that were prediscussed and consented to, whatever they might have been between two people.' Hammer - who, at age 13, was molested by a 'member of the clergy' for 'about a year' - concluded: 'At the end of the day, hurt people hurt people.' 'What would happen is I would suck these women into this whirlwind and then the minute it got real or the minute it got intimate or the minute it got serious, I would go, "Whoa! I never signed up for this!" And I would just I would move on and, like the Seinfeld episode, I was a terrible breaker-upper,' the two-time SAG Award nominee recalled. Armie's last acting role was portraying Alex Magnussen in Taika Waititi's 2023 film Next Goal Wins, but the entire role was reshot in December 2021 with seven-time Emmy nominee Will Arnett. The last time audiences saw Hammer he played the two-timing Simon Doyle in Kenneth Branagh's 2022 film Death on the Nile, but he was completely edited out of the trailers. Last month Hammer revealed he is grateful for the shock cannibalism and abuse allegations which imploded his once-stellar Hollywood acting career. Speaking on the Painful Lessons podcast, the actor said of the scandal: 'Whatever it was that people said, whatever it was that happened, Im now at a place in my life where Im grateful for every single bit of it, 'Im actually now at a place where Im really grateful for it because where I was in my life before all of that stuff happened to me I didnt feel good I never felt satisfied I never had enough I never was in a place where I was happy with myself where I had self-esteem. 'I never knew how to give myself love. I never knew how to give myself self-validation but I had this job where I was able to get it from so many people that I never had to learn how to give it to myself.' On being accused of cannibalism - the actor reportedly said he was '100% a cannibal' in 2021 texts - he added: 'People called me a cannibal. Like I ate people! What???? You know what you have to do to be a cannibal? You have to eat people!' He added of his downfall: 'It was an ego death, a career death. A neutron bomb went off in my life. It killed off [everything]' His then-wife Chambers split from him in July 2020 - the former couple share two young children. The star said he had contemplated suicide during that period, saying: 'There were a lot of times when I thought I cant take this anymore. I was getting hateso it just went right in there was a time 'I was standing at the shore and I swam out really far and just laying there..a half-assed suicide attemptBut I thought I couldnt do that to my kids.' He admitted his Hollywood career is 'nowhere now' and said he's 'creating his own sandbox' and planning to write a screenplay. Hammer admits that his Hollywood career is nowhere now and noted that hes creating his own sandbox where he plans to write a screenplay. The star is seen with Timothee Chalamet in Oscar-winning film Call Me By Your Name Hammer and ex-wife Elizabeth Chambers's divorce was finalized in June 2023 - they are seen in 2017 He has repeatedly denied the allegations however the fallout surrounding the scandal has seen Armie's Hollywood career all but vanish. Several other women came forward and accused Hammer of being interested in kinky sex and even cannibalism in the wake of Effie's claims. The star, who first made his name playing both the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network, was dropped by his personal publicist and former agency as well as multiple projects following the allegations. Hammer also stepped down from a role in Jennifer Lopez's film Shotgun Wedding, but maintained his innocence. 'I'm not responding to these bulls***t claims but in light of the vicious and spurious online attacks against me, I cannot in good conscience now leave my children for four months to shoot a film in the Dominican Republic,' he said in a statement to DailyMail. The actor subsequently claimed he tried to commit suicide in the Cayman Islands, where he got a job selling timeshares, following the backlash. He admitted he was emotionally abusive towards his former partners, but blamed his actions on being traumatized by a youth pastor who allegedly sexually abused him when he was 13. Hammer's former partners Paige Lorenze and Courtney Vucekovich then also accused him of being physically and emotionally abusive while they were together. Armie has not been charged by the LA County District Attorney, and has since made attempts to restart his career. Viewers of The Kelly Clarkson Show were left seething when Monday's program was dramatically pulled off air without warning for a breaking news alert about Donald Trump. The hour-long show was cut off just nine minutes in as it was announced that the former President, 78, had picked Ohio senator J.D. Vance as his running mate. The unwelcome interruption took place as Kelly, 42, played a never-seen-before clip from an interview with Justin Timberlake as part of her special Best of Boy Bands Hour, and ahead of her chats with New Kids on the Block, Donnie and Mark Wahlberg, and Ricky Martin. The show eventually returned to the air after 16 minutes but failed to pick up from where it left off. Frustrated fans flocked to social media to complain about the interruption. The Kelly Clarkson Show was pulled off the air on Monday afternoon in favor of a special news report on Donald Trump Trump, 78, announced that he has picked Ohio senator J.D. Vance as his running mate 'Ain't no way they just interrupted the Kelly Clarkson show to tell us Trump's running mate,' wrote one frustrated viewer on X. Another fumed: 'They really just cut the Kelly Clarkson show out of nowhere to this Republican sh*t.' A third said: 'The one time @BiteMyTounge4LH and I try to watch the Kelly Clarkson show for BTR, it gets interrupted.' Over on Instagram, another begged NBC to take action and upload the episode in its entirety online. They wrote: Please upload the full unseen interview to the official Kelly Clarkson Show YouTube channel. It was interrupted on live TV by a special report. The news alert was hosted by anchor Kristen Welker, 48, just days after Trump was targeted at a Republican rally in Pennsylvania. 'Good afternoon we are coming on the air with breaking news,' she said. 'Former president Donald Trump has made a choice. He has just posted on his platform social that J.D. Vance is going to be his vice president. So, the ticket is going to be Trump and Vance. 'He has aligned with him consistently in that time. 'The news is coming just before they are both set to be formally nominated on the first day of the Republican national convention, and less than 48 hours ahead of the assassination attempt at his rally over the weekend and just hours after the documents case was dismissed by the judge in Florida.' Trump left it until the last possible moment, using all his showman skills to leave the world guessing, before opting for 39-year-old Vance after the Republican National Convention had already begun in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Frustrated fans flocked to social media to complain about the pause Kristen Welker (pictured) hosted the special NBC News alert, declaring the Republican ticket is going to be Trump and Vance Trump revealed he had chosen Vance, 48, on Truth Social on Monday He made his announcement on Truth Social, dropping it just as delegates were rubber stamping his nomination as presidential candidate. 'J.D. has had a very successful business career in technology and finance, and now, during the campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American workers and farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond,' he said. Vance swept to national attention when he published his bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, in 2016, the year Trump was elected president. He has been a senator for less than two years but has established himself as one of the fiercest defenders of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' agenda, especially when it comes to foreign policy, trade and immigration. The former venture capitalist and U.S. Marine had initially been critical of Trump. He didn't vote for Trump in 2016 and around that time tweeted: 'My God what an idiot.' But insiders said he became increasingly politicized as he watched the nation's elite institutions turn on the Trump presidency even as he delivered on his promises. Holly Kingston has revealed a very special milestone in her pregnancy. The Bachelor star, who is expecting her first child with husband Jimmy Nicholson, took to Instagram on Monday to share images of their baby's 'first kick'. In a brief black and white video, Kingston showed her moving baby bump along with the caption 'Felt our first kick tonight. Won't be forgetting that moment anytime soon.' Her airline pilot hubby was tagged in the video and his hand could be seen cradling Holly's expanding bump. Last month, Holly and Jimmy took to Instagram to update their followers on her pregnancy progress. In a delightful post shared by Jimmy, Holly could be seen standing in their modern, sunlit kitchen, lovingly cradling her growing belly bump. Holly, looking radiant, wore a form-fitting, chocolate-brown jumpsuit that accentuated her burgeoning bump. The image was captioned: 'I swear every time he comes home from a work trip I've grown a coupla centimetres.' Holly Kingston has revealed a very special milestone in her pregnancy. The Bachelor star, who is expecting her first child with husband Jimmy Nicholson, took to Instagram on Monday to share images of their baby's 'first kick'. Both pictured In a brief black and white video, Kingston showed her moving baby bump along with the caption, 'Felt our first kick tonight. Won't be forgetting that moment anytime soon' Her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders in loose waves, framing her face which was alight with joy and excitement. Jimmy and Holly fell in love on the 2021 season of The Bachelor Australia. The pair moved into an apartment together in North Bondi in September that year, shortly after The Bachelor finale aired on TV. Last month, Holly and Jimmy took to Instagram to update their followers on her pregnancy progress The couple announced the exciting news in June The strapping pilot tied the knot with fashion stylist Holly at his parent's home in Sydney's Palm Beach in August 2023. Following the ceremony, Jimmy and Holly travelled to their reception venue, The Pasadena at Church Point, by boat. Jimmy looked dapper in his white blazer along with black trousers, patent dress shoes and a black bow tie. Meanwhile, Holly stunned in a simple yet elegant embroidered white dress with a square cut bodice and thigh high split. Shannen Doherty's Charmed co-star Holly Marie Combs has broken her silence after the actress' tragic death from cancer 53 on Saturday. Beverly Hills, 90210 star Doherty had been battling breast cancer since 2015 - with the disease spreading to her brain in June last year. Combs, 50, who played Piper Halliwell in the long-running WB show Charmed, about a trio of witch sisters lauded Doherty for being a 'fierce fighter until the end.' She wrote on Instagram: 'My better half of 31 years. There is a hollow in my chest and I cant seem to catch my breath. A part of me is missing even though I know exactly what you would say to me right now. I know exactly what you would tell me to do right now. 'I know your undying spirit will live in me and my kids who you loved as your own. They will walk with your sense of purpose and pride. Shannen Doherty's Charmed co-star Holly Marie Combs has broken her silence after the actress' tragic death from cancer 53 on Saturday She wrote on Instagram: 'My better half of 31 years. There is a hollow in my chest and I cant seem to catch my breath. A part of me is missing even though I know exactly what you would say to me right now. I know exactly what you would tell me to do right now' 'They will be truthful and stand up for what is right. No matter what and zero f**ks given. Your fire will live on in them and the many other Charmed ones you helped raise. 'A fierce fighter til the end. My most ardent champion. My loyal protector. My best friend. You taught me the meaning of family. You were and will be forevermore my sister. I love you.' She accompanied the post with a series of snaps of the duo in happier times. Combs and Doherty had further bonded in recent months when the former opened up about the behind-the-scenes drama between her, Alyssa Milano and Doherty on their hit series, Charmed. While discussing the Beverly Hills, 90210 star's abrupt exit from the series in 2001 after its third season, on Doherty's podcast, Let's Be Clear, Combs revealed she had a meeting with show producer, Jonathan Levin, about her co-star's firing. Combs claimed Levin told her: 'We didn't mean to but we've been backed into this corner we're basically in this position where it's one or the other.' 'We were told [by Alyssa] it's her or [Shannen] and Alyssa has threatened to sue us for a hostile workplace environment,' she recalled Levin telling her. On Sunday, Doherty's publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed the actor's death. She accompanied the post with a series of snaps of the duo in happier times The duo are pictured with Rose McGowan in February 2024 'It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,' Sloane told People. 'The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace,' Sloane added. Doherty, who played Brenda Walsh in the hit 1990s show, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. Just two years later, the Charmed star revealed that the cancer had returned after going into remission. At the time, she told Good Morning America: 'It's going to come out in a matter of days or a week that I'm stage 4. So my cancer came back, and that's why I'm here. 'I don't think I've processed it. It's a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways,' she said. Last year she announced that her cancer had spread to her brain in an Instagram post that showed her undergoing radiation therapy. The duo are pictured on Charmed in 1998 with Alyssa Milano Doherty died at the age of 53 after a long battle with breast cancer (pictured 2019) In October 1990, Doherty starred in the original Beverly Hills 90210, but left the series after the fourth season in 1994. She came back to the show as a guest star in 2008 after it rebooted. Following the popular series, she went on to star in the witch drama, Charmed. Doherty played Prue Halliwell, the oldest of the three witch sisters. After directing several episodes of Charmed, Doherty left the series in 2001. She then moved on to reality television, as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars and in the show Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty. She joined the 2019 reboot of 90210 and played the adult version of Brenda Walsh. Doherty initially kept her diagnosis under wraps, but after her co-star Luke Perry suddenly died at 52 in 2019, she opened up about her health battle. Perry died on March 4 that year after he suffered a massive ischemic stroke at his home in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. 'It's so weird for me to be diagnosed and then somebody who was, you know, seemingly healthy to go first,' Doherty said on Good Morning America in 2020. 'It was really, like, shocking.' Richard Simmons acknowledged his legion of adoring fans in a moving interview he gave just two days before his death at 76 on Saturday. Simmons spoke with People Thursday, a day before he celebrated his 76th birthday and two days prior to his death at his home in Los Angeles. At the conclusion of the interview, the fitness impresario was told by the outlet that he had been 'missed' after keeping a low profile over the past decade, and asked if he understood the fondness fans had for him. 'I know people miss me,' Simmons told the outlet. 'And you know what? I miss them, too. But I'm able to reach them through phone calls and through emails.' Simmons also revealed in his final interview that he had emerged into the public while concealing his appearance. Richard Simmons acknowledged his legion of adoring fans in a moving interview he gave just two days before his death at 76 on Saturday. Pictured in August of 2013 in LA The fitness impresario was pictured at a March 1999 event at the University of Nebraska 'I do leave the house sometimes,' Simmons said. 'But I'm in disguise.' The outlet reported that the interview with Simmons just prior to his passing was his first since 2014, the year he stopped making public appearances. The New Orleans-born star, who had been a staple on television promoting his fitness industry endeavors - including studios, books, weight loss programs and videos - had been at the center of speculation over the past decade after he ceased making public appearances, spurring speculation about his safety and well-being. Sources close to the late celebrity told the outlet that the reason he bowed out of the public eye was a knee surgery he had undergone, and a second surgery on the knee that he had refused to undergo. Simmons told People on Thursday that he'd also had a skin cancer scare after undergoing a procedure to have it extracted earlier this year. 'Basal cell carcinoma, it was scary,' Simmons said of the ailment. 'But it never came back.' Simmons told the outlet that he strived to spread optimism and positivity to those dealing with similar health battles. 'So many people have cancer,' Simmons said. 'I call them, I sing to them: "You're gonna get through this. You just have to believe that."' Sources close to the late celebrity told the outlet that the reason he bowed out of the public eye was a knee surgery he had undergone, and a second surgery on the knee that he had refused to undergo. Pictured in NYC in 2006 Simmons told the outlet he had been collaborating on a musical with composer Patrick Leonard in recent months. Pictured in October 2013 Simmons told the outlet he had been collaborating on a musical with composer Patrick Leonard in recent months. 'I've written 14 songs for a Broadway show,' he said. 'And I'm working with an amazing man - Patrick Leonard. I don't know if you know his name, but he wrote music for Madonna, Elton John. He's like one of the biggest. 'And we talk a couple of times a week. I write the lyrics, and he writes the music. The whole show is about my life - from selling pralines in New Orleans at a candy store when I was a kid, to when I decided to retire.' Simmons had been gradually reemerging into his public persona, communicating on X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube earlier this year, and via email with his fans. He told People Thursday, 'Today is a beautiful day. But nothing's really different. I got up this morning. I said my prayers, I counted my blessings, and then I went to work. 'You know? And writing messages, answering emails - and when the email is real extreme, I ask for their numbers, and I call them. I'm feeling great, cause I'm helping people.' His final social media post came on Saturday, quoting a line from the 1968 musical comedy Funny Girl. Simmons had been gradually reemerging into his public persona, communicating on X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube earlier this year, and via email with his fans. Pictured in August 2013 Simmons was asked about his low-profile interactions with his fans, telling the outlet that his measure of success was the number of people he had provided assistance and inspiration to. 'Well, when I decided to retire, it was because my body told me I needed to retire,' Simmons said. 'I have spent time just reflecting on my life. All of the books I wrote, the videos. 'I never was like, "Oh look what I've done." My thing was, "Oh, look how many people I helped."' Bitcoin's value is also up on the prospect of a Trump victory in November The Truth Social parent company saw a stock boost after Trump shot at Shares in Donald Trump's social media company surged in early trading on Monday. Trump Media & Technology, the parent company of Truth Social, soared more than 35 percent on Monday morning following an assassination attempt against the former president on Saturday. Trump owns a majority stake in the company, which was valued at $3.8 billion as of June 25 according to LSEG data. Betting prices also reacted to Saturday's violence by raising the odds of Trump retaking the White House in November. A contract for Trump winning the election cost $0.67 early Monday morning, according to data from PredictIt, an online marketplace specializing in political event betting. Truth Social parent company saw a stock boost after Trump was shot at on Saturday The price reflects a belief there is a 67 percent chance of a Trump victory in November, up from 60 percent on Friday. Bets on Joe Biden winning the election stood at $0.27. The Trump Media stock has been extremely volatile since its debut in March. It ended its first day of active trading valued at $8 billion, but has joined the group of meme stocks which are prone to ricochet between highs and lows. Smaller-pocketed and novice investors attempt to jump on the stock during an upward momentum, which can cause the price to move sharply. Shares tanked after Trump was convicted of falsifying business records and rose following President Biden's car crash debate performance last month. In its latest earnings report in May, Trump Media reported it lost more than $300 million in the first quarter of this year. Cryptocurrency stocks also rose on Monday as investors saw an increased chance of an election victory for Trump. Trump has positioned himself as a champion of crypto, in contrast to a more cautious and skeptical Democratic party. Monday morning trading took Bitcoin to a two-week high of $63,000, and Coinbase Globals and Bitcoin miner Riot Platforms also saw shares climb between 5 and 6.5 percent. 'Investors are becoming more confident of a Trump victory, and it is starting to be more heavily reflected in certain sectors,' Rick Meckler, partner at Cherry Lane Investments told Reuters. Trump was shot at during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday The former president gestures as he is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents However Meckler said that the overall market was less sensitive to the prospect of either candidate winning. 'Most investors are not changing their overall commitment to U.S. equities' Meckler explained. Adding: 'After all, the broad stock market rose under the last Trump administration and has risen under the Biden administration as well.' The S&P 500 had risen by 0.8 percent by 11am EST on Monday. A small rural town in Oklahoma has the unfortunate distinction of being the most expensive place to insure a home in the country. Enid, 90 minutes north of Oklahoma City, has the most expensive home insurance relative to home values in the entirety of the US. In many parts of the US, costs are rising as climate change brings increased risk of damage to properties from wildfires, floods and other natural disasters such as hurricanes. Yet Enid, with a population of 50,000, is notably less at risk than places such as below-sea-level New Orleans or fire-ravaged Paradise in California. Enid seems to have fallen victim to a series of factors, including officials who do not challenge companies raising premiums, home values relative to costs and geography, which have driven up its insurance prices. Enid has the most expensive home insurance relative to home values in the entirety of the US Home insurance is still cheaper in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where houses have been slipping into the sea The typical homeowner in Enid paid $2,113 on home insurance last year. That is more than six times the national average relative to home value, the New York Times reported. Home insurance relative to home value is cheaper in Florida Keys - despite that area frequently being hit by hurricanes - than Enid. Likewise, it is also cheaper in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where houses have been slipping into the sea. Oklahoma is overall the sixth most expensive state in the country for home insurance, behind Florida, New York, Louisiana, Colorado and Hawaii. If this is adjusted relative to home value, Oklahoma ranks third, after Louisiana and Mississippi. The average premium across the US jumped 33 percent between 2020 and 2023, according to the latest data from CoreLogic. But they are higher in some states like Oklahoma. This is illustrated by looking at how much homeowners on the edges of the state paid compared to those just over the border in neighboring states. Last year, their premiums were as much much as 70 percent more than in Texas, Arkansas and Kansas - despite having the same level of risk exposure, according to federal data. Furthermore, insurance companies are quoting homeowners in the middle and southeast of the US drastically more than others with similar risk levels, new research has found. Indeed higher premiums are charged to homeowners in states where regulators apply less scrutiny to rate increase requests, compared with states whose officials routinely raise questions about how rates are justified, a new report by the National Bureau of Economic Research concluded. Oklahoma's insurance commissioner has never denied a rate increase requested by an insurance company for home insurance, the Times reported. The data reveals how some homeowners are being forced to shell out more than double for insurance, relative to value, than those with similar risk but in different parts of the country. The CoreLogic data, analyzed by researchers Benjamin Keys, a professor at Wharton Business School and Philip Mulder, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, included the insurance paid by 12.4 million of the nation's roughly 80 million owner-occupied households. The researchers argued that although there is a relationship between extreme weather risk and insurance costs there are also other factors at play that are creating a misalignment between risk and premiums. The researchers found discrepancies such as how a typical homeowner in McCurtain County, Oklahoma pays an average of $2,837 for insurance. Yet an average homeowner just across the state line in Little River County, Arkansas, pays $1,673. Last year the average US household paid $500 in home insurance premiums for every $100,000 of home value, or 0.5 percent, according to Keys and Mulder. Home insurance costs are rising as climate change brings increased risk of damage Wildfires, floods and other natural disasters such as hurricanes are becoming more frequent Areas that are frequently it by tornadoes will likely have higher insurance premiums However, the typical homeowners in California paid premiums as low as .05 percent of home value. This is despite the state suffering through more than 7,000 wildfires last year alone. By contrast, homeowners in parts of Alabama, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas, paid more than 2 percent of the value of local homes. 'Families with the same level of risk exposure pay wildly different amounts to protect themselves from harm,' Dr. Keys told the New York Times. 'Different prices for the same risk feels unfair.' It was a field day for first year students of Allied Health Sciences and Health Sciences Colleges when they received a warm welcome during an induction ceremony at Kattankulathur near Chennai today. N Ram, Director, The Hindu Group said learning always is a must to stay updated in ones field of study. Skills have to be constantly upgraded. He was the chief guest at the ceremony held at Dr T P Ganesan Auditorium on SRMIST premises at Kattankulathur near Chennai. They must also have good conduct and humbleness, as these are very essential while interacting with the patients, he said. Showering praises on SRMIST, N Ram said the institution has a very robust entrance exam system designed to intake students into various courses. The entrance exam can be said to be an ideal one as it is designed taking into view all streams in school education in India. Colleges of Allied Health Sciences and Health Sciences have over 100 courses and have an enrolment of 1500 students. Senior officials of India and the 27-nation European Union (EU) are expected to hold the next round of talks for the proposed free trade agreement, which aims at boosting commerce and investments, in September, an official said. Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce Darpan Jain said that the eighth round of talks was concluded on June 28. He said that discussions were held on all 21 chapters in the meeting and progress was made in number of areas such as government procurement, digital trade, technical barriers to trade, goods, and market access. We plan to hold more inter-sessional meetings in July and August and we intend to have another round (of talks) in the last week of September, Jain told reporters here. On June 17, 2022, India and the EU formally resumed negotiations on the proposed agreement, after a gap of over eight years. They are negotiating Trade and Investment Agreement, and a pact on Geographical Indications (GI). India had started negotiations for a trade pact with the EU in 2007, but the talks stalled in 2013 as both sides failed to reach an agreement on key issues, including customs duties on automobiles and spirits and the movement of professionals. The trade agreement with the EU would help India further expand and diversify its exports of goods and services, including securing the value chains. Indias merchandise exports to EU member countries have increased to USD 75.92 billion in 2023-24 from USD 74.83 billion in 2022-23. Imports also rose to USD 59.38 billion in 2023-24 from USD 61 billion in 2022-23. The EU accounts for over 17 per cent of Indias total exports and about 8.8 per cent of the countrys total imports. Talking about the proposed trade pact with the UK, another official said that with the new government taking charge in Britain, the two countries will take forward the negotiations. The official said the new government in the UK will look into the agreement. The India-UK talks for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) began in January 2022. The 14th round of talks stalled as the two nations stepped into their general election cycles. Britains newly-elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently and said he stood ready to conclude an FTA that worked for both sides. The two leaders agreed to work towards the early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-UK FTA. There are pending issues in both the goods and services sectors. The Indian industry is demanding greater access for its skilled professionals from sectors like IT and healthcare in the UK market, besides market access for several goods at nil customs duty. On the other hand, the UK is seeking a significant cut in import duties on goods such as scotch whiskey, electric vehicles, lamb meat, chocolates and certain confectionary items. Britain is also looking for more opportunities for UK services in Indian markets in segments like telecommunications, legal and financial services (banking and insurance). The two countries are also negotiating a bilateral investment treaty (BIT). There are 26 chapters in the agreement, which include goods, services, investments and intellectual property rights. The bilateral trade between India and the UK increased to USD 21.34 billion in 2023-24 from USD 20.36 billion in 2022-23. The Labour Partys election manifesto for the recent polls also committed to clinching the deal. The ancient Duggar region has produced many of India's bravest warriors and earned the highest number of gallantry awards in the annals of the Indian Armed Forces Ancient Duggar region (land of warrior-Dogras spanning J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Punjab) has given maximum sacrifice and earned the highest number of gallantry awards in the annals of the Indian Armed Forces. Geographically, they have been the first line of defence against all invading forces. The noble land birthed the likes of King Porus, and the warrior sans pareil, General Zorawar Singh. Unbeknownst to many, the legendary Zorawars audacious conquests included regions that are now in Pakistan and China like Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu, Hunza, to even large swathes of Tibet. With such martial traditions, it is the only region in the country that populates not one but four fiery regiments of the Indian Army i.e., Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, Dogra Regiment, Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry and Punjab Regiment, besides other arms, and services. But the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles or Jak Rif, has a hallowed place in history and imagination as a proud and direct legatee of those Zorawars daredevilry traditions. The only State Force of the Princely Dogra Kingdom to be fully amalgamated in the Indian Army, they remain the quintessential Gentlemen Soldiers owing to pedigree, immense dignity, and professional restraint in personal conduct, but unmatched ferocity in battle. In 1947 the Saviour of Kashmir, Brigadier Rajendra Singh Jamwal, MVC, and his band of 300 indefatigable warriors held off Pakistani tribals for crucial three days to allow the confabulations and the landing of Indian troops in Srinagar. The Maharaja and Commander of J&K State forces had ordered, Brigadier Rajender Singh is commanded to hold the enemy at Uri at all costs and to the last man he did so by paying the ultimate sacrifice himself. In another theatre, Brig Sher Jung Thapa, MVC, of the J&K State Forces earned the title of Hero of Skardu. Even the first Param Vir Chakra of India, Maj Somnath Sharma, was from the Duggarregion. Decades later, when the enemy attempted to cross over yet again, it was the unparalleled heroics of the 13th Jak Rifbattalion, atop the unforgiving heights of the Kargil War that galvanised the nation. Two combatants from the traditional Duggar catchment areas of Palampur and Bilaspur were to send shivers down the spine of the enemy with their regimental war cries of Durga Mata ki Jai as they retook Point 5140. Captain Vikram Batra was to immortalise the moment with his Yeh dil mange more spirit and Rifleman (later Subedar Major) Sanjay Kumar would fight to defend their land just as their forefathers did, for aeons. Both won Param Vir Chakra. Even the peace-time equivalent of gallantry, Ashok Chakra, was bestowed on 2/Lt (later Maj Gen) Cyrus Pithwalla of 17thJak Rif, to be the only General officer with the highest gallantry award.It is from this deep fount of distinguished soldiering, that the 30th Chief of Indian Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, takes over the reigns. Commissioned in the 18th Rif battalion, he is the first Army Chief from the decorated Regiment. Understandably, people in the Duggar land (especially those from the Jak Rif fraternity) are justifiably proud. As 97 years young, Major General Goverdhan Singh Jamwal (the only General who was commissioned by Commander-in-Chief of J&K State Forces, Maharaja Hari Singh) extended congratulations and recalled the countless regimental sacrifices that, made the State as crown of newly independent India. Today, General Dwivedi assumes the responsibility that his regimental forefathers held with much aplomb, elan and professional acumen that befits their motto, Prashata Ranvirta or Valour in battle is Praiseworthy! The General assumes the mantle time in most challenging times, but as the Military truism goes, The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph. With the Indian Army, he takes over the most disciplined, combat-hardened, and restrained institution of the nation much like his own regimental ethos. Regrettably, such a selfless attitude in a selfish world can often lead to being taken for granted or lead to institutional diminishments. Transmitting that voice for redressal to the powers-that-be will be his foremost challenge. To his singular credit, he has tenanted the most sensitive posts e.g., Army Commander of the Northern Command that dealt with dual nemesis i.e., China and Pakistan simultaneously, amongst other operational and staff posts. This makes him a worthy leader. In a movingly reassuring optic that is so typical of the Indian Army and its inimitable ways, the good General took blessings of his family elders, laid a wreath for those who went down fighting at the National War Memorial and then exchanged greetings with religious leaders of all faiths and denominations. Much like the multi-religious and multi-castiest denomination of the Duggar land and the combatants-in-arms from his beloved JaK Rif who could be a Sikh like Honorary Captain Sundar Singh (Ashok Chakra), Parsi like Maj Gen Pithwala (Ashok Chakra) or even the martyr from his battalion i.e. 18thJak Rif, Rifleman Arif Khan Pathan, who laid down his life on Indo-Pak Line-of-Control (LoC). Jak Rifs pride is the nations pride. As regimental patriarch, Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal dotingly noted, General Upendra Dwivedi is the product of this great Regiment of General Zorawar Singh. You can expect results. (The writer, a military veteran, is a former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry. The views expressed are personal) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said anyone coming to Assam in 2015 or later will be deported back to their country of origin. "We will deport those who have come after 2015. Only eight persons have applied so far who came before 2015 for CAA. Out of these applicants, only two have proceeded to attend interviews with relevant authorities, the CM said at a Press conference in Guwahati to share the insight into the implementation of the Citizens Act. The Centre on March 11 implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 CAA by notifying the rules, four years after the law was passed by Parliament to fast-track citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who came to India before December 31, 2014, and stayed here for five years. "We conducted outreach programmes in the Barak valley and approached many-Hindu Bengali families and asked them to apply for citizenship under CAA. However, they refused to do so. The Assam Chief Minister's statement comes after he stated that the citizenship act will be "completely insignificant" in Assam due to a low number of applications. Himanta said anybody (according to CAA) who has come to India before 2015, they have the first right to apply for citizenship. If they don't apply we will lodge a case for them. So this is a statuary instruction, the CM said on a strong note to carry forward implementation of the CAA. Based on the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act, migrants belonging to six religious minorities Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian from neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will be allowed to stay in India as citizens if they entered the country before December 31, 2014. Sarma claimed that most of the Hindu-Bengali families, who were not included in the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), told him that they possessed necessary documents to prove their Indian citizenship and preferred the FT route than applying through the CAA. Asked whether the Assam Government is dropping cases in Foreigners Tribunals (FT) against Hindu-Bengalis, Sarma clarified, "This is misleading. We cannot drop any case. We are simply advising that before initiating a case, individuals should apply through the CAA portal. Even if a case is filed, there won't be any outcome because these people are eligible for citizenship." The Chief Minister said he will request the Advocate General to flag the issue of CAA so that FTs can give time to people whose cases are going on to apply for citizenship under the newly implemented law. "I can't give a direction to court to pause while deciding the citizenship cases. The FT judges themselves have to decide and they know the latest situation," he added. Asked about such a low number of applications in CAA, Sarma said the Opposition myth that 15-20 lakh Bangladeshis will get citizenship in Assam has been busted completely. "In the anti-CAA movement, five Assamese youths lost their lives. So they made the sacrifice to prevent only these eight people! This abysmally low number of eight applications, of which only two turned up for interview, is a bit surprising for us also," he added. According to the Assam Accord, names of all foreigners coming to the state on or after March 25, 1971 would be detected and deleted from the electoral rolls and steps would be taken to deport them. The final NRC was released on August 31, 2019 by excluding 19,06,657 people. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants. On people facing issues due to blocking of Aadhaar cards, Sarma said around nine lakh cards have been blocked as they had applied during update work of NRC. "At that time, the Government had transformed the Aadhaar centres to NRC centres. These people had gone there to get Aadhaar, but it was blocked due to a clash of timing only. We are examining the list now," he added. The CM said after the assessment, the state government will actively take up the issue with the Centre. BJP's tally in the Rajya Sabha has dipped below 90 for the first time in many years but the ruling party at Centre with its NDA partners is looking forward to gain berths in the Upper House by-elections to fill the existing vacancies in forthcoming weeks. The current strength of the Rajya Sabha is 226 with the BJP having 86 followed by 26 of the Congress and 13 of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). There are currently 19 vacancies. Interestingly, after a decade without a Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha due to a shortage of numbers, this position has now been filled with the appointment of Rahul Gandhi, as the party improved its score in the recently concluded general elections. The Rajya Sabha is heading in a similar direction, with the Congress struggling to maintain the numbers necessary to keep the status of LoP for its party chief, Mallikarjun Kharge. After the election of party leaders KC Venugopal and Deepender Singh Hooda to the Lok Sabha and their subsequent resignation from the Rajya Sabha, the Congress strength in the Upper House too has come down to 26, just one more than the minimum 25 members required to qualify for the post. For this grand old party strategically made its old timer Kesava Rao to quit the RS berth from the BRS party who joined Congress last week which is the partys plan to improve its tally in the Upper House to retain the post of LoP for incumbent Kharge. This has caused a vacancy from Telangana, which will be filled up by the Congress given its numbers in the State Assembly. According to sources, Congress is trying to get more members from other parties from Telangana and Karnataka to resign and get them elected on its ticket. While the BJP-led NDA is confident of winning two seats each in Bihar, Maharashtra and Assam and one each in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tripura due to their numerical superiority over the Opposition, the four new nominated members are also expected to be pro-treasury benches whenever the Government names them. Though nominated members are usually independent in the House in terms of their party affiliation, they are traditionally supportive of the agenda of the government which picks them. The ruling Congress is looking to win the lone seat in Telangana at the expense of the BRS but its gain will be negated in Rajasthan where the BJP, which has a strong majority, will claim the seat vacated by K C Venugopal of Congress who is now in Lok Sabha. BJP is also confident of winning the lone seat in Haryana where the poll will be held to fill the vacancy caused by the election of its Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda to Lok Sabha. Congress, though, hopes that a few MLAs, who are either independent or affiliated to the regional parties and are looking for political alternatives ahead of the assembly polls expected in October, may switch sides and help it make a fight. The Election Commission (EC) is yet to announce the date for elections to fill the 11 vacancies effected by the resignation of as many members. Ten of them were elected to Lok Sabha while one MP, K Keshava Rao of the BRS, quit after joining the Congress. Out of the total 19 vacancies in the 245-member Rajya Sabha, four are from Jammu and Kashmir where there is no assembly currently after the erstwhile state was made a Union Territory in 2019. 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The BJP currently has 86 MPs and the ruling NDA 101 in the 245-member Rajya Sabha where the majority mark is 123. The passage of Bills like the Aadhaar Act and even amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as money bills, apparently to circumvent the Rajya Sabha when the NDA did not have a majority there, has been at the centre of a major political and legal row. Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh is one of the petitioners who have challenged the passage of the Aadhaar Act of 2016 as money bill under Article 110 of the Constitution. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal told a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra on Monday that the pleadings are complete and the petitions needed to be listed for hearing. Sibal said since the matter is already there in the list of scheduled constitution bench hearings, such a bench should be created on a priority basis. "I will take the call when I form the constitution benches," the CJI told him. Later in the day, the Congress welcomed the top court's decision agreeing to consider setting up a constitution bench to hear the pleas. The party hoped a final verdict would come before Chandrachud retires in November this year. Earlier, the top court had said it would constitute a seven-judge bench to consider the issue of validity of passage of laws like the Aadhaar Act as a money bill. A money bill is a piece of legislation which can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha cannot amend or reject it. The Upper House can only make recommendations which may or may not be accepted by the Lower House. A bench headed by the CJI had earlier said all pending seven-judge bench matters will be listed on October 12 last year for procedural directions. In November 2019, a five-judge bench of the apex court had referred to a larger bench the issue of examining the validity of the passage of the Finance Act, 2017 as a money bill. "The issue and question of Money Bill, as defined under Article 110(1) of the Constitution, and certification accorded by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in respect of Part-XIV of the Finance Act, 2017 is referred to a larger Bench," it had said. The five-judge bench had then struck down in entirety the rules governing the appointment and service conditions of the members of various tribunals that formed part of the Finance Act. Earlier, another bench of the top court, while upholding the constitutional validity of PMLA, had kept the issue of passage of the amendments to it as a money bill open for adjudication by a larger bench. In the Aadhaar judgement, the top court had upheld the validity of passage of the law as a money bill. However, Justice Chandrachud, the present CJI, had penned a dissenting judgement and called designating the Aadhaar legislation as a money bill a "fraud on the Constitution". In a bid to underscore the importance of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative, D.A.V. Public School Sector-4 organized a series of activities for students from classes 6 to 10. The program aims to celebrate the cultural diversity of India by fostering mutual understanding and interaction among people from different states and union territories. Students at D.A.V. Sector-4 showcased their love and devotion to the nation through vibrant paintings and creative artwork. The initiative linked the states and union territories of Jharkhand and Goa with other regions to foster structured connections in areas such as language, literature, cuisine, festivals, cultural events, and tourism. As part of the program, Jharkhand was paired with Goa, encouraging students to learn about each other's language, culture, food, handicrafts, historical sites, and indigenous games through art competitions. This not only boosted the students' morale but also deepened their appreciation for India's rich cultural tapestry. The principal S.S Kar praised the students efforts, remarking, Paths never end; people simply lose courage. To learn to swim, you must enter the waterno one becomes a diver by sitting on the shore. Programs like these, organized by CBSE, are essential for the holistic development of children. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday reviewed the current status of power generation, transmission and distribution in Uttar Pradesh. The meeting, which was attended by Energy Minister AK Sharma, senior officials of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited and all DISCOMs, focused on ongoing efforts and future plans. Electricity demand is growing rapidly, with peak demand rising from 20,062 MW in 2018-19 to 30,618 MW on June 13 this year. To meet public needs, uninterrupted power supply was ensured during the summer, he said, and added it was essential to provide adequate power supply in accordance with demand. To achieve the goal of Har Ghar Bijli-Nirbadh Bijli, it is crucial to upgrade the power transmission system. Before establishing a new sub-station, a thorough assessment of local needs must be conducted. New sub-stations should be set up based on a five-year requirement target, the chief minister stressed. Whether in rural or urban areas, any damaged transformer should be repaired immediately, with new transformers provided as needed, he said, adding that adherence to the stipulated time limits was essential, and the performance of agencies responsible for transformer repairs should be monitored. All calls to the toll-free number/helpline must be attended to, ensuring that every consumers issue is addressed promptly, he stressed. There is often dissatisfaction among the public regarding fixing the electricity connection charge, highlighting the need for uniformity. Rules should be improved to ensure consistency, with a focus on reducing unnecessary infrastructure charges and prioritising the convenience of the common citizen, he added. The chief minister said UP had achieved the goal of Sabko Bijli-Nirbadh Bijli (uninterrupted electricity to all) in the last seven years. Electricity now reaches every village and hamlet ensuring equitable distribution without VIP treatment to any particular district. It is gratifying that currently, electricity is supplied without discrimination, he said, adding that during the intense heat, additional efforts were made to ensure convenience for the public, with round-the-clock electricity provided state-wide from March 15 to June 30. In addition to various hydropower projects, 22 thermal projects are successfully operational in the state, located in Anpara, Harduaganj, Obra, Parichha and Jawaharpur. The construction of units in Ghatampur, Panki, Obra-C and Jawaharpur should be completed promptly. Apart from Obra D, Anpara E and Meja Thermal Project-II being set up as a joint venture with NTPC, the work of Khurja thermal project under construction with THDC is expected to be accelerated. These initiatives will significantly enhance the states power generation capacity. A study should be conducted to explore the feasibility of establishing pump storage plants at Rihand Dam, Obra Reservoir and nearby areas, the chief minister said. The primary challenge faced by the power corporation is issue and distribution of flawless bills and collection of revenue from all consumers. It is crucial that no consumer receives an incorrect electricity bill and that all bills are delivered on time. Overbilling or delays not only inconvenience consumers but also diminish their confidence in the system, affecting their willingness to pay. Concrete efforts must be made by all, from Discom to feeder, to ensure timely and accurate billing and effective communication with consumers to achieve this goal, he stressed. Line losses are steadily decreasing due to strategic efforts. It is essential to combat electricity theft and monitor the performance of meter readers. We must ensure that no consumer faces harassment under the guise of meter checks or outstanding bills, maintaining a goodwill approach in all interactions, he added. There was considerable enthusiasm for the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijlee Yojana, with over 18 lakh people having registered for the programme, Yogi said. It is important to promote this scheme widely and encourage more individuals to take part, he added. The chief minister asked the officials to complete the process of land acquisition for the proposed solar parks in Jhansi, Lalitpur, Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, Chitrakoot and Jalaun expeditiously. Similarly, in accordance with the bio-energy policy, the process of setting up CBG, bio-coal and bio-diesel plants should also be taken forward, he added. Former BJP Delhi President Vijender Gupta along with hundreds of BJP workers protested against the massive hike in the Power Purchase Adjustment Charge (PPAC) by the Delhi Government. He accused the Kejriwal Government of being in collusion with electricity companies and said that by benefiting these companies, the AAP Government is involved in transactions worth crores of rupees, and in return, the electricity companies are looting the common people of Delhi. Protesting outside the Tata Power-DDL in Bawana, Gupta said that the Kejriwal Government is continuously increasing electricity prices under the names of PPAC, various charges, pension surcharges, and fixed charges. Gupta added that the Kejriwal Government, synonymous with corruption, is setting new records of scams. He mentioned that while Kejriwal is in jail due to the liquor scam and is hiring the most expensive lawyers with public money to secure his bail. The money that was meant to solve Delhi's problems and provide services to the people is being spent illegally on lawyers, courts, and extravagant facilities. Further attacking Delhi Government over waterlogging , Gupta said while the public is already struggling with the water crisis, they are now facing waterlogging and severe traffic jams in most areas due to rains. Due to the negligence of the Delhi Government, the barrage of the Munak canal broke, flooding several blocks of Bawana JJ Colony with three feet of water. Gupta highlighted that while the Delhi Jal Board is in debt of Rs 72,000 crore, the DTC's condition has deteriorated due to the bus procurement scam. Additionally, the government-funded colleges in Delhi are on the verge of closure. A massive fire broke out at a cafe in east Delhi's Mayur Vihar and also gutted several shops on the building's upper floors. A fireman has been reportedly injured in the matter. The blaze, which erupted at the cafe located on the building's ground floor on Sunday night, spread rapidly and engulfed stores on first and second floors. An official of the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said that the fire is under control but three to four fire tenders are still at the location and the cooling process is underway. "We received a call regarding fire at a cafe and school uniform store at 11.40 pm on Sunday in Phase 2 and Pocket B of Mayur Vihar area," the official said. "We rushed 25 fire tenders to the spot. One person was rescued from the terrace of the building," he said. DCP East Apoorva Gupta said, Two brothers Amar Preet Singh and Suman Jeet Singh, who have three shops on first and second floors, had shut down their shops at 9.30 pm and went home. At about 11.30 pm, they were informed by some locals regarding the fire in their shops, after which they alerted the Pandav Nagar police station. A fireman has been injured in the incident as he slipped and fell while trying to douse the fire. The fire erupted in the cafe on the ground floor and spread to the remaining two floors, she added. The SHO of Police Station Pandav Nagar along with local police staff is also present at spot. The DCP further said the fire is now under control but is yet to be doused completely, adding that the cause of fire has not been ascertained so far. Senior Delhi BJP leaders and workers on Monday protested at 14 major offices of AAP supported power discoms in different parts of the city against the Power Purchase Agreement Charge (PPAC), Pension Surcharge, Meter Charge and Load Surcharge which are making the electricity bills hefty. State BJP President Virendra Sachdeva accused the AAP government of looting the Delhiites and said In the name of electricity surcharge, the Arvind Kejriwal government has continuously cheated the people of Delhi. The protestors raised slogans of Kejriwal Delhiwalo ko lootna band karo and PPAC and pension surcharge wapis lo while carrying posters which had written Delhi sarkar ka janta se jhoot aur bijli company ki loot He alleged that the Delhi government is in connivance with power companies and has been looting Delhi for the last 10 years. Every consumer who is paying electricity bill, more than 50 per cent of the money is going into the pockets of Arvind Kejriwal and power companies in the name of surcharges, he claimed. Sachdeva accused kejriwal of imposing the PPAC on the people of Delhi and said, At the behest of Kejriwal government, the electricity companies are collecting pensions of their retired employees from the consumers of Delhi in the name of pension trust, whereas giving pension is the job of the electricity company and not the people of Delhi. He added that as long as the loot will continue so will the protest of BJP. Delhi BJP MLAs Om Prakash Sharma, Abhay Verma and Anil Bajpai said that while we are participating in the Jan Sangharsh started by the state BJP against the rigging of electricity bills, we will also raise this issue of loot of the public in the Monsoon Session of Delhi Vidhan Sabha. South Delhi BJP MP Ramveer Singh Bidhuri addressed the protesting workers and said, Arvind Kejriwal came to power with the promise of auditing the accounts of power companies but today the Delhi government and power companies are seen to be equal partners in looting the electricity bills of the public. West Delhi BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat addressed the protest organised outside KV Grid Sub Station at Najafgarh and said, Arvind Kejriwal has ruled Delhi for the last 10 years by just telling lies and during this time he has looted the pockets of the people of Delhi in the name of electricity bills. New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj addressed the protest led by District President Sunil Kakkar outside 33 KV Substation building at Karol Bagh and alleged that in the last few years a worrying partnership is visible between the Kejriwal Government and private Discoms. South Delhi BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri addressed a workers' conference in Delhis Bijwasan area ahead of the legislative assembly election in the national Capital and said that after securing a third term for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government at the center, it is now time to give BJP a chance in the city. He claimed that only BJP can fulfill the dream of making the capital a world-class city.While addressing the party workers, Bidhuri said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has implemented welfare schemes across the country, but the Kejriwal government has deprived Delhi of these benefits. The Delhi government is deeply corrupt and has failed on every front. The former Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi assembly urged the workers to work hard to ensure BJP's victory in the upcoming assembly elections next year to free the city from this government while requesting Delhi residents to give BJP a chance so that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of making Delhi a world-class city can be realized. The program was presided over by former MLA Satprakash Rana. Bidhuri thanked Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Delhi Development Authority Vice Chairman Subhashish Panda for approving a fund of Rs 1,000 crore for the development of Delhi's villages. Development work has begun in Bijwasan with a budget of Rs 30 crore, and similar projects will be initiated in other villages in the coming days, he stated. Amid the Tihar jail authorities and AAP leaders being at loggerhead regarding the health of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the prison authorities on Monday said Kejriwal lost only two kg in prison and that he was being regularly monitored by an AIIMS medical board, refuting the AAP's claims that his health is deteriorating and has lost 8.5 kg in jail since his arrest. In a report sent to the Delhi government's Home Department, the Tihar administration shared Kejriwal's vitals and said that the narrative created by AAP ministers and leaders "confuses and misleads the public". He has not lost 8.5 KGs weight in jail, as is being touted by AAP Ministers, MP and others, it claimed. The report by the jail authorities stated that Kejriwal weighed 65 kg when he first came to prison on April 1 and 66 kg between April 8 and 29. When he returned to prison on June 2 after a 21-day bail, his weight was 63.5 kg. "On July 14, his weight was 61.5 kg. So, effectively, he lost 2 kg," the report stated. It stated that while he has been eating home-cooked food in jail, he has been returning food sent from his home routinely since June 3, from the very next day that he came back to jail after election campaigning. It may be noted that in his earlier stint in jail, he was deliberately eating food that would spike his sugar levels, it said. A medical board of AIIMS has been constantly monitoring the chief minister and his wife Sunita Kejriwal remains in regular touch with the board, the report stated. The prison administration said in its report that the AAP's narrative with "false information and ulterior motive" was intended to "browbeat" it. The blood pressure and sugar levels and weight of the accused is regularly being monitored and he is provided adequate treatment for all his ailments and is regularly having home-cooked food thrice a day. "These facts are brought on record in the light of the media vilification being carried out by vested interest groups," it said. Meanwhile,senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged the BJP was playing with Kejriwal's life. It is a crime to "leak" someone's medical report and there should be a probe into this, he said. Even the medical report "leaked" by the Tihar jail authorities to the media states that he lost weight and suffered multiple hypoglycemia episodes in prison, he said. "Something untoward might happen someday and he (Kejriwal) could slip into a coma. Since his custody, his blood sugar has dropped below 50 mg/dL on five occasions in the night," the AAP MP claimed.Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy 2021-22. He was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case related to the alleged scam from Tihar jail on June 26. The chief minister was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on Friday in the money laundering case but he remains in jail in the CBI case. The Central government has commended the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government for its progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission. On Monday, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil reviewed the missions progress in UP during a meeting in New Delhi. Patil lauded Uttar Pradesh, saying, UP has effectively implemented the campaign to provide tap water to every household. Now, it is crucial to raise awareness among the villagers about the value of every drop of water and the importance of its conservation. He urged UP to launch a dedicated campaign for this purpose. Principal Secretary (Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply) Anurag Shrivastava was present on behalf of the Yogi government. He highlighted how, despite numerous challenges, UP had successfully provided water connections to most families in the Vindhya and Bundelkhand regions. He also detailed the progress of the scheme in Purvanchal, west Uttar Pradesh, and other areas of the state. The Union minister praised UP's achievements, noting that it was unimaginable that women in Bundelkhand would no longer have to carry water. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, we have achieved this, he said. In its presentation, the UP government reported that as of Monday, 2,23,86,760 (84.19 per cent) rural families have received tap connections under the Har Ghar Nal Se Jal Yojana, benefiting 13,43,20,560 villagers. Before 2019, only 5,16,221 rural families had access to tap water. The meeting was attended by Union Minister CR Patil, UP Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, Union Minister of State V Somanna, Dr Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, Secretary, Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Vini Mahajan, UP Principal Secretary Anurag Shrivastava and others. Status of progress of Jal Jeevan Mission in Bundelkhand: Mahoba (99.64 per cent), Jhansi (98.92 per cent), Lalitpur (99.4 per cent), Chitrakoot (98.76 per cent), Banda (99.01 per cent), Jalaun (94.37 per cent), Hamirpur (98.75 per cent). Status of progress in Vindhya region: Mirzapur (97.43 per cent), Sonbhadra (77.11 per cent), Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said necessary steps should be taken to develop all municipal corporations, including Ayodhya, as 'solar cities'. The UP CM conducted a review of the current status of power generation, transmission and distribution in the state. UP Energy Minister A K Sharma was also present in the meeting which focused on the ongoing efforts and future plans. Senior officials and engineers of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) and all Discoms (distribution companies) were in attendance, the UP government said in a statement. Adityanath informed that there is considerable enthusiasm for the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijlee Yojana, with over 18 lakh people having registered for the programme. It is important to promote this scheme widely and encourage more individuals to take part in this, he added. The UP CM directed to complete the process of land acquisition for the proposed solar parks in Jhansi, Lalitpur, Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, Chitrakoot and Jalaun expeditiously, the statement said. Speaking on this occasion, Adityanath said, "Under the leadership of the honourable Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), the state has achieved the goal of 'Sabko Bijli-Nirbadh Bijli' (uninterrupted supply of electricity to all) in the last seven years. Electricity now reaches every village and majra, ensuring equitable distribution without any VIP culture. "It is gratifying that currently, electricity is supplied without discrimination. Especially during the intense heat, additional efforts were made to ensure convenience for the public, with round-the-clock electricity provided statewide from March 15 to June 30," the chief minister said. He said in addition to various hydropower projects, 22 thermal projects are successfully operational in the state and they are located in Anpara, Harduaganj, Obra, Parichha and Jawaharpur. The construction of units in Ghatampur, Panki, Obra-C and Jawaharpur should be completed fast, he added. The UP chief minister directed that a study should be conducted to explore the feasibility of establishing pump storage plants at Rihand Dam, Obra reservoir and nearby areas. He said the electricity demand is growing rapidly, with peak demand rising from 20,062 MW in 2018-19 to 30,618 MW on June 13 this year. To meet public needs, uninterrupted power supply was ensured during the summer. It is essential to provide adequate power supply in accordance with demand, he said. Adityanath said the primary challenge faced by the UPPCL is to accurately and promptly issue bills and collect payments from all consumers. He said it is crucial that no consumer receives an incorrect electricity bill and that all bills are delivered on time. Over-billing or delays not only inconvenience the consumers but also diminish their confidence in the system, affecting their willingness to pay, he added. The chief minister said concrete efforts must be made by all, from Discom to feeder, to ensure timely and accurate billing and effective communication with consumers is essential to achieve this goal. Referring to line losses, Adityanath said they are are steadily decreasing due to strategic efforts. "It is essential to combat electricity theft and monitor the performance of meter readers. We must ensure that no consumer faces harassment under the guise of meter checks or outstanding bills, maintaining a goodwill approach in all interactions," he said. Chinas surveyed urban jobless rate stands at 5.1% in H1, an improvement from last year Global Times) 14:41, July 15, 2024 The surveyed average urban unemployment rate in China came in at 5.1 percent in the first half of 2024, down 0.2 percentage points from the same period last year, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Monday. The country's employment situation has maintained stability in the first half of 2024, a spokesperson with the NBS noted on Monday. "Economic growth, especially continuous recovery in the labor-intensive services sector provides solid support for steadily expanding employment. Policies to prioritize employment continue to produce results, while the boom of emerging industries and new business models give a boost to new types of jobs," the spokesperson said. Since the second quarter, the country's employment rate has stabilized at 5 percent, with wholesale and retail consumption, catering and hospitality, and transport and other service industries seeing gains in created jobs, the NBS data showed. The artificial intelligence boom has led to significant increases in both job opportunities and compensation, as demand for tech talent remains high in China. In the first half of the year, China's national per capita disposable income of households reached 20,733 yuan ($2,855), marking a nominal growth of 5.4 percent year-on-year. Real growth was 5.3 percent after deducting price factors, the data showed. Employment has been a priority for the policymakers. This year, China aims to create over 12 million jobs in urban areas and keep the surveyed urban unemployment rate at about 5.5 percent. The government has rolled out multiple measures to ensure a robust job market this year and provide more assistance to key groups, which includes college graduates and migrant workers. In May, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security unveiled a plan to offer community-level jobs for 34,400 college graduates this year, including jobs in education, agriculture, medical care, and other sectors. China has invested 11.5 billion yuan so far this year to generate 250,000 jobs for rural residents, said the National Development and Reform Commission earlier. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan) Delhi Police on Monday filed a supplementary charge sheet before a court here in the Parliament security breach case. The charge sheet was filed before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur after obtaining sanction to prosecute all accused under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The court listed the matter for arguments on cognisance for August 2. It all extended the judicial custody of all accused till the next hearing. President Joe Biden on Sunday appealed for the country to unite as one nation after the attempted assassination of his predecessor, Donald Trump, and said he was ordering an independent security review of how such an attack could have happened. Biden delivered short afternoon remarks from the White House after receiving a briefing on the investigation in the Situation Room. He called for a thorough and swift" review and asked the public not to make assumptions about the shooter's motives or affiliations. The president said he has also directed the U.S. Secret Service to review all security measures for the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday in Milwaukee. Hours later, Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, the Secret Service's coordinator for the convention, said the weekend attack against Trump did not prompt any changes to the agency's security plan for the event and that officials are fully prepared. In his remarks, Biden said that an assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation. "It's not who we are as a nation. It's not American. And we cannot allow this to happen," he said. Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is more important than that right now." Biden planned to deliver extended remarks to the nation Sunday evening in an address from the Oval Office. His campaign said the president would touch on the need for every American to come together to not just condemn, but put to an end to political violence in this country. In the meantime, the president said he and first lady Jill Biden were praying for the family of Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief who was shot and killed during the Trump rally Saturday night in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was protecting his family from the bullets," Biden said. "God love him. The president also said he'd had a short but good conversation with Trump in the hours after the shootings and that he was sincerely grateful that the former president is doing well and recovering. Trump, who has called for national resilience since the shooting, posted on his social media account after Biden's remarks, UNITE AMERICA! Actually achieving unity will be far more challenging, especially in the midst of a bitter presidential campaign. Biden's team is grappling with how to calibrate the path forward after the weekend attack on the very person he is trying to defeat in November's election. Biden, who has set out to brand Trump as a dire threat to democracy and the nation's very founding principles, put a temporary pause on such political messaging. Shortly after Saturday night's attack, Biden's reelection campaign froze all outbound communications and was working to pull down its television ads. The president also postponed a planned trip to Texas on Monday, where he was to speak on the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the Lyndon B. Johnson presidential library. An NBC News interview between Biden and anchor Lester Holt will now occur at the White House, instead of in Texas, as initially planned. Biden's campaign said that, after the NBC interview airs on Monday night, it and the Democratic National Committee will continue drawing the contrast with Trump over the course of the GOP convention even though it remains unclear when ads would resume. Biden also still plans to make a planned trip to Las Vegas, which will include a campaign event on Wednesday. Vice President Kamala Harris nonetheless postponed her planned campaign trip to Florida on Tuesday, where she had been set to meet with Republican women voters. Trump, meanwhile, announced that he was moving up plans to go to Milwaukee and the Republican convention, where criticism of Biden and the Democrats is sure to be searing. The weekend developments were only the latest upheaval in a campaign that has been extraordinarily topsy-turvy in recent weeks. Biden's shaky debate performance on June 27 so spooked his own party that some top surrogates and donors turned on him, and nearly 20 Democratic members of Congress called on the president to leave the race outright. Facing mounting questions about whether he was fit for a second term, Biden and his top advisers have been scrambling to salvage his campaign by adding events around the country and more aggressively criticizing Trump. Saturday's attack upended at least for now that counteroffensive on the cusp of the Republican convention. The campaign also hopes that Sunday's Oval Office address lets Biden further drive home his point about unity while demonstrating leadership that could assuage nervous critics within his own party. We'll debate and we'll disagree, that's not going to change, Biden said in his afternoon remarks. But we'll not lose sight of who we are as Americans. Although investigators are still in the early stages of determining what occurred and why, some Biden critics are calling out the president for telling donors in a private call on Monday that it's time to put Trump in the bullseye. A person familiar with those remarks said the president was trying to make the point that Trump had gotten away with a light public schedule after last month's debate while the president himself faced intense scrutiny. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to more freely discuss private conversations. In the donor call, Biden said: I have one job and that's to beat Donald Trump . A County Derry beach was named among the best 50 UK beaches, according to The Times. Benone Beach has made the top 50 after a rigorous exploration by Chris Haslam, chief travel writer for The Sunday Times. A huge selling point for Mr. Haslam was the ability to park your car on the sand, with the tedious hike back to the car to fetch whatever you left behind in the car park a nonexistent problem. Mr. Haslam believes this unique quality is incomparable to other beaches in the UK and has sympathy for the population of Derry when they go elsewhere in the country and dont have the ability to park on the beach. And what pleased the travel writer was the respect shown by visitors when they are with their family or driving up and down the beach. Everyone ensures the beach is not spoiled for others. But while this advantage is possible at Portstewart Strand and Downhill Beach in Castlerock, Mr. Haslam believes it is incomparable to Benone. Benone is a special spot to watch storms, a selling point to Mr. Haslam, with the Time chief travel writer curious as to what brings people to the beach on a Tuesday night to drink a cup of tea and stare out towards the sea. The travel writer said: You get a feeling there is a lot of poetry going on in peoples minds. There is clearly a deep love for that beach. And all beachgoers in Northern Ireland and further afield will be encouraged by the quality of the water, which Mr. Haslam rated as excellent. The Co. Derry beach is one of four beaches in Northern Ireland that made the list. Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, was the regional winner, while White Park Bay Beach in Antrim and Murlough, Co. Down, also made the list. But Mr. Haslam concluded: Benone is quintessentially Derry. Derry's Nerve Centre have announced plans to publish award-winning local author and playwright Dave Duggans new work of creative nonfiction, Journeywork, a Creative Life, to coincide with the annual Foyle Film Festival in November 2024. Dave Duggan presents Journeywork, a Creative Life thirteen essays on the arc of a creative life. Each essay is a chapter in its own right, combining memoir, medical matters and creative practice and theory. The tone is humane, engaging, and serious, without being academic. Duggan is a novelist and dramatist living in Derry, who has published several novels in both English and Irish. His detective novel Oak and Stone (Merdog Books, 2019) was listed among the best international detective novels of the year by The Irish Times. The longstanding partnership spanning 30 years between Duggan and Nerve Centre, has produced numerous collaborative projects including Dance Lexie Dance, which was nominated for an Oscar. This book represents a continuation of this relationship, showcasing Duggans multifaceted creative talents and the Nerve Centres commitment to changing lives through creative technologies and the arts. Pearse Moore, Chief Executive of Nerve Centre, said: "Creativity is at the core of our work across film, music and digital technologies. When we heard that Dave was working on a set of essays exploring creativity and his professional journey, we immediately knew we wanted to publish it. Our skills in production and distribution, combined with our longstanding collaboration with Dave including masterclasses, a major digital artwork alongside our in-house animator John McCloskey and delivery of a slate of community education videos, make this project another perfect partnership opportunity. Journeywork: a Creative Life is aimed at general adult readers, including creatives who are practising, emerging and aspiring. The essays feature travel stories interwoven with health challenges, work achievements and disappointments. It serves as a case study in how one person creates works of imagination while earning a living and maintaining a family, with all the ordinary ups and downs of such a life. Dave Duggan, writer said: "Im delighted to be working with Nerve Centre on my new book. With novels and plays and a family memoir published, I was ready to write in a new form for methe personal essay." Journeywork: A Creative Life will be launched to coincide with the annual Foyle Film Festival in November 2024. The book can be purchased now via Nerve Centres website for a reduced price of 9.99. https://bit.ly/4buMWdS Advance purchasers will receive exclusive extracts including the books foreword in advance of the official launch and release in November. As the curtains closed on another school year, a group of students from St Josephs Boys School marked the end of term with a very special event at the Millennium Forum. The group of 30 boys from year 9 and 10 have been taking part in a drama project this year in partnership with the education team at the theatre, designed to promote creative learning within the school. At the end of term event, the Millennium Forum screened films, developed by the students as part of a yearlong programme of activities, funded by the Creative Schools Partnership. Supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through National Lottery funding and the Education Authority, St Josephs are one of 11 schools taking part in the Creative Schools Partnership. The pioneering arts-based programme is designed to promote creative learning in schools, pairing student groups with professional artists and organisations to develop new skills and enhance their educational development. Over the last 12 months students at St Josephs have had the opportunity to train with theatre professionals, gaining an insight into what it takes to stage a production, and attended a number of theatre shows. The boys also worked closely with actor and former St Josephs Boys School pupil Andrew Doherty to hone their acting skills, before penning their own stories, which they then shot and edited into short films. Ciara McCallion, Head of Drama at St Josephs Boys School said the experience has had a huge impact on students. She commented: This Creative Schools project has influenced each and every one of our pupils. The Millennium Forum has welcomed our students with open arms and offered them all a chance to fully embrace the arts at their local theatre. All of the boys have grown in confidence and now have an insight and understanding on everything that goes into producing a theatre show. Over recent months the boys have enjoyed exclusive backstage tours of the theatre, participated in a stage combat workshop, an acting masterclass with one of the cast from the West End musical, Sister Act, experienced a dance masterclass with Shrek The Musicals Dance Captain and had Q&A sessions with the cast of some of the Forums biggest touring productions (Sister Act, Shrek and The Woman In Black). Cara McCartney, Development & Creative Engagement Manager at the Millennium Forum said: We're absolutely thrilled that St Joseph's Boys School has teamed up with the Millennium Forum for their creative learning adventure. This perfectly aligns with our goal of introducing young minds to the world of the arts. We are passionate about nurturing young talents and we pride ourselves in developing close partnerships with our local schools community. "We know that when young people dive into the arts, they discover the power of self-expression and build resilience, often sparking a lifelong love for the theatre and the arts. I am confident that this project will positively impact the lives of the young people involved and we look forward to working with them for the remainder of this project. St Josephs Boys School was one of eleven schools located in identified urban village areas awarded funding through the Creative Schools Programme in 2022. Each of the schools was awarded up to 15,000 of funding to develop a two-year arts-led project which would connect with the school curriculum and support student development. Gilly Campbell, joint Director of Arts Development at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland commented: The Arts Council, together with Education Authority, is delighted to support this innovative project through the Creative Schools Partnership Programme. Working with the team at the Millennium Forum, the students have learned about all aspects of theatre and what it takes to write and develop stories to be screened on stage and screen. "The Creative Schools Programme is all about giving students opportunities to learn that they wouldnt normally have in the classroom and the group at St Josephs has worked incredibly hard to grow and develop their confidence and skills over the last year. They should be hugely proud of the work they have produced. Ciara McCallion, Head of Drama at St Jospeph's Boys School, and students are pictured with Mags Anderson, Education and Schools Marketing Officer, Millennium Forum. The eleven schools taking part in the Creative Schools Partnership Programme are Lisneal College, Belfast Boys Model School, St Josephs Boys School, Blessed Trinity College, Ashfield Girls High School, St Cecilias College, Mercy College Belfast, St Vincents Centre, Belfast Model School for Girls, Malone Integrated College, and St Colms High School. Marie ODonoghue, Creative Schools Programme Manager, commented: This genuine and strong partnership between St. Josephs and their local theatre is a testament to the collaborations being driven by the Creative Schools partnership programme and reflects the innovative approaches for learning when government bodies work together. "The chance to work alongside creative professionals has both raised aspirations and opened up a new world of possibilities for these students. This immersive experience has enabled them to be much more aware of the skills they can develop and the possible future employment that is on their doorstep. "Creating partnerships between schools and creative professionals has the capacity to bring about change, not just in approaches to learning but also in how young people think about their future. Colour, culture and community will be among the key ingredients of a family fun day being organised by the North West Migrants Forum. A packed programme of events is being compiled for the event taking place in Derrys Brooke Park on July 27. At the heart of the day out is an opportunity for locals to meet their neighbours, learn about different cultures and most importantly to have fun. Paul Sceeny is Interim Manager of the North West Migrants Forum. Looking ahead to the community-centred event, he said: Our aim is to bring families from minoritised communities together with local residents so everyone can mix, get to know each other and where their children can play together. The fun day is really just about us creating an opportunity where people from all backgrounds, traditions, religions, ages and abilities can meet up and let their hair down for a few hours. As well as not one but two bouncy castles and a free barbecue, there will be face painting, tricks and treats from In Your Space Circus as well as various arts and crafts stalls. In what will be a fantastic addition to the fun day, local music collective Songs Without Borders has also agreed to put on a singing circle from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Those joining us can expect an afternoon of exciting and enjoyable events with something for everyone, Mr Sceeny added. The North West Migrants Forums last fun day was in Coshquin and brought hundreds of people together. Community Liaison Officer with the North West Migrants Forum, Aynaz Zarif, said she hopes to see similar crowds in Brooke Park. Encouraging as many people as possible to come along, Mrs Zarif reiterated that the event is open to absolutely everyone. We really want as many people as possible to join us and the only thing they will have to bring is a smile. The Migrants Forum team has been working hard putting the programme together and I am delighted with what we have come up with. All we need now is for the weather to play its part. But even if it doesnt, we will have our marquee and gazebos up. This isnt our first fun day and we know all too well how the rain can make life difficult. But rest assured, we are prepared for all eventualities. The North West Migrants family fun day in Brooke Park is on July 27 from 1.00pm to 4.00pm and is open to absolutely everyone. A Westminster alignment of unionist representatives from Northern Ireland with Reform UK MPs would deliver a really big positive for the union, Ben Habib has said. The former deputy leader of Reform UK suggested such a parliamentary arrangement could create a powerful voice for unionism in the House of Commons. Mr Habibs comments come as TUV leader and newly elected North Antrim MP Jim Allister considers whether to take the Reform UK whip in the Commons a move that would effectively boost the strength of Nigel Farages party to six MPs. Former MEP Mr Habib suggested a wider parliamentary link-up should be contemplated one that would incorporate the DUPs five MPs, the sole Ulster Unionist Robin Swann and independent unionist MP for North Down Alex Easton. Mr Habib said Mr Allister taking the Reform UK whip would see his party having six representatives who were all genuinely pro-unionists fighting for Great Britain and Northern Irelands union. And I think that would give it the dominant voice in Parliament, particularly given how erudite and articulate Jim and Nigel are, he told BBC Radio Ulsters Talkback programme. And that I think would then, whether they like it or not, get the DUP to swing in behind Reform UK and, all of a sudden, youve then got 11 MPs singing for the Union. And it becomes quite difficult for the UUP MP and Alex Easton also not to swing in behind, so you get 13 MPs and I see that as the upside of this election. Everyone feared that the unionist vote would get split by Jim Allister and TUV standing in the 14 constituencies (in Northern Ireland) in which they stood but if this complexion of arrangements can emerge in the Commons, actually unionisms representation in Parliament will be much greater than it was in the previous parliament. And youll have two of the most articulate speakers making the case for the Union. So, I hope that this will turn out to be a really big positive thing for the union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. TUV and Reform UK had an electoral alliance in the recent General Election. However, that arrangement was thrown into confusion when Mr Farage, shortly after taking over the leadership, declared his personal backing for two DUP candidates in the election, including Ian Paisley who was running against Mr Allister in North Antrim. Despite that episode, Mr Allister defeated Mr Paisley in the shock result of the election in Northern Ireland. Mr Habib was last week stood down as deputy leader of Reform UK as Mr Farage moved former leader Richard Tice into that role. Following his sacking, Mr Habib has called for more democratisation around decision-making within Reform UK. He said he would not be quitting the party in the short term, but indicated his future in Reform UK depended on changes coming about. I will not leave the battlefield, he said. I hope, as many millions of people in this country do, that Reform will go on from strength to strength, and I hope that I would be part of that ride. But a critical component now I think for that ride is that Reform democratises. And I just want to see what shape and form that democratisation process produces. US President Joe Biden US President Joe Biden sent out a video message, addressing American citizens after a failed assassination attempt on his rival and former US President Donald Trump, urging people to "lower the temperature" of US politics and "take a step back." "We are not enemies, we are friends, neighbours, co-workers and most importantly we are fellow Americans, we must stand together. Yesterday's shooting in Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania calls on all of us to take a step back," Biden said in a rare address on Sunday. Speaking about the US Republican Presidential candidate's condition, he said: "Thankfully Trump is out of danger and is doing well, I spoke to him last night." Stressing that the "violence shouldn't be normalised" in America, the 81-year-old Democrat said: "There's no place in America for this kind of violence or for any violence ever," adding that the political rhetoric in the country has "gotten very heated. It's time to cool down." "Yes, we have deeply felt strong disagreements...Disagreement is inevitable in American democracy. Its part of human nature," said Biden, adding that politics must "never be a literal battlefield, or God forbid, a killing field. "We debate and disagree, we compare and contrast the character, candidates, the records, issue, the agenda, the vision for America. But in America, we resolve our differences at the ballot box," he added. The US President said: "Hate must not have a safe harbour. We cannot allow misinformation to spread or foreign actors to fuel the flames of our division in order to achieve outcomes that serve their interests, not ours. Let us remember that our unity is the main goal here in America right now." About the ongoing investigation of the shooting incident, Biden informed that the motive of the shooter is yet to be revealed, and there is no clue about his opinions and affiliations yet whether he had any help or communicated with someone. Biden also extended his condolences to the families of the people who fell victim to the rally shooting. 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. Samsung's new smartwatches, smart rings bolster its AI ecosystem At the "Galaxy Unpacked 2024" event held in Paris, France, Samsung Electronics not only introduced new foldable smartphone models but also showcased its AI-powered wearable ecosystem. According to information from Samsung and Chosun Biz, the Galaxy Watch 7 focuses on health monitoring and personalized exercise guidance; the Galaxy Watch Ultra is designed for enhanced durability in outdoor activities; the Galaxy Ring uses sensor technology to track key health indicators during sleep. Galaxy Watch 7 adds high-end model for 3nm chip testing The Galaxy Watch 7 enhances the precision of medical and health measurements through AI functionalities. It's the first device to introduce advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) index and sleep apnea detection, features its main competitor, Apple, hasn't realized yet. It also offers heart rate monitoring and over 100 exercise measurement functions. In terms of mobile functionality, the Galaxy Watch 7 leverages Galaxy AI to analyze previous conversation contexts and provide suggested replies, allowing users to conveniently receive and send messages directly from the notification screen. The newly-introduced Galaxy Watch Ultra focuses on high-intensity outdoor activities, supporting 10ATM water resistance and claiming stable usage from -500 meters to 9,000 meters above sea level. It also allows users to set up combination monitoring for sporting activities like triathlons. A significant technological leap in the Galaxy Watch series is the incorporation of Samsung's in-house 3nm process AP, the Exynos W1000. This chip, utilizing Samsung's second-generation GAA 3nm (SF3) process and advanced FOPLP packaging, delivers a 3.7-fold increase in data processing speed compared to its 5nm predecessor. Industry experts view the Galaxy Watch 7 series as a crucial test for Samsung's advanced foundry and packaging technology, with its performance likely influencing perceptions of Samsung's 3nm process and shaping expectations for future Exynos chips. Official reveal of Galaxy Ring signals Samsung's entry into the market Samsung also officially unveiled the Galaxy Ring, with a focus on sleep monitoring. With advanced sleep analysis and algorithms, wearers can check their sleep quality and activities of the previous night each morning, alongside various health indicators such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. Focusing on sleep monitoring, the ring offers advanced sleep analysis and algorithms, allowing users to check their sleep quality and various health indicators each morning. Available in nine sizes and weighing between 2.3 to 3.0 grams, the Galaxy Ring boasts 10ATM water resistance and a battery life of up to seven days. It also integrates with other Galaxy devices, enabling users to control cameras and alarms through simple gestures. Industry analysis suggests that the Galaxy Ring could attract users to transfer to Samsung's ecosystem, boosting smartphone sales. Although the overall market shipment for 2024 is expected to be less than 2 million units, making it a niche market compared to the 163 million units anticipated for smartwatch shipments, the Galaxy Ring has the potential to expand the market thanks to Samsung's extensive distribution network and marketing capabilities. The introduction of AI in these wearable products represents a significant step for Samsung. By integrating AI capabilities into its wearable devices, Samsung not only differentiates itself in the competitive wearable market but also paves the way for the expansion of its AI ecosystem. This move signals a new era in wearable technology, where AI-powered devices offer increasingly personalized and intelligent experiences to users. India faces million-strong tech talent shortage amid AI boom In the wave of digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI), cultivating talent skills has become a priority for governments worldwide. However, analysts predict that India's tech industry will face a shortage of one million high-level professionals in the next 2-3 years. Bloomberg reports that Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President of NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies), states that Indian university graduates can only fill about 25% of the digital talent gap. To meet the demands in AI, big data analysis, and cybersecurity fields, more than half of India's workforce needs retraining. Gupta acknowledges the challenges, noting that the digital industry is rapidly evolving, requiring constant skill updates. It's difficult to achieve adequate training through one-time vocational programs. India's tech industry employs millions, with the tech services sector accounting for 7.5% of the GDP, and playing a crucial role in the local economy. However, some Indian companies report a significant gap between their employees' current skills and actual needs. Accenture, a consulting firm, warns that this phenomenon could threaten the global competitiveness of India's IT industry. Tata Consultancy Services reveals that due to skill gaps, they have 80,000 unfilled positions. They also report that the number of employees receiving AI skill training has doubled. Another major Indian conglomerate, Larsen & Toubro, stated that as of June 2024, their IT and related departments were short of 20,000 engineers. Gupta believes the root of the problem lies in India's education system. Poor conditions in primary and secondary schools, coupled with universities failing to provide practical skills that meet workplace demands contribute to the issue. Former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan has warned that with half of India's 1.4 billion population under 30, unresolved educational issues could severely hinder India's development. This refined version improves clarity and flow while maintaining the essence of the original article. The title "India's Tech Talent Crunch: A Million-Strong Gap Looms in AI Era" captures the main points of the article in a concise and informative manner, highlighting the scale of the problem and its relevance to the current technological landscape. Interoperability with the US? Overhaul awaits Taiwan's defense industry Observing the Chinese military's rapid pace of modernization and the war in Ukraine, where drones and satellites have shown their tactical values, Taiwan is gradually waking up to the reality of modern warfare and has stepped up its modernization pace. For the first time since 2022, Taiwan's defense ministry turned to domestic suppliers in the private sector to build commercial-grade military drones as well as anti-drone systems. A budget of NT$7.13 billion (approximately US$219 million) would be spent to procure around 3,000 reconnaissance drones from the private sector between 2024-2028, while another NT$990 million would be spent to procure 26 anti-drone systems between 2024-25. In September 2023, Taiwan also unveiled its domestically built diesel-electric attack submarine prototype. Known as Hai Kun, the prototype is awaiting the Sea Acceptance Test, and seven others are planned to upgrade Taiwan's submarine fleet. After a long delay, the country's indigenous guided-missile frigate program has also received a fresh boost. Envisioned to be equipped with an equivalent of the Aegis Combat System for naval air defense through a seamlessly integrated radar and missile system, the planned frigate reportedly will procure the AN/SPY-7 active phased array radar from Lockheed Martin. Admiral (retired) Richard Chen, who during his term as the head of Taiwan's Navy between August 2013 and January 2015 kickstarted the massive fleet modernization program, now seeks to initiate an overarching guidance framework for Taiwan's national security in his new role as a lawmaker in Taiwan's legislature. Together with military experts and professionals from various sectors, Chen already coordinated two tabletop exercises in 2023 and 2024, seeking to provide a Common Operational Picture (COP) of Taiwan's national security environment. When it comes to modernizing Taiwan's defense industry, the former admiral also sees the need for an overarching architecture to avoid some of the challenges that have long hindered Taiwan's defense industrial modernization. Caption: Adm. Richard Chen commanded Taiwan's Navy from 2013 to 2015. Credit: MND The delayed indigenous guided-missile frigate program is one of those examples showing the lack of overall guidance: as revealed by Chen, the frigate was originally conceived with a displacement of 6,000 tons but went through various adjustments under subsequent navy commanders. Its displacement was reduced to 4,500 tons, before being further reduced to 2,500 tons. The change in radar requirement - from that of passive phased array (PESA) to active phased array (AESA) further complicated the technical challenges to fit the combat system into an ever smaller ship size. The original 6,000 tons specification was only reintroduced in the latest program adjustment. Referring to the "Ends-Ways-Means" framework first introduced by US Army Colonel Arthur F. Lykke Jr. for strategic planning, Chen observed that the lack of drone doctrine and related field manuals in Taiwan's armed forces are now depriving them of clearly defined objectives, thus impeding drone development and procurement. "Regulations unable to keep up with technology development" "Doctrinal development in the drone world will be a globally shared journey that will come from experimentation and operations like in Ukraine and the Red Sea" observed Lt. General (retired) Steven Rudder, former commanding general of USMC Forces, Pacific, who led a delegation of 27 US defense contractors to participate in the 2024 Taiwan-US Defense Industry Forum in June. "As future warfare demands the assimilation of drones into an operational model, doctrine will be an ever-evolving process in this field, and we must embrace rapid innovation with a matching procurement and fielding strategy," said the former US Marine Corps commanding general, indicating that from US defense industry perspective, the drone environment and technology are changing very rapidly and the challenge is that Industry is innovating faster than the traditional procurement process. Caption: General Steven Rudder served as the Commanding General of the United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. Credit: USMC As the war in Ukraine fuels a new arms race that has already been underway against the backdrop of US-China rivalry, major military powers, especially those in the West, are seeking ways to inject new vitality into their defense sectors that had almost ground to a halt since the Iron Curtain lifted in the early 1990s. In the United States, venture capitals dedicated to the sector have emerged, and new organizations such as the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) were created under the Pentagon to accelerate the battlefield applications of existing or new technologies. To ensure the speed of technology adoption can catch up with that of technology development, of course, there have been efforts to speed up the acquisition process such as the recent US congressional review of the Pentagon's budgeting system - known as the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process. Though Chen perceives room for adjustment in Taiwan's budgeting system and a degree of flexibility in the military buildup process, in Taiwan's case, he sees the main challenge elsewhere. "It's less about the acquisition process failing to keep up with technology development, but more about regulations unable to keep up with technology development," remarked Chen, pointing out that though domestic companies boast the capabilities to produce thousands of drones, the command channel remains undefined. "The radiofrequency for drone command & control is not taken into consideration by the government, and the drone fleet could have no access to enough communication bandwidth when wartime frequency regulations take effect, even if one has thousands of drones." Chen therefore called on Taiwan's defense ministry to request more bandwidth from the governmental agency responsible for spectrum allocation and other telecommunications regulations. Meanwhile, General Rudder sees collaboration opportunities between the US and Taiwanese defense industry in counter-drone and electromagnetic warfare sectors, noting that "both areas go hand in hand with drone operations." Interoperability, a bridge too far? "Taiwan's procurement procedures function well - from the US industry's standing point, the only major challenge is the difficulty in engaging Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense face-to-face. Defense companies struggle to get proper access to present their technologies and discuss them with the end-users," observed Rupert Hammond-Chambers, President of the US-Taiwan Business Council that recently co-hosted the 2024 Taiwan-US Defense Industry Forum. "President Lai's government has some work to do too in inter-agency coordination on a complete response to defense-related priorities," added Hammond-Chambers, calling for a more institutionalized process. Shortly after the forum in June, Washington approved a US$360 million sale of 291 Altius 600M-V loitering munitions as well as 720 Switchblade drones. Caption: Rupert Hammond-Chambers, President of the US-Taiwan Business Council. Credit: CNA "On the drone front, we will continue to bring over a myriad of companies engaged in drone development," said Hammond-Chambers. "Direct engagement is the fastest way to expedite domestic capabilities along with targeted Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases such as MQ-9 Reaper and Switchblade." However, in terms of a common operational picture, there are also challenges. "If Taiwan is going to continue to move towards interoperability with US and allied militaries, they need to utilize a common communications platform - a huge challenge with an, as yet, unclear solution," he observed. Satellite communication - a key component of battlefield communication - is an especially challenging aspect. "Satellite communication is a big and complicated challenge for Taiwan," said Hammond-Chambers, noting that though Taiwan can develop an indigenous satellite solution, it will come with technological boundaries. "Will the platforms and systems that sit on that communication platform be able to communicate and operate with the US and Japan? " Taiwan's own DIU - a springboard to deeper TW-US defense industrial cooperation "Technology is progressing at such a swift pace that it is impossible to conduct R&D on every aspect," Richard Chen replied when asked which technological area should be prioritized as the domestic defense industry pursues autonomy. "When it comes to components like semiconductors, of course, one can source from existing suppliers." However, as the private sector players seek to enter the defense industry, Chen mentioned the need to interface with other weapon systems - a capability traditionally provided by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST). The state-owned NCSIST has long been the main R&D and systems integration center of the Taiwanese defense industry. Even though the private sector is meant to take on a bigger role in the future, the legislator who now sits on the Foreign and National Defense Committee believes the institute will continue to be a key R&D player to ensure that certain critical technologies remain accessible if commercial sources are cut off. As the new government in Taiwan takes steps to emulate the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) that was first launched in 2015 to accelerate the military adoption of dual-use, cutting-edge technologies from the private sector, Chen pointed to risk-aversion as a major institutional challenge to such endeavors. The creation of Taiwan's own DIU nevertheless broadens the potential cooperation scope with the US defense industry. "When we were briefed on the DIU, it was explained as a mechanism to expedite the fielding of new technologies as quickly as possible," said Hammond-Chambers, adding that the Taiwanese DIU's technological priorities remain unknown until it becomes operational. According to the US-Taiwan Business Council president, the US defense industry perceives Taiwan's creation of DIU positively, as they already feel such demand pull from the US. As long as an appropriate organizational structure is in place, Hammond-Chambers believes Taiwan's own DIU should be a mechanism through which the US defense industry can engage with Taiwan, in line with the Pentagon's recent plan to strengthen defense industrial resilience with Indo-Pacific partners via collaborations on capacity expansion, defense innovation, and other dimensions. Home Depot has agreed to pay a $750,000 civil penalty to resolve allegations that it violated state laws governing gift cards, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney's office. Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press Home Depot has agreed to pay a $750,000 civil penalty to resolve allegations that it violated state laws governing gift cards, according to the Sonoma County District Attorneys office. An investigation by prosecutors in several California counties found that the home improvement giant failed to redeem gift cards under $10 when requested in numerous stores, the district attorneys office said. Under state law, gift cards cannot expire and consumers are entitled to redeem any gift card with a cash value of $10 or less. Our office seeks to ensure that businesses comply with laws that are enacted to protect consumers, District Attorney Carla Rodriguez said in a statement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Under the terms of the settlement, which was negotiated in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the company did not admit wrongdoing, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorneys office. In addition to the $750,000 fine, Home Depot stores must begin automatically cashing out gift cards with balances of less than $10, the district attorneys office said. The settlement also requires the company to educate its California employees about gift card redemption and post signs in stores notifying customers of the policy. The civil settlement comes two months after Santa Clara County prosecutors fined Home Depot more than $1.3 million for fire code violations at its South San Jose store. Company representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. India roundup: Indian startup and semiconductor titans team up to bridge skill gap India's semiconductor ecosystem is rapidly growing as international and local firms are expanding investments in the country. Indian startup and semiconductor titans team up to bridge skill gap Semiconductor companies are struggling to find qualified candidates as the industry expands. Perceptives Solutions, a startup, is bridging the gap by setting up Centers of Excellence (COEs) at universities. These COEs provide students with hands-on experience in semiconductor manufacturing and packaging, preparing them for the industry. Perceptives Solutions is working with universities, trainers, and industry partners to create a pipeline of skilled engineers. Japan-based Horiba to establish semiconductor measuring equipment facility in western India According to Business Standard, Japan-based Horiba, a major player in the global semiconductor industry, plans to establish a manufacturing facility in India. This plant will cater to the growing domestic market for chip fabrication, assembly, and testing, as well as for export. L&T acquires Indian IC design startup Larsen & Toubro bought an IC design startup to enhance its IP and engineering capabilities in the semiconductor sector in a series of investments in and acquisitions of India-based chip startups. India IC startup secures US$5 million funding iVP Semi, an India-based IC design house, has recently been established and has secured US$5 million in pre-Series A funding. The startup plans to leverage this investment to establish a production testing facility in Chennai and another undisclosed location in South India. Foxconn steps up new factory development in India, Vietnam, and Mexico As a global leader in ICT manufacturing, Hon Hai (Foxconn) has become a bellwether of relocation trends in the manufacturing industry, as its customers increasingly demand "China+1" and "Taiwan+1" production. Xiaomi aims to double shipments in India in next decade As Xiaomi enters its 10th year in the Indian market, the company hopes to double its product shipments and expand local manufacturing to strengthen its presence in the market. India reportedly asks Apple to consider local production plan for tablets and PCs The Indian government is reportedly urging Apple to increase the range of products manufactured in the country, including iPads and Macs. According to a Money Control report citing unnamed sources, the government is encouraging Apple to produce these devices within the next two years. AirPods could potentially become the next Apple product made in India. Weekly news roundup: Chinese brands dominate domestic smartphone and TV markets; Taiwan fab toolmakers grab major orders These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories in the week of July 8 July 12. Chinese brands dominate smartphone and TV markets via dual circulation strategy The strength of Chinese domestic brands in the electronics sector in China is exceptional, collectively holding over 90% share in the Chinese TV market and over 83% share in the smartphone market. In contrast, international brands like Sony and Samsung have struggled to establish themselves in the Chinese market. The success of Chinese domestic brands is attributed to the country's "domestic-international dual circulation," strategy, which prioritizes domestic consumption (internal) while remaining open to international trade and investment (external). Taiwan fab toolmakers grab major orders from TSMC and China Taiwan-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers, many focused on backend equipment, have seen significant sales despite increased competition. This success is attributed to three main factors: TSMC's capacity expansions for advanced chip manufacturing and packaging, increased orders from Chinese customers due to US-China tensions, and major orders from foreign customers due to overseas expansions supporting TSMC's global fab projects. Indian startup and semiconductor titans team up to bridge skill gap Major semiconductor companies like Kaynes, ARM, AMD, and Marvell have highlighted the challenge of finding the right talent to fill more critical positions as they expand operations in India. Indian startup Perceptives Solutions has joined forces with these industry giants to bridge the skill gap in the semiconductor industry by setting up Centers of Excellence (COEs) at multiple major universities in India, bringing in experienced veterans from overseas to help offer an end-to-end perspective to students. Huawei follows Nvidia's model to develop AI supply chain in China Despite US export control sanctions, Huawei has not given up efforts to break out into new technological sectors, which include AI chips. Hongyi Zhou, chairman and CEO of Internet security company Qihoo 360, believes that Huawei will follow the way of Nvidia and structure its AI business model, including hardware and software, around the "cloud." However, whether Huawei can provide supplies to meet China's demand for computing power and become China's Nvidia remains to be seen. AI server shipments to surge in 2H24 as GPU shortage eases AI server shipments are expected to increase significantly in the second half of 2024 as the shortage of Nvidia H100 GPUs improves, according to sources at Taiwan-based ODMs. In the first half of the year, AI server supply chain players were still dealing with a shortage of materials, despite having the orders. Thanks to improvements in the Nvidia GPU supply, the gap between supply and demand was down to single digits by the end of June, a significant improvement compared with 2023 when the gap was 30-40%. MediaTek to surpass Qualcomm Snapdragon in 5G smartphone market According to a report from Omdia, 5G smartphones equipped with MediaTek processors experienced significant growth in the first quarter of 2024. Shipments increased by 53%, going from 34.7 million units in 2023 to 53.0 million in 2024. In contrast, devices powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon solutions saw shipments only slightly increasing from 47.2 million to 48.3 million units over the same period. MediaTek's growth is largely attributed to the increasing availability of affordable 5G smartphones priced under US$250. SoftBank to acquire British AI chip designer Graphcore for US $500 million Japan's SoftBank Group is acquiring British AI chip designer Graphcore for GBP400 million (approx. US$500 million). This price tag marks a significant discount from Graphcore's US$2.8 billion valuation in 2020. Graphcore, founded in Bristol in 2016, designs large "intelligence processing units" (IPUs) for data centers to assist with AI software processing. The deal is subject to review by the UK, but SoftBank's massive stake in Arm likely smooths the way for the acquisition. Vacaville police officer Matthew Bowen was killed while on duty. A Placer County woman has been charged with murder in his slaying. Vacaville Police Department Solano County prosecutors filed murder charges against a woman accused of killing an on-duty Vacaville police officer during a major traffic collision last week. Serena Rodriguez, 24, is accused of intentionally killing Officer Matthew Bowen while he was conducting a traffic stop Thursday morning just off Interstate 80, Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams announced Monday. Rodriguez, of Auburn (Placer County), was being held without bail Monday afternoon, Abrams said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bowen, a motorcycle patrolman, was beginning the traffic stop when the crash occurred Thursday at 10 a.m. in the area of Leisure Town Road and Orange Drive, police said. He was taken to the Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center across the highway, where he died. He left behind his wife, two sons, parents and brother, police said. On behalf of the Solano County District Attorneys Office, we want to extend our deepest condolences to Officer Matthew Bowens wife, his children, his parents, his extended family, his law enforcement family at the Vacaville Police Department, our law enforcement partners, and our entire community, Abrams said Monday in a statement announcing the charges. Bowen started with the Vacaville Police Department in June 2023 after serving as an officer in Concord. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Maura Fay is to leave The 2 Johnnies Podcast, she confirmed in the latest podcast of the award-winning show which she has produced for six years. Citing heavy travel and work commitments, Maura said she felt she was leaving at the perfect time. In an at times emotional 2 Johnnies Podcast, the producer recounted many highs during her time including stadium gigs and 20,000 fans at their Pints in a Field show. Both Johnny Smacks and Johnny B paid tribute to their producer who was at the helm during a period when they scored a number of successes and garnered awards. "Let me cast your minds back. It's early 2018 and a woman working as a researcher on the Late Late Show rang us to ask if we would be interested in singing our new song, 'The Coppers Song', on the Late Late Show - and they turned us down," recalled Johnny Smacks. "But we stayed in touch with the researcher and that woman is a woman who struggles to pronounce silage... We have seen her choke a grown man out in San Francisco, blind people with her sparkly pants and Pints in a Field," he added. Paying tribute to Maura, Johnny Smacks said since 2018 she has produced the 2 Johnnies Podcast and helped bring it from Johnny B's spare room to being Ireland's number 1 podcast, bringing it all around the world and to stadium performances. "It's been over 6 years of laughs, tears, nights out, awards, hangovers and everything in between. But today is an emotional day," Johnny Smacks said. "I'm breaking up with ye - I'm moving on," Maura said. "It's your last ever 2 Johnnies Podcast," said Johnny B. "Can you believe it?" "Yeah," was Maura's blunt reply, to much laughter. "It's mad though - we have been through so much together," Johnny B said. "I will probably cry at some stage," Maura admitted. Explaining her decision to leave the show, she said: "I have two jobs, technically. And I live in Meath. I have one job in Dublin and one job in Tipperary and the amount of travelling I do, and the amount of work I do - there's been six years of it and something had to give. I got sick with shingles and my sister was like, 'this is brought on by stress'. So then I got a new job with RTE - I am a reporter with the Claire Byrne Show.... And I thought, do you know what - to keep giving the Podcast the love and attention, I'm so proud of everything" she said. Maura briefly choked, much to the delight of the 2 Johnnies, before saying: "There's 20,000 people at Pints in a Field - like how did that happen? This is so insane. And the love from the fans and the appreciation of how this podcast makes their week better". "You always say you want to go out on a high and I think I am leaving at a perfect time and I am so sad to be going. I am leaving the Podcast, but I will still be friends with ye," she told the 2 Johnnies. READ MORE: Producer of 2 Johnnies podcast hits out over remarks after 'slightly booby' Instagram post Johnny B said: "We get messages from people saying how the Podcast has cheered them up. It's so humbling". "Ah completely," Maura agreed. She recalled that in the early days they used to only cover two topics, in a very basic running order and now the podcast series has grown so much. "You're a massive influence on our career," Johnny Smacks said. "So we can't thank you enough". John Miranda, left, and David Moudgil stand in a neighborhood above a UCSF lab-animal colony at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco in May. Miranda and Moudgill believe working at the facility, adjacent to a Superfund cleanup site, has harmed their health. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle A half-dozen current and former workers at a UCSF lab-animal colony in Hunters Point that sits next to the heavily polluted former U.S. Navy shipyard have said in workers compensation claims that they were exposed to radiation and other hazards that triggered lung problems, hypertension and other health complications. The claims, filed in 2020 but only now made public, represent the latest chapter in a long-running controversy over the cleanup of the Superfund waste site, the health of people who have lived or worked nearby, and San Franciscos effort to turn the radioactive former shipyard and and atomic-bomb research site into a waterfront neighborhood. Two of the six workers have settled their injury cases with payouts of $20,000 and $12,500, while the other cases are pending, records show. The claimants who settled did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One claimant, retired 62-year-old animal technician John Miranda who worked at the animal colony from the early 1990s until 2019 rejected a $150,000 settlement offered by UCSF, emails show. Miranda claims heart problems as well as breathing issues. UCSF rejected the workers assertions that they were harmed by radiation or other toxic hazards from the shipyard, and has broadly denied that the shipyard poses any risk to its workers, citing a lack of factual and medical evidence, according to documents obtained via a public records request. UCSF surveys and an external vendor survey have confirmed the Navys determination that the site is not a radiation hazard to UCSF staff working at the site, UCSF spokesperson Kristen Bole said in a statement to the Chronicle. Loading... The current and former workers sought compensation in the wake of a scandal that disrupted a major real-estate project at the former shipyard. Two supervisors at Tetra Tech EC, a contractor the Navy hired to do testing and cleanup at the site, pleaded guilty in federal court to fabricating data and soil samples. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While Tetra Tech EC denied wrongdoing, and is fighting a Department of Justice lawsuit filed in 2018 that seeks repayment of the Navy contract, the Navy decided that much of the shipyard must be retested. That testing is ongoing. The animal colony workers believe they are the first to seek workers compensation over health issues allegedly caused by proximity to the shipyard. Other, separate claims have been made in class-action lawsuits by area residents and by former San Francisco police officers who were stationed in old Navy buildings at the shipyard. Those suits are pending in federal court. The UCSF workers may have a difficult time making their cases. Experts interviewed by the Chronicle cast doubt on any direct connection between the Superfund site and the workers plight, noting the many other potential sources of contamination in the neighborhood. If there is a connection, it will be really difficult to prove, said Kai Vetter, a professor of nuclear engineering at UC Berkeley. It is always difficult to tie specific symptoms to specific causes. There might be correlation, but the causation is always difficult. Advertisement Article continues below this ad UCSF acknowledged that the blue-collar animal-lab technicians may have been harmed by animal dander and other allergens while handling rodents destined for research projects, records show. We have found no hazards in our facilities, other than the allergens, which we mitigated, Bole said. Miranda said in an interview that he and his fellow claimants are pushing for a finding from the state Workers Compensation Appeals Board that their health problems and elevated levels of heavy metals and radioactive material that a urine screening detected in their bodies are connected to the shipyard. They want a guarantee that their future medical bills will be covered. Studies show it can take years for health problems connected to exposure to radiation or heavy metals to manifest. Its a time bomb you dont know when its going to take effect when its in your system, David Moudgil, one of the claimants and a lifelong friend of Mirandas who is still a UCSF employee, said of elevated levels of manganese found in his body by a urine screening. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A nonsmoker, Moudgil said in a phone interview that he developed persistent asthma that requires daily inhaler use while employed at the animal colony. He was there every day from 1987 to 1995, and again multiple times a week since, he said. UCSF definitely had knowledge that theres possibilities there of exposure to toxic materials, he said. But we were never told. Parts of the 450-acre former shipyard were contaminated by fallout from irradiated ships that were brought to Hunters Point after atomic-bomb tests. Extensive radiological research was also carried out there, with Navy scientists authorized to handle weapons-grade uranium and plutonium. The EPA declared the shipyard a Superfund site in 1989. A UCSF lab-animal colony operates at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, now adjacent to a Superfund cleanup site. Some UCSF workers claim they have suffered health problems due to exposure to radiation and other pollutants. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle Agencies including the Navy, which acquired a commercial drydock in the area on the eve of World War II in 1939 and repaired battleships, aircraft carriers, submarines and other craft until 1974, have spent decades since trying to remove contamination said to include petroleum byproducts, heavy metals and pesticides, as well as radioactive elements. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 2004, regulators declared the hilltop portion of the shipyard to be clean. Hundreds of people now live in recently developed housing there. The EPA, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the San Francisco Department of Public Health have each said the hilltop area is safe for residents. While homebuilding on the hill continues, much of the former shipyard remains classified as a Superfund site that must be scoured and cleaned before it can be developed. The USCF animal colony is at 75 Crisp Road, directly adjacent to the Superfund site, separated by a chain-link fence to the south. The Navy once housed animals used in experiments some exposed to extremely high levels of radiation and later buried at sea off the Farallon Islands in the same building, which the Navy named Building 830. The Navy tossed hazardous garbage, including dials painted with radioactive, glow-in-the-dark radium-226, into a landfill located on a parcel of land on the other side of the Superfund property line from the UCSF animal building, EPA documents show. In 1978, the Navy handed over the lab-animal colony to UCSF, records show. The Navy deemed the likelihood of contamination low, and Building 830 was never scanned for radiological hazards, the Navy said in a 2004 report. At the animal colony, where UCSF still houses mice and rats for use in experiments, workers say dust coated their cars and entered the buildings. Some of the dust, they suspect, contained the naturally occurring serpentine asbestos present in the area, disturbed by construction. But the claimants say theres reason to believe they breathed more hazardous material from the site. In August 2000, the landfill, separated from the UCSF complex only by a chain-link fence, caught fire. The blaze burned for more than a month underground, the Navy later acknowledged. From the animal facility, the workers could see greenish-blue smoke, according to their claims. Nobody from UCSF ever told them anything was amiss, they say today. We were out there, working, during the fire, Moudgil said. In 2020, Moudgil, Miranda and two other claimants had their urine tested after they agreed to participate in a biomonitoring survey run by a local physician. Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai, an area resident whose father worked at the shipyard and died from complications she suspects are connected to exposure to hazardous materials there, collected urine from dozens of people who either lived or worked near the shipyard and submitted the samples to Genova Diagnostics, a clinical analysis firm headquartered in North Carolina. The samples included urine from 14 people who worked at the UCSF animal colony. Every test in her survey, funded in part by grants from the Packard Foundation and the California EPA, detected elevated levels of elements documented to be present in shipyard soils, Porter Sumchai testified in the workers compensation cases, according to a copy of her deposition. The elements included heavy metals such as manganese as well as radioactive elements such as uranium, according to copies of results. It was the urine screening, and subsequent assurances from Porter Sumchai that the shipyard was the likely culprit, that led the workers to file their claims. In Mirandas case, later, further urinalysis tests turned up other radioactive elements including cobalt, he said. Prompted by employee concerns raised after the cleanup fraud scandal, UCSF hired an environmental engineering firm, Philotechnics, to do a scan of Building 830. According to a report published in March 2021, a copy of which was provided by UCSF, Philotechnics did not find detectable activity above background radiation inside the animal facility. Despite finding small pockets of detectable activity above background radiation outside, including on a loading dock, in outdoor kennels and on the concrete and soil, the report declared the area suitable for unrestricted occupancy. Experts hired by UCSF in the workmans compensation cases questioned the urine tests accuracy and reliability absent further verification, such as a second urine sample and additional analysis, records show. Most workers compensation cases conclude within a few years. That the UCSF workers cases continue is a demonstration of how unusual they are, said David Lowe, the claimants attorney. At a June 4 hearing, Lowe argued that physicians providing expert analysis to the Workers Compensation Appeals Board should be allowed to consider the results of the biomonitoring survey. This is something that needs to be looked at, he said in an interview. A judge will rule whether the physicians will be allowed to see the urinalysis results at a future hearing, Lowe said. Moudgil told the Chronicle that UCSF should have more clearly communicated the potential hazards at or near the animal colony. We were never told there was natural asbestos in the air, he said. We werent told that youre right next to a deep landfill, full of radioactive junk and other contaminants right next to us under our fence line. Absent some significant action from the city, the Navy or environmental regulators, fears that the area is unsafe and suspicion that authorities are hiding something will likely persist, UC Berkeleys Vetter predicted. The perception of the government and all the actions its taken is really bad, he said. I dont understand why the city and the EPA are not engaging more. Getting into selective colleges may become harder in the coming years, U.S. Census Bureau demographic data suggests. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle If you are entering your junior or senior year of high school and hope to attend a selective college, we have some bad news for you. Getting into top colleges might get a whole lot harder in the next few years, as the number of prime college-age applicants in the U.S. is about to reach a generational peak. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 4.5 million people will be 17 the typical age for entering senior year at the beginning of the 2024 and 2025 school years, up from between 4.3 and 4.4 million over the previous five years. This means that for the next few college cycles, there will be more total eligible students that can apply potentially intensifying competition. The number will drop quickly in the years after 2025. This will impact those that are applying to highly competitive schools the most. Students applying to non-competitive colleges, which admit more people and have less rigid requirements, are less likely to be impacted. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When the population of high school seniors bulges, competition to get into selective colleges becomes fiercer because these schools are selecting from a much larger pool of qualified applicants, said Angel Perez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. California is seeing a similar jump in the number of seniors. In 2024 and 2025, Census Bureau numbers show there could be around 525,000 kids that will be 17 at the start of the school year. Thats higher than any recent year but 2022. California will also see a precipitous decline in senior-age students after 2025. The projections do not take into account those who will immigrate into the United States. However, most first-generation immigrants come too late to make a meaningful bump in traditional age enrollments, according to Nathan Grawe, an economist at Carleton College who has written a book on how demographic shifts are likely to affect the demand for higher education. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The current bulge in 17-year-olds can be traced back to the baby boom that occurred in 2007, according to Peace Bransberger, a senior research analyst at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Experts point to the Great Recession to explain why birth rates fell quickly after 2007. So will it get easier to get into selective colleges for students in the late 2020s and 2030s who are part of smaller cohorts? Not necessarily, experts say. Thats partially because these schools dont need to let in students who dont meet their standards just to get tuition dollars. Highly selective colleges for example, those within the Ivy League depend mostly on endowments, rather than tuition dollars, for their finances, said Perez. These institutions have more agency to reduce the number of students they admit according to population changes. Colleges that are more dependent on tuition to function will likely be hit harder by the decline in students, Perez added. Around 70% of colleges and universities in the United States admit a majority of the students who apply for admission, according to Perez. Those schools' finances may be hit by a lack of students, and forced to shut down programs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nestled among the rugged coast of West Cork, with its copper roofs glistening across the skyline, and original Tibetan architecture, the new Tibetan Buddhist temple at Dzogchen Beara opened its doors to the public at the weekend when it hosted its first retreat. From Friday, July 12 to July 14, teachings were delivered to 280 retreatants who travelled to Dzogchen Beara to attend the first retreat at the new temple. The fully booked event was fittingly led by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, who has been a yearly visitor to Dzogchen Beara. Peter Cornish, who founded Dzogchen Beara, had always held the dream that one day, such a temple would be built on the site, which is 9km west of Castletownbere. Peter and his wife Harriett had always intended to build a retreat centre at the site and had been students of Tibetan Buddhism. In 1992, they gifted the 150 acre site that they had owned for 19 years previously, to a charitable trust under the spiritual guidance of Sogyal Rinpoche. The new temple at Dzogchen Beara. Front Elevation. Picture;Noel Sweeney Peter always reminded the trustees about his intentions to see a temple at the site. In the intervening years, various Tibetan Buddhist monks traveled to Dzogchen Beara to advise on the size of the temple, how it should look, and whereabouts on site should it be built. A sea facing point, slightly to the west of the site was chosen. One of the monks, Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche, a high Lama, was a master of geomancy, the art of placing buildings auspiciously, said that building the temple in the precise spot where the temple now stands would reap many benefits. Dzogchen Beara Directors, Kathryn O'Flaherty, Leon Rossiter, Malcolm MacClancy and Anne Sheehan during the opening weekend of the first retreat to be held at the new Temple. Picture; Noel Sweeney Director of Dzogchen Beara, Malcolm MacClancy, explained Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoches theory in further detail. He said that temples bring different levels of benefit. And some temples, they will bring benefit to the people who have contributed towards the building of the temple. Thats to whom the benefit would go, Malcom explained. Other temples might be just the surrounding area. But this temple, in terms of geomancy, its position at the very southwestern tip of Europe is particularly a power point. "And so he said this temple has the potential to bring benefit to the whole world. And he said protecting against warfare, against famine, against epidemics, and also to be the cause for the teachings of the Buddha to remain for long. So, this particular position, he recognised as a power place. A thousand years ago, the monks who went out to the Skelligs recognised something about this place as being the edge of the known world at that time. They really thought they were at the edge of the world, you know? Dzogchen Beara Director Malcolm MacClancy. Picture; Noel Sweeney Merely a pole marked the spot where the temple would be built and a fundraising campaign to complete the structure was underway. In the background, the impending financial crash of 2008 loomed and things were put on hold. Later donations would come from all over the world. So they cleared the site and then they got a 13 metre mast from a big old boat, I dont know how tall. And they put that up in the centre of the site, marking the space - this is where the temple will be. And then things were put on hold when the global financial meltdown happened. And then shortly after I joined the director team, we put everything into motion,said Malcom. Olan Wycherly of of Wychbro Coppersmiths during the construction of the copper roofs at Dzogchen Beara in January 2022. Picture; Noel Sweeney Since the project was entirely dependent on donations, completion of the building was staggered and all in all it took eight years. The main people behind the temples construction were Brian Murphy of Beara Building Services and DMCA McCarthy Engineers from Bantry with the copper roofs being fabricated by Wychbro Coppersmiths from Clonakilty, Stroker Fabrications from Enniskeane. Theres the Liscannor flag (stone) for all the capstones, theres also Kilkenny blue limestone. And so the materials are Irish, where we could get them. And all of the people who built the temple, as much as possible, there are people from Beara or from the wider Cork area. "We made that a priority, to get people who could do the best work, but find them locally, said Malcom. Dzogchen Beara Director Malcolm MacClancy. Picture; Noel Sweeney One of the challenges of completing such a Tibetan structure was taking a building designed for eastern culture and climate and a Irish landscape and withstand the elements of the wild Atlantic. I always like to say this, that its built to whats called a monumental standard, so theres a ring beam of steel holding the whole thing together, and theres mass concrete, and the roofs are locked down to the steel, so its actually built to last a thousand years: Its not like a building that will be replaced in 200 years. Who knows whats going to happen in the world, but whoevers around in a thousand years, hopefully theyll be finding this temple thats been here for all that time, its kind of mind-blowing. "And if you think of all the people it might benefit in that time? said Malcolm. The new temple at Dzogchen Beara, in County Cork. Picture; Noel Sweeney What I find most interesting from my chat with Malcolm is during a weekend where one of the most significant buildings in the country opened its doors, its business as usual at Dzogchen Beara, no huge fanfare. While there have been some private ceremonial events marking the opening and a relatively low-key event which is open to the public on July 17. The events schedule continues as it has been. The humility exerted by Malcolm at such an auspicious time reminds me of the central message of Dzochen Beara, which he articulated so well as we finish our conversation. Weve had many of the greatest Tibetan teachers come to Ireland, and we will hope that with this temple, we can attract more of them, you know, because their message is one that is profoundly useful to the world today, and without any sense of religious exclusivity, you know? Just how can we understand our mind? How can we understand our emotions? And through that, how can we find lasting happiness and a way to live in peace with one another and with the world around us? For more information about the new Tibetan temple at Dzogchen Beara and the events being hosted there see https://www.dzogchenbeara.org/ When Kevin Aherne opened Sage Restaurant in Midleton in 2007 at the age of 24, he did so with a pioneering concept few other chefs shared. At its core, the ethos of Sages 12 Mile Menu was simple: a young chef showcases seasonally changing hyper-local produce from land and sea on a menu and in a space epitomising contemporary fine dining. In practice, it took dedication and determination while also changing minds and shaping a new gastronomic direction in Irish food. The concept celebrated the artisans that made this vision a daily reality. Kevin, Sage and his 12 Mile Menu represented a compelling nexus: Corks incredible larder meeting an ambitious, talented Cork chef. Late one June evening, I received a message: Kate, heads up, Im going to be closing Sage at the end of July. I replied: Can we talk? When your job is to build genuine relationships with people in an industry you love, you become attuned to noticing certain signs heralding the distant tinkling of alarm bells Reidin and Kevin Aherne, Sage Restaurant in Midleton, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan Earlier this year, Kevin and Reidin (his wife and business partner) announced stepping back from fEast, the hugely successful festival they co-founded celebrating East Cork food. It was time, they said, to hand the reins over to new hands for the festivals next chapter. There was also their Covid pivot, Sage Products, (a range of sauces, dips, condiments and meals to retail) seemingly sprouting legs, arms and Red Bull-like wiiiings. In 2023, Sage Products moved into a new, bigger production facility, and picked up a silver award for their moreish Buttermilk Ranch Dressing at Blas na hEireann. The 16 and a half years of Sage Restaurant had seen off a recession, floods, a pandemic, more floods, and, as I remarked once, undergone more transformations than Madonna, the first of which, Sage 2.0, coincided with their 12-year anniversary. Anyone who owns a restaurant will tell you its not easy, but it was Kevins passion for the ethos of Sage and the community built around it of customers, staff, suppliers and producers that fuelled him for every 6am start and late evening finish. So, I say to Kevin; Talk me through the decision to close Sage. I made a decision a couple of months back; I just felt now is the right time to stop the restaurant and focus all my attention on what Im doing elsewhere. I spoke to Reidin and were both similar in what we were feeling at the time, says Kevin. The new business is very busy; its still getting off the ground, but its taking up a lot of my time. Its a completely different animal to running a restaurant and I felt like I was doing two things and doing both half-assed. Working both businesses meant Kevin was working seven days a week. He and Reidin have two small children, aged four and seven, and the lack of downtime was draining physically, mentally, and emotionally. There was no time off, yet the effect of not being in the restaurant as much was a source of constant worry. I realised I didnt really want to have a restaurant any more when it wasnt 100% of me being at the nucleus of it, he says. The 12 Mile Menu was a massive part of my life for years, and in my professional life, thats probably the happiest Id ever been, and probably the pinnacle of my cooking career thus far. I really loved it, and its so different to what Im doing now that its hard to compare them. Ive gone from foraging in rivers at 6am to being in a production facility at 6am; from a 12 Mile Menu to serving 1200 miles around Ireland. Theyre so different, its hard to fathom how did I go from that to this in a space of five years. Nonetheless, Kevin expresses gratitude for the opportunities Sage Restaurant afforded and for the new, very different opportunities Sage Products now has. Sage Products gives me everything I want in a business: inventiveness, coming up with new products and ideas, meeting people, problem solving, sales. The idea is to grow this business as much as possible and bring it to another level. But this and the restaurant - I just couldnt give enough to either one of them to progress them anymore. I had to make the decision which way it was going to go. Reidin and I did the restaurant for 16 years, but now Im going to be able to give 100% of my time, my effort and my thinking to one business as opposed to two. We just werent giving [the restaurant] the attention it needed anymore; it had reached its pinnacle and achieved more than I ever thought it would, ever. We both know its the right decision, were both happy and content in the decision that weve made, but were still heartbroken. The restaurant will live on in Sage Products and its range of retail products designed by chefs to a restaurant standard. We supply Dunnes Stores, and nationally with Musgraves SuperValu, some independent outlets and we also do some private label for retailers as well. The range includes 12 different dips, sauces and condiments, eight ready meals, and the operation currently employs fourteen staff members. As well as retail, the future plan is to supply into the restaurant trade. The idea is to develop different recipes for how restaurants, cafes and sandwich bars can use our Sage Products range so they will have different arsenals in their kitchen. I use Sage Products in the restaurant; it meant we could keep our prep down which keeps labour cost down increases profit in the kitchen and helps restaurants at a time when its difficult to make money, explains Kevin. We produce good quality Irish products using good quality ingredients at a good costing - no-one else is doing that. Restaurants are struggling to find good chefs, and we can make as many excuses as we want about why, but they just arent there. Restaurants and cafes are having to buy in products to reheat and serve. Thats fine, but Id like to be able to give them the option to purchase a better product than whats currently there and support an Irish business. Its good to hear the excitement in his voice for this new chapter. It signals that Kevin and Reidin are ready to move on. The restaurant ran its course, it did what it was supposed to do, and now its going to do something else. We loved the time we had there, but its seen its season. Sage restaurant closes for the final time on Sunday, July 28, with a bit of a hooley to shake the roof one last time. Cork is to host some of the top comedy acts in the business, with some top British performers due to play here in the autumn. The Cork Comedy Stop will feature four artists from The Comedy Store in October, which, with nearly 45 years of history, is the place to see tomorrows stars today. Eddie Izzard, John Bishop, Jimmy Carr, Rhod Gilbert, and Sarah Millican have all cut their comedy teeth with The Comedy Store, and the acts on stage in Cork follow in those footsteps. On Thursday, October 10, the Cork Comedy Stop will play the Cork Opera House, with four comedians featuring. Micky Overman, Sofie Hagen, Aurie Styla, and Andrew Mensah will all play the Opera House at 8pm that evening, with tickets 25, and booking fees may apply. For details see corkoperahouse.ie. Andrew Mensah will also play Cyprus Avenue the following evening, with doors opening at 7pm and tickets from 23. For details, see cyprusavenue.ie. Healthy Age Friendly Homes, a first-of-its-kind programme to incentivise and enable older adults in Cork to continue living independently, recently marked its official launch. The joint Health and Local Government programme will assist up to 10,500 older adults each year through timely interventions. It is estimated that the programme will result in an annual saving of 41.5m to the State through the prevention of hospitalisation and early or unnecessary admission to long-term residential care. The programmes key partners include the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Age Friendly Ireland, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Pilot Following a two-year pilot period across nine sites including: Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin, Westmeath, Tipperary, Galway City and County, Limerick City and County, Cork County and Longford, the programme will now expanding to all 31 local authorities. Local Healthy Age Friendly Homes coordinators will manage support packages across housing, health, technology, finance, energy efficiency and social/community for each person referred. Home-based assessments will identify a diverse range of supports to enable the older person to continue living independently whether in their own home or more suitable housing. These supports could include housing adaptations, rightsizing to a more appropriate home, and assistive technology such as age-friendly tablets or wearable PanPan. Services It will also provide connections to services such as occupational therapists, social and community groups such as Meals on Wheels and transportation to hospital appointments. Mary Butler, mental health and older people minister, who launched the national rollout, said she was delighted to launch the programme which she said is open to referrals nationwide with local coordinators now in place in each of the 31 local authorities. The pilot phase of the programme has demonstrated that it has and will have a positive impact on the quality of life for our older people and help them to live at home for longer. It is a wonderful example of Slaintecare in action, working across multiple sectors and Government departments to deliver a truly person-centred care programme that tailors supports to the needs of each person. Almost 400 people have donated more than 18,000 in less than a week to a crowdfunding campaign initiated by Crowley Music Shop owner Sheena Crowley, aimed at bringing Rory Gallaghers iconic Fender Stratocaster guitar back to the musicians home city to become the centrepiece of a new music museum on the banks of the Lee. The guitar, now valued at more than 1m, was originally purchased for 100 on an instalment plan by the then-teenage musician after he had been recruited to join a showband. It was sold to him by Sheenas father Michael Crowley, the then proprietor of Crowleys Music Shop. Speaking to The Echo on Sunday, Ms Crowley said that the priority was to get the guitar back to Cork. To house something like that, you would need a substantial building, and if you have that you should have the history of music in Ireland there the history of music matters, right? Rory Gallagher is a huge part of our history because an awful lot of musicians would have developed as a result of listening to him, she said. Museum When put to her that it might be an option to include the music museum in the plans for Corks long-awaited event centre, Ms Crowley did not pour cold water on the proposal. She said that she had approached politicians about the idea of a music museum previously and she had earmarked a building for the project as far back as 2012, but the property had since been sold. However, she said that she had another building in mind for the project which she had often discussed with the late musicians brother and manager, Donal Gallagher. Auction Mr Gallagher announced last week that the famous Stratocaster, as well as the rest of his brothers collection of instruments, would be sold at auction in London this October. On the GoFundMe page, Ms Crowley described the instrument as the magical guitar, and said it meant a great deal to the people of Cork. She added news of the impending auction had caused everyone in Cork and Ireland to gasp with shock and surprise. The top donation so far has been a contribution of 1,000 from Live Nation Ireland, the backers of many leading music festivals. The fundraising page can be found on the GoFundMe website by searching for help Bring Rory Gallahers Strat back to his home town. The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, James Lawless, was joined by Michael Gleeson, KSG CEO, Kenny Jacobs, daa CEO and Niall MacCarthy, Cork Airport Managing Director as he officially opened a new cafe and wine bar at Cork Airport. 'Roasted Notes', which is operated by KSG, opened just in time for the peak summer holiday months of July and August. The premium specialty coffee and wine bar is located in the departures lounge and will open each day at 4am. Uniquely positioned between gates four and five, the new cafe offers panoramic views of the runway. Roasted Notes will offer a range of beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, with an array of red, white, and sparkling wines, draught beers, spirits, and cocktails. It will also offer a range of baked sweet treats, and a selection of grab-and-go sandwiches and savoury snacks, including charcuterie and cheese plates. Michael Gleeson, CEO at KSG said they were delighted to have partnered with Cork Airport on the project. "We look forward to welcoming passengers to our new speciality Coffee House which is located airside at Cork Airport. We are showcasing our coffee roasting capability in Roasted Notes, aligned with an excellent bakery range, sandwiches and salads in a quick service format for passengers. Liam Noone, Head of Munster Operations at KSG added We are thrilled to introduce this specialty coffee dining concept to Cork Airport. This opening represents a significant milestone in our efforts to enhance the dining experience for all travellers passing through Cork Airport. Our exceptional team is looking forward to welcoming you on your next trip. Victoria Dennehy, Commercial Business Development Specialist at Cork Airport said that the new addition will enhance the passenger experience at the airport. Cork Airport is thrilled to work with KSG in delivering the new 'Roasted Notes' cafe and wine bar. Opening at a busy time of year, I know our passengers will really enjoy this new food and beverage experience with delicious coffee, freshly baked treats, sandwiches, and a wide selection of drinks. With comfortable and spacious seating overlooking the runway, I am confident that the Roasted Notes cafe and wine bar will enhance the overall passenger experience immeasurably. Estrellitas Snacks will offer Salvadoran pupusas and other dishes from Oaxaca at its new San Francisco location. Lorena Masso/Provided by Allie Finegan Estrella Gonzalezs hand-shaped pupusas were one of the most popular attractions at the now-shuttered La Cocina Municipal Marketplace, where she ran the Estrellitas Snacks kiosk. Now she is debuting a permanent San Francisco location that celebrates her family history. Estrellitas Snacks opens at its new home at 483 Ellis St. on Tuesday, July 16. Inside, Gonzalez and her team will continue to press pupusas ($6) with over a dozen fillings that include beans, cheese, spinach, zucchini and pork. Her tamales, fried plantains and yucca chips will also make a comeback. The menu is also expanding beyond what Gonzalez offered at the marketplace, with additions like chilaquiles and mole. For Gonzalez, who runs the business along with nine relatives, landing the brick-and-mortar location is significant. She and her mother, Maria from whom Gonzalez says she inherited her entrepreneurial spirit began the business shortly after arriving in the Mission District from Oaxaca, Mexico, by selling plantain chips in Ziploc bags. Advertisement Article continues below this ad During my pregnancy, I had such strong cravings for fried yucca and plantains, but you couldnt find those easily back then, Gonzalez said. My mom made the chips, but we had too many left over. We wondered what we would do with everything. They started with a $20 purchase of oil, salt and several pounds of plantains. Estrella Gonzalez poses for a photo at the La Cocina Municipal Marketplace. She will open her new restaurant on Tuesday. Provided by Allie Finnegan In 2005, the mother and daughter enrolled in the La Cocina incubator program to formalize the business and establish a local presence. For 17 years now, Estrellitas Snacks has sold its pupusas and chips at the Alemany and Civic Center farmers markets, the latter just a few blocks from the new restaurant. Because kiosk vendors at the La Cocina food hall were given about six weeks notice before the space transitioned into a commercial kitchen operation in September 2023, Gonzalez had been desperately searching for a new place to serve her regulars, a mix of Tenderloin neighborhood residents, city workers and students at the nearby UC College of the Law San Francisco. She had previously inquired about the Ellis Street space, formerly halal Uzbek restaurant Marakand, after seeing it online and was able to secure a lease with some staff assistance from La Cocina. The 2,000-square-foot restaurant will have room for 40 seated diners and also serve as a commissary kitchen for catering and packaged goods. Gonzalez is most excited about her new Oaxacan specialties that honor her birthplace. Her mother had settled in the southwestern Mexican state after fleeing El Salvador during the countrys civil war. While growing up in Mexico, Gonzalez stayed in touch with her culinary heritage as Maria operated a restaurant featuring Salvadoran cuisine. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gonzalezs Oaxacan recipes are based on those her mother and staff learned while living there. The house mole ($20) is made from scratch, with over a dozen ingredients including dried chiles, plantain, chocolate, sesame and peanut cooked down into a rich, savory sauce and served over chicken. There are guisados, savory meat and vegetable stews, based on recipes from Gonzalezs Oaxacan sister-in-law. Plates of guisados will be a feature at the new Estrellitas Snacks in San Francisco. Lorena Masso / Provided by Allie Finnegan One eye-catching Oaxacan dish at Estrellitas are tlayudas ($14): paper-thin tortillas the size of a pizza pan that are either served open-face, like a massive tostada, or folded into a taco shape. Gonzalez crisps them up, rubs them with beans then tops them with avocado, cabbage and tomato. A super version ($17) adds spicy pork and dried beef. She is importing the tlayudas from Oaxaca along with quesillo, a melty Oaxacan cheese that comes rolled like a ball of yarn. Going out for tlayudas is one of the most typical things in Oaxaca. They are as important as pupusas are to El Salvador, Gonzalez said. Maria retired from the business some years ago after a stroke, and Gonzalez and the family members who work with her talked over the future of the business. But we decided to continue, Gonzalez said. This is what she wanted. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Estrellitas Snacks. Opening Tuesday, July 16. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. 483 Ellis St., San Francisco. www.estrellitassf.com The organiser of a bus service that brings cataract patients from Cork to Belfast for surgery has said that a 1,000 reduction in the reimbursement will lead to some of them not being able to afford the procedure, and going blind as a result. Independent Ireland leader and Cork South West TD Michael Collins was speaking to The Echo after the 154th bus left Cork bound for Belfast on Saturday morning. Three passengers had contacted him to cancel their trips and operations because of the reduced reimbursement. There were 15 to go on the bus today [Saturday], but because of this cut, two pulled out last night, saying they couldnt afford it, as they were pensioners, said Mr Collins. The bus service has been running since 2017 for patients in Cork and other counties throughout the South-West. While no figures for the waiting list for cataract surgery in the Republic were available last week, figures released by the National Treatment Purchase Figure disclosed that 9,070 adults were awaiting ophthalmology surgery across the State. The reimbursement has been reduced from 1,950 to 863, and patients have been notified in recent weeks. There was a reimbursement there, but the patient always ended up with a shortfall of between 500 and 600, Mr Collins said. That was understood, but that reimbursement was cut by the HSE by almost 1,100. Thats an unmerciful blow to patients. I got an email the other day from a patient begging me to find out if this was true and they cant afford it and they would have to go blind. Mr Collins raised the matter in the Dail last week when putting questions to Taoiseach Simon Harris, and said that the decision could lead to many of our citizens suffering unnecessarily and going blind. The underhanded manner in which the decision was made, overnight and without any form of consultation or transparency, is a disgrace, Mr Collins said. The Governments decision is nothing short of outrageous. Hospitals in southern Ireland are already stretched to the limit and are incapable of providing timely surgeries. Mr Harris, said that nobody wants anyone to lose their sight. There is no political division on that: Everybody wants people to keep their sight and to be able to access cataract treatment. The Taoiseach said he had sought an update on the matter and expected to have it very shortly. Queries have been sent to Cork Kerry Community Healthcare about the number of patients awaiting cataract surgery in the Cork-Kerry region and to the HSE regarding the decision to cut the reimbursement for patients seeking surgery in Belfast. A member of the Irish Defence Forces appeared at Cork District Court today charged in connection with the alleged seizure of more than 25,000 of cocaine at Collins Barracks on Old Youghal Road in Cork. Shane Scanlon of Cooline Heights, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, County Cork, was represented by solicitor Frank Buttimer. As soon as the case relating to alleged offences on March 27 was called in Courtroom 1 today, Mr Buttimer said, This is a case for DPP directions. It is fairly recent. Sergeant John Kelleher said he was looking for more time to get directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Drugs cases often require a lengthy adjournment to allow time for forensic analysis of the items seized. Sgt. Kelleher applied for an adjournment until November 11. Mr Buttimer said that was fine. The case was adjourned by Judge Mary Dorgan until that date. When the case was first before Cork District Court there was no objection to the accused being remanded on bail on condition that he would surrender his passport and not apply for a new one or any travel documents, provide a phone number at which gardai can contact him at all times and sign on at Cobh garda station three times a week. 34-year-old Shane Scanlon is charged with possession of a controlled drug, namely cocaine, at Old Youghal Road in Cork for the purpose of selling or otherwise supplying it to another on March 27. He is also charged with having cocaine unlawfully in his possession for his own use at Old Youghal Road on March 27. Both charges are brought under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Criminal law barristers in Cork and across the country today withdrew their services as part of a campaign to have their pay cuts reversed. Protests have been taking place where criminal cases were due to be heard on Monday, at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, and courthouses in Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Castlebar. The protest is the second of three planned days of action this month. In an unprecedented move, barristers first withdrew their services last October, which led to a restoration of 10% of fees in the budget. However, barristers say the rise did not fully restore their pay following cuts made in the financial crash, and that the breaking of the link to public sector pay agreements has yet to be restored. The Council of The Bar of Ireland said its members are increasingly frustrated at the lack of engagement from Government on the matter. Chairwoman of the council of The Bar of Ireland Sara Phelan SC said there has been no progress in their bid to restore their pay. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform put out a statement saying it was the gift of the Minister for Justice (Helen McEntee) to actually deal with fees, Ms Phelan said. The Minister for Justice is saying nothing can be done ahead of the budget process, so therefore we are in no better position now than we were last week. We have to wait to see what the Government wants to do for us. The ball is very firmly in their court. We are ready, willing and able to engage with them, to talk to them. We have made that very clear, that we remain open to conversation and to engagement in order to avert the third day of protest, which is next week. Orla Meere BL, Liam OBrien BL, Jessica Kelleher BL, Nikki OSullivan BL, Elaine Audley and Fionna ORegan BL protesting outside the Cork Courthouse on Washington St. What we would like is a binding commitment now, that binding commitment could take effect as and of the budget but we would like to see a binding commitment now. We dont believe that that cant be done because public sector pay agreements are completed outside of the budget process from time to time, and there has been one earlier on this year that will take effect with the budget. We dont see why that cant be done in our case as well. She added: My criminal colleagues around the country who practice crime on the circuit, they are increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress. They were very frustrated last October, we had our day of protest, and that resulted in a 10% restoration. That 10% had actually been taken from us in 2011. That 10% hadnt applied to any other sector at that stage. We were uniquely the subject of that cut. However, the government also in the budget committed to engaging with us to review fees and to review the criminal legal aid system. But our review of fees was to be built into that. We wrote to the Minister for Justice in November setting out draft terms of reference for review. There was no real engagement from the Department of Justice. There was one meeting on the 25th of June before our day of protests took place. But that obviously was far too little far too late. Our members now are becoming very, very frustrated. She added:There has been a huge support for these days of protest. The Bar Council can only make a recommendation to its members, but our members in unity have decided to come out and protest last week, this week and next week. The third day of withdrawal of service by criminal law barristers is poised to take place next Wednesday, July 24. A seven-inch penknife resulted in a five-month prison sentence for a Cork man who was acting suspiciously on North Mall in Cork. Garda Enda Cotter observed 39-year-old Jonathan Mason of Willowbank View, Upper Fairhill, Cork, sitting in a car on the day in question. Sergeant John Kelleher said today at Cork District Court that Garda Cotter believed that the defendants actions in the car were suspicious enough to keep him under observation for a while. He then approached the car and informed Mr Mason that there were grounds to search him. The knife was one of the items found. Also found were Alprazolam tablets and cannabis, for which he was previously fined. Today, Sgt Kelleher confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions deemed it a suitable case to be dealt with summarily at the district court. Jonathan Mason appeared in court by video link from prison and said he had the knife for fishing but he did plead guilty to having the knife unlawfully. Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said the offence dated back to October 6, 2021. While the accused is serving another prison sentence at the moment, Mr Burke said Mr Mason was doing very well in prison where he is an enhanced prisoner, working within Mountjoy and attending in treatment for addiction issues. Mr Burke said the defendant now enjoys family support and hopes to get work in construction in Dublin on his release from jail. Judge Mary Dorgan said she would take all of that into consideration but that she also had to be cognisant of his 250 previous convictions, including eight for the possession of knives and numerous counts for possession of drugs and having them for the purpose of sale or supply. The judge imposed a five-month jail term on him on the knife possession charge. Thank you, your honour, I appreciate that I just want to get out and put all this behind me, Jonathan Mason said. A former lord mayor of Cork has called for the banning of a semi-synthetic legal drug that has been cited as a cause of psychosis. Concerns about the drug, which is sold in some vape shops, were raised by a leading HSE expert. The drug, HHC (hexahydrocannabinol), is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid and has been linked to a number of incidents in which children and young people have been become ill after vaping. Fianna Fail councillor Colm Kelleher has written to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly calling for HHC to be banned. There are major concerns within the scientific communities in the US and in Europe, and here at home, that there is a massive risk of psychosis resulting from taking this drug, and Irish hospitals have highlighted two cases of psychotic episodes caused by vaping HHC, Mr Kelleher said. There is a strong intoxication caused by this semi-synthetic drug compared to normal cannabis consumption, there have been reports of people feeling generally unwell, confusion, unconsciousness, depression, outright psychosis, and dependency can develop very quickly, with serious withdrawal symptoms. Mr Kelleher said that HHC was readily available in vape shops for young people to buy, even though the drug had a a dangerous effect on developing brains. He said he believed that the sale of HHC could be curtailed under the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010, legislation that was implemented in response to the emergence of head shops selling legal highs. Professor Eamon Keenan, who is the HSEs national clinical lead for addiction services, told The Echo that HHC is a semi-synthetic drug, meaning that it is extracted from the hemp plant and manipulated in a laboratory. This drug is newly onto the market, and its only since about October 2022 that the European Union Drug Agency (EUDA) has been monitoring presentations and harms associated with it, Professor Keenan said. Were still learning about it, were still seeing different presentations, but what we are seeing has been a significant increase in the number of young people presenting to addiction services with mental-health problems associated with this substance, [including] anxiety and depression. There have been been a number of reports of psychosis relating to the drug. Prof Keenan said that it was his job to advise the Department of Health of the harms relating to the drug. Ive been indicating the presentations with young people, the adolescents and the general health concern that we have with it. He said the department was looking at controlling the drug, something he said would be welcomed from a health perspective. By Jonathan McCambridge and Cate McCurry, PA A number of arrests have been made after Gardai clashed with anti-immigration protesters at a site in north Dublin that is due to be developed to house asylum seekers. Gardai and fire service personnel came under attack with missiles at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock, where a makeshift camp has been set up by anti-immigration protesters. It followed the setting of a number of fires at the site. Videos and pictures posted on social media on Monday showed a digger in flames. The protesters object to the disused building being redeveloped to house asylum seekers. The Garda Public Order Unit as wheelie bins are set alight by protesters (Niall Carson/PA) Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee has said she was appalled by the scenes. The protest camp was set up several months ago to prevent workers from renovating the premises, with people in attendance around the clock. Videos on social media also showed a stand-off between gardai and protesters, while some demonstrators were seen shouting abuse at officers. #Coolock The Malahide Road is closed in both directions near the industrial park as we deal with pallets and construction machinery alight. Three fire engines from Kilbarrack, North Strand and Finglas fire stations along with a turntable ladder are on scene. pic.twitter.com/zBzQxGZay0 Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) July 15, 2024 Masked men and youths were also seen at the site, while a man with a megaphone told the crowd the Government is going to change the constitution. He claimed ministers will change the 39th amendment to take our private property. They are going to ask you if you have a private room and force you to put them in, he said. Dozens of gardai attended the site and formed a line to bar access to protesters. Officers from the Public Order Unit were also in the area. Violence flared as bricks were thrown at Garda officers and the fire service and a bin was set alight. Protesters stand off with gardai after a number of fires have been started at the former site of the Crown Paints factory in Coolock (Niall Carson/PA) Pictures from the scene show a number of people being detained by Gardai, In a social media post, Ms McEntee said: I am appalled at the criminal behaviour that took place in Coolock today. I have spoken to the Garda Commissioner (Drew Harris) and he has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice. I am appalled at the criminal behaviour that took place in Coolock today. I have spoken to the Garda Commissioner and he has assured me that everything will be done to bring those responsible to justice. Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) July 15, 2024 A garda spokesman said: Gardai are currently at the scene of a public order incident at a premises on the Malahide Road, Dublin 17, this morning. The Malahide Road is currently closed and diversions are in place. As this is an ongoing incident, An Garda Siochana has no further details at this time. Dublin Fire Brigade said: The Malahide Road is closed in both directions near the industrial park as we deal with pallets and construction machinery alight. Three fire engines from Kilbarrack, North Strand and Finglas fire stations along with a turntable ladder are on scene. 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 Diverse applications of new technologies on display at 2024 WAIC 14:51, July 15, 2024 By Xie Weiqun, Shen Wenmin ( People's Daily The 2024 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance was held in Shanghai from July 4 to 6, featuring 107 forums, more than 1,500 exhibits and over 50 launch events. With an exhibition area of more than 52,000 square meters, the conference featured a "full-domain connection hall" of 6,000 square meters for project incubations, procurements and investment matchmaking. Nearly 100 large models were exhibited, and China's first full-sized general-purpose humanoid robot prototype was also launched at the conference. The humanoid robot Optimus developed by Tesla is exhibited at the 2024 World AI Conference (WAIC), east China's Shanghai, July 5, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Xu Kunde) The AI exhibition held during the conference attracted more than 500 renowned enterprises. At the exhibition, visitors were amazed by how new technologies are transforming industries across the board. For instance, a large model developed by Chinese AI software provider SenseTime can bring photos to life, animating figures' expressions and movements in photos to create dynamic videos. Besides, Alipay's smart assistant can quickly answer questions and handle tasks with the command of users. Among the exhibits, there were not just large model application products but technical and service products supporting their operations. INTSIG Information Co. Ltd., an industry-leading tech company specializing in business data, AI, and mobile applications, has launched a large model accelerator that can speed up pre-training, corpus development, practical implementation and other processes for large model applications. This accelerator can quickly parse unstructured data from lengthy documents of hundreds of pages and intelligently reconstruct the correct reading order of documents. The conference also featured a dedicated demonstration zone for humanoid robots, showcasing more humanoid robots than ever before. For instance, at the exhibition booth of Robot Era, a robot developer in Beijing, a large screen displaying a humanoid robot climbing the Great Wall attracted huge attention. Besides, the "Healthy Loong" humanoid robot developed in Zhangjiang High-tech Park, Shanghai, announced its open-source status, aiming to advance towards general AI. These novel and impressive humanoid robots made visitors feel as if they were stepping into the future world. According to statistics, the conference received over 300,000 in-person visits and 2 billion online views, an increase of 90 percent from the previous session, setting new records. A robot shows its ability at the exhibition booth of Humanoid Robot (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. at the 2024 World AI Conference, east China's Shanghai, July 5, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Xu Kunde) The advancement of AI technology, while driving economic and social development, has brought risks and challenges, including deepfakes, privacy breaches, and intellectual property disputes. Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, a Turing Award winner and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, believes that the risks of AI manifest in the extension and expansion of cybersecurity threats, as well as in unforeseen social risks. Strengthening global AI governance urgently requires building consensus through dialogue and cooperation. The Shanghai Declaration on Global AI Governance, issued at the conference's opening ceremony, presents China's proposals for global AI governance. This year's WAIC featured the first High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance. Over three days, a total of 1,300 guests from more than 50 countries and regions participated in thematic discussions. Xue Lan, dean of Schwarzman College and head of the Institute for AI International Governance of Tsinghua University, said that to promote global AI governance, it is important to strengthen collaborative governance, expand multi-level and multi-channel bilateral and multilateral exchanges and dialogues, and advance international AI big science cooperation to jointly address the risks and challenges brought by AI technology. A keynote speech is given at a main forum on industrial development of the 2024 World AI Conference (WAIC) held in a meeting hall of the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, in east China's Shanghai, July 4, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Chen Yuyu) This conference featured 107 forums, focusing on topics such as model algorithms and computing power, embodied intelligence, and industrial ecology. When discussing the future development of large models, Zhang Yaqin, dean of the Institute for AI Industry Research, Tsinghua University, outlined several key trends. He said that the development of these models will become multimodal, cross-modal, and multi-scale, predicting that AI will soon be integrated into edge devices like TVs, smartphones, and cars. Moreover, he said that large models will evolve into tools for developing intelligent agents capable of autonomous task planning, code writing, tool manipulation, and path optimization. Zhang further explained that large models have already been applied to enhance the automation and intelligence of physical infrastructure such as transportation systems, communications networks, and power grids, paving the way for embodied intelligence. He also foresaw a future where large models are interfaced directly with biological systems, potentially leading to a groundbreaking fusion of digital, physical, and biological intelligence. It is reported that the 2024 WAIC brought together 132 procurement groups and identified 126 project procurement needs, with an estimated total purchase amount of 15 billion yuan ($2.06 billion). Additionally, 24 major industrial projects were signed up, with a total investment of over 40 billion yuan. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Hongyu) A lengthy criminal inquiry concluded in Brooklyn earlier this month as an inter-agency team apprehended two postal workers and three suspected accomplices accused of unlawfully cashing government checks totaling millions, according to the New York Police Department. On July 10, 'amNewYork Metro' reported a police operation in Flatbush, Brooklyn, where several individuals, one armed, were arrested in the early hours. The five individuals, suspected of involvement in the scam, were transported to the NYPD 84th Precinct in unmarked police vehicles. Among those arrested were Kevaugh Wellington, 31, and Angel Ortiz, 27, both from Jamaica; Fuquan Bradley, 34, from the Bronx; Mark Dawson, 28, from Brooklyn; and Ky-Mani Straker, 24, from Orange, New Jersey. The investigation was initiated when Capital One Bank notified authorities about large checks being deposited into accounts that did not match the intended recipients. The checks, including Social Security benefits, Covid-19 stimulus checks and tax refunds, were then funneled into a limited number of accounts. "In 2022, we became privy, via Capital One, that individuals were ultimately cashing in an inordinate amount of money via international Treasury checks," Janson Savino, NYPD Assistant Chief of Detectives, stated. "A million dollars of these checks were cashed in only approximately 150 accounts. So, start doing the math." None of the names on the checks matched the accounts where they were deposited, prompting the NYPD to form a task force in collaboration with the Secret Service, Treasury Inspector General, postal police, and financial crimes unit, according to Chief Savino. After conducting extensive investigations totaling thousands of hours, the task force traced the suspects' activities to the John F. Kennedy International Airport post office. Chief Savino described the post office as a critical point of compromise, revealing that all the stolen checks had been processed through employees stationed there. According to Savino, the scammers would deposit the checks at a specific ATM before withdrawing the funds from another location to evade detection by the bank. He mentioned that initially, the stolen amount totaled more than $4 million, but upon reviewing the financial records and related documents, they discovered the potential amount could soar to an astonishing $40 million. The suspects have been charged with conspiring to steal government funds, theft of government funds and possession of stolen mail. The United States Attorney's Office reports Wellington has been charged with theft of mail by a postal service employee and Straker has been charged with passing Treasury Checks bearing forged endorsements. A local female rapper was shot and killed while attending the grand opening of her beauty store in California. The Oakland Police Department is investigating to identify the shooter who killed Tan DaGod on Saturday, 'KRON-4' reported. Tan posted on Instagram to her nearly 20,000 followers hours before her death. "We here," the rapper said, beaming. "I got granny in the cut. Don't play with it." Around 5 p.m. on 40th Street and Telegraph Avenue, shots rang out at the Glamor Beauty Supply located in a strip mall. Bystanders ran into a donut shop to take cover. RELATED : Three White Men Who Chased And Fatally Shot A Black Man In Florida Avoid Hate Crime Charges Another gunshot victim arrived at a nearby hospital sometime later and is reportedly expected to be OK. Tan DaGod died at the hospital. The 27-year-old was hosting a meet and greet at the store. According to the 'Bay Area News Group,' the up-and-coming rapper was "getting into a dispute" with another person when the shooting occurred. The owner of a nearby restaurant told 'KRON-4' that a "guy in a hoodie" started shooting. Tan DaGod appeared on Lil Blood's podcast in 2022, describing why she called herself "The GOAT" for a time. "I believe that everybody in here is a god," she said. "I felt like Cali was either going to give me a case, or I was going to wind up hurting somebody, or somebody was going to be trying to hurt me," she said. "When I left I felt twenty times richer." Tan DaGod's death was Oakland's 51st homicide of the year. A car bomb exploded outside a restaurant in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, killing five and injuring 20. The bomb destroyed 10 cars and damaged several buildings near the Presidential Palace. Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the attack. Sunday, July 14, 2024 I am quite certain that when I walk down any street in America, no one can tell whether I am African or African-American. My accent would surely betray my identity, but someone would have to hear me speak for that revelation to occur. Either way, it is pretty likely that many of the prejudices that people hold against black men are often projected onto me. Racism in America has many faces. Some forms of it involve violence that causes grave bodily harm to the victims, or even death in some cases. Thankfully, in most parts of the country today, that kind of bigotry is not as common as it used to be in decades past. The more prevalent type nowadays is race-based discrimination through which people of color are often denied equal treatment in areas such as employment, healthcare, housing, and education. Even without posing physical threat, this kind of prejudice does cause devastating and long-term damage. When people are made to feel that they are somehow inferior to others in their societies, the effect can be quite traumatizing. On top of the unequal access to resources and opportunities, the second-class citizens are often robbed of the self-confidence they need to navigate their worlds. This problem occurs everywhere, not only in America. I have often wondered how my life would have turned out if I had been born in America. When I was growing up in Ghana, my unusually large family lived in extreme poverty in a tiny remote village. Even in that small community, tribalism was present, and it influenced how people related to each other. But its impact was not as pernicious as that of racism because the socio-economic chasm that existed among the tribes wasnt as wide as what prevails in American society. The uniformity of skin color also helped. Most importantly, the schools in Ghana were predominantly government-run institutions so the vast majority of the countrys children received similar teaching in a cultural environment that enabled all kids, regardless of where they lived, to get a good enough basic education. I was able to use that elementary education as a stepping stone to escape the harsh environment into which I was born. The situation is quite different for disadvantaged children in America. Here, K-12 public education is predominantly funded by property taxes so school districts and zip codes determine the quality of education that children from different socio-economic backgrounds receive. Whereas I was quite oblivious to the extent of my poverty and its associated disadvantage relative to children in other parts of Ghana in my early years, poor American kids are fully aware of theirs. By the time I realized how bad my situation was, I was already too deep in the water and had no choice but to swim on. In contrast, Americas disadvantaged children know how heavily the deck is stacked against them, and that often leads most of them to give up even before the race begins. I left my Ghanaian village as a young man and went on a journey that took me to many places around the world before I ended up in America. Along the way, I learned numerous lessons that have formed a toolkit that I use to navigate the American landscape as a person of color. Also, because of my early life in that multi-tribal society, the racism that I witness in America often seems like a familiar movie. I am therefore quite a bit better equipped to deal with it than perhaps native-born blacks in America are. One of my biggest advantages is that I had become quite used to living closely with white people by the time I came to America. When I first arrived in the Soviet Union from Ghana to begin my college studies, I had a Soviet roommate whom I was initially highly suspicious of. I had been warned in Ghana that the Soviets were not very nice people, and that they would be watching my every move while I was in their country. Thus, in my mind, my roommate was a spy that I needed to stay as far away from as I could. I couldnt have been more wrong. Within a short period of time, I realized that my roommate was one of the best human beings anyone could meet anywhere. That was a real education for me. It opened my eyes and encouraged me to interact more freely with the Soviets everywhere I met them in the country. I took that attitude with me on my travels throughout Europe during that period. The overwhelmingly positive experiences I had in my dealings with thousands of white people in those years convinced me that skin color doesnt determine a persons character. I have since become programmed to assume that everyone I meet, regardless of who they are or where they are from, is a good human being until I see concrete evidence to make me believe otherwise. The other benefit I have is that I had a fair amount of high education when I came to America. That facilitated my entry into the kinds of professions that allow people at least some control over the choice of where to live. For most native-born blacks who start life in the kind of poverty that I experienced in my village, those options are often quite limited. Because of racial segregation, many find themselves trapped in poor neighborhoods that are rife with poverty and violent crime. Blacks living in such places have few opportunities to have any interactions with their fellow white citizens. That allows the suspicions that people from different racial groups harbor against each other to endure. The things I witnessed in my classrooms when I taught in an inner-city K-12 public school motivated me to write my memoir, The Boy from Boadua. I want to use it to encourage disadvantaged children in Americaand elsewhereto believe in themselves and know that their situation is not as hopeless as it might seem to them. It is a message that I deliver as strongly as I can whenever I have an opportunity to speak to groups of young people. Inevitably, anytime I speak to young black students, the racial subject comes up. I know that it is a psychological barrier that most of them need to overcome in order to progress academically and in life generally. However, because my life experiences are so different from theirs, I am also aware that it is a topic that I need to broach with great sensitivity in front of such audiences. My approach to that discussion is still evolving, but I hope to find the right balance soon. UPDATE: August 9 at 9:34 a.m. The Miller Peak Fire that started nearly a month ago south of Missoula is now 86% contained, but the cause of the fire is still unknown. The U.S. Forest Service said due to low fire activity on this blaze, they will no longer be sending out daily updates. At the time of its final update, the fire has burned 2,724 acres of Lolo National Forest. According to the Forest Service's release, containment on the Miller Peak Fire is largely thanks to constant attention on it, as well as recent rain. Some spots of the fire are still hot and spotty, so firefighters will remain on the scene for the foreseeable future, the release states. New fires can still start from Miller Peak's heat, and firefighters responded to one on just Wednesday east of the fire. An area closure is still in place surrounding the fire. Popular Forest Service roads including Allen Creek, Deep Creek, Miller Creek and Schwartz Creek will remain closed until October 31 unless otherwise noted to make way for heavy machinery. UPDATE: July 29 at 1:48 p.m. The evacuation warning has been lifted for residents from 14380 Upper Miller Creek Road to the junction of the West Fork Schwartz Creek Road and then from the Junction of West Fork Schwartz Creek Road to 7018 West Fork Schwartz Creek Road. Residents are asked to stay vigilant for changing conditions. UPDATE: July 29 at 9:40 a.m. The Miller Peak Fire has experienced no overnight growth, but containment has increased to 65% Monday morning. The fire remains 2,724 acres-large. A release from the Lolo National Forest said cooler temperatures have helped crews effectively mop up and strengthen containment lines. Crews will continue mop up and aerial resources will help Monday as needed. Two heavy equipment containment lines farther from the fire edge are close to being finished. UPDATE: July 28 at 9:33 a.m. The Miller Peak Fire grew a small amount to 2724 acres from Saturday to Sunday. It is still 55% contained. The number of personnel working the fire decreased significantly over the weekend, with that trend expected to continue. An update from Incident Commander Joe Sampson said weather has been more seasonal which allowed crews to contain more of the fire, but low humidity on Saturday afternoon let the fire activity increase a bit more towards the center of the fire. Lower Miller Creek remains closed for the debris from the storm and the flight restriction over the fire zone is still in place. UPDATE: July 26 at 10:04 a.m. The Miller Peak Fire is still 25% contained on the southern edges of the fire as of Friday morning with 2,660 acres burned. 787 total personnel are on the scene of the fire today working on extinguishing hot spots in the area and tending to new fire starts. The roads and areas surrounding the fire remain closed, and the forest is under stage II fire restrictions. Lower Miller Creek Road is currently closed due to debris blocking the roadway from Wednesday's storm. UPDATE: July 24 at 10:13 a.m. Red Flag warnings will go into effect in the Missoula area at noon Wednesday. The Miller Peak Fire grew to 2,631 acres and remains 25% contained. A release from Lolo National Forest said crews have been able to build a line around the entire fire perimeter. The eastern part of the fire in the Moccasin Creek area has the most active fire behavior at this time, and is plumbed with hose lays. Crews are patrolling for hotspots and looking out for spot fires constantly, according to the release. A drone is surveying the fire with infrared to detect new heat sources. The southwest flank is being mopped up and is heavily contained. There is no new heat in the northwest flank of the fire which is plumbed with hose lays. UPDATE: July 23 at 10:24 a.m. The Miller Peak Fire had small growth Monday, is now at 2,581 acres and has reached 25% containment. There will be a community meeting regarding the fire on Tuesday at Bonner Elementary School, located at 9045 Hwy 200, Bonner, MT, 59823, from 7-8 pm. According to a release from Lolo National Forest, crews resumed securing and holding the fire line. Crews at the top of the Miller Peak ridge are resuming efforts to move heavy equipment into the Allen Creek area. Efforts to maintain lines on the western perimeter were successful, working into the Miller Peak area. On the southeastern edge of the fire, crews worked to secure and hold the direct line within Moccasin Creek. Hand crews, dozers and heavy equipment are securing the line along Moccasin Ridge Road. Crews resumed building a direct handline in the Greenough Creek drainage. UPDATE: July 22 at 1:45 p.m. The Miller Peak Fire has reached 10-percent containment and has grown to 2,481 acres Monday. According to a press release from Lolo National Forest, powerful winds expanded the fire Sunday, but crews were successfully kept the fire within its tracks. Crews found active spots in the Park Creek area, but secured by using aerial resources, dropping water and retardant, and ground crews. Crews resumed building a direct handline in the Greenough Creek drainage. The plan for Monday is crews will resume securing the hold line along the Moccasin Ridge Road Monday and building a direct handline in the head of the Moccasin Creak drainage. Aerial resources and heavy equipment are helping secure and hold the line. UPDATE: July 21 at 3:00 p.m. The Miller Peak fire grew just over 100 acres over Saturday night, reaching 2,403 acres burned with no containment. The cause is still under investigation. 593 people have responded to help contain the blaze so far, including 18 engines, three helicopters and 15 hand crews. Perimeters are being secured today on the northwest and southwest sides of the fire. Expected high temperatures, which are 20 degrees above the seasonal average, pushed the national forest into stage II fire restrictions and warranted a 24-hour flight closure over the perimeter. UPDATE: July 20 at 12:30 p.m. The Miller Peak fire still has no containment and reached 2,385 acres burned as of Saturday morning. 501 personnel are on the fire. Stage II restrictions are in place for the entire forest and some roads are closed in the area of Miller Creek Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) drones are being used for burnout operations. The Lolo National Forest would like to remind people that personal drones are prohibited in fire areas because if those drones are in the air, authorized emergency drones can't be. UPDATE: July 19 at 10:20 a.m. The Miller Peak Fire is burning 2,124 acres and is still zero percent contained Friday morning. There will be a public meeting at Lolo Elementary School in Lolo Friday night from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Crews conducted burnout operations to secure the northwestern edge of the fire in Plant Creek, according to a release from Northern Rockies Team 5. On the southwestern portion, crews resumed building a fireline on the fire's edge towards Holloman Saddle. Crews worked on containments efforts on the fire's edge in the Moccasin Ridge and Greenough Creek drainages and sought out possibilities to minimize the fire's growth. UPDATE: July 18 at 1:06 p.m. The Miller Peak Fire is 2,035 acres and zero-percent contained Thursday. The weather is forecasted to be hot, dry and windy with a chance of storms in the region through at least next week. Due to the extreme fire danger in Lolo National, issued Tuesday, people are asked to be careful and remain and alert with campfires. "Tuesday night crews conducted a small burnout operation to hold a ridge in the vicinity of the Plant Creek drainage. Aviation resources supported that effort yesterday through bucket work. Hand crews also worked to address spot fires adjacent to the fires edge in Greenough Creek. Crews worked to scout access for heavy equipment in the Moccasin Ridge area," Northern Rockines Complex Incident Management Team said in a release. UPDATE: July 17 at 9:54 a.m. The Miller Peak Fire has grown to 1,972 acres and remains zero percent contained Wednesday morning. The Montana DNRC said in a release crews resumed working on building and reinforcing fire line on the southern edge, moving up to Holloman Saddle and to the north toward Miller Peak. Securing the fire edge is to protect the homes and structures in Miller Creek and the communications towers on Miller Peak. Crews continued to look for contingency options in the Moccasin Ridge area. There are area and road closures on public lands near the fire for the safety of the public and firefighters. People are asked to obey the closures and allow fire crews and equipment to work safely. UPDATE: July 16 at 7:35 p.m. The boundary of Lolo National Forest has been closed off for public safety and to ensure resources can make it up to the fire, which is still 0% contained Tuesday evening. Upper Miller Creek Road is open only to local traffic for the time being. UPDATE: July 16 at 6:29 a.m. The Miller Peak Fire burning southeast of Missoula has grown to 1,760 acres and is still zero-percent contained as of Tuesday morning. UPDATE: July 15, 2024 at 9:45 p.m. An update from the Lolo National Forest states the fire has spread to the north and east throughout the afternoon due to hot temperatures, dry conditions, and gusty winds. The fire has burned approximately 800 acres as of Monday evening. Residents from 14380 Upper Miller Creek Road to the junction of the West Fork Schwartz Creek Road and then from the Junction of West Fork Schwartz Creek Road to 7018 West Fork Schwartz Creek Road are under an evacuation warning, which could become an evacuation order at any time, the update announced. Fire managers are considering a closure of the area but have not announced one yet. Officials recommend registering on smart911.com to receive the quickest update son the fire and evacuation notices. Update: July 15 at 11:06 a.m. The following is an update posted to Facebook by Lolo National Park on July 15, 2024. The Miller Peak fire is still estimated at 500 acres. Accurate acreage is difficult to obtain due to limited visibility due to smoke and area terrain. Aviation resources will continue to support the fire today, with attention to ensuring that ongoing use is effective at meeting suppression objectives. Resources on scene include 8 engines, 3 helicopters, multiple crews, and miscellaneous overhead. Additional resources including crews and an Incident Management Team have been ordered. The cause of the fire is under investigation. We are anticipating a fire area closure to allow crews to work. Details will be forthcoming. For current information please visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incid.../mtlnf-miller-peak-fire ** ** : Residents from 14380 Upper Miller Creek Road to the junction of the West Fork Schwartz Creek Road and then from the Junction of West Fork Schwartz Creek Road to 7018 West Fork Schwartz Creek Road are under an EVACUATION WARNING. While every effort will be made to first issue and Evacuation WARNING, please be aware that due to the possibility of rapidly changing conditions, an Evacuation ORDER may be issued with no prior notice or warning. If you are not enrolled in SMART911, now is the time to do so. Log on to smart911.com and create your safety profile. This service will enhance your ability to receive alerts and provide information to responders to enhance your family's safety. Update at July 15 at 7:06 a.m. There are evacuation warnings in place in the area of the the Miller Peak Fire burning southeast of Missoula. The Missoula County Sherif's Office said on social media that evacuation warnings are in effect between mile markers 13-15 along Miller Creek road and houses from 14380 Upper Miller Creek Road to 7018 Upper Miller Creek Road. Residents should be aware an evacuation order may go into effect without notice or warning due to quickly changing conditions. At this time, the fire is burning 400 acres and the cause remains under investigation. Original article published on July 14, 2024, at 6:15 a.m. MISSOULA, Mont. - Firefighters from the Lolo National Forest and Montana DNRC are responding to a fire that sparked Sunday in the Plant Creek drainage near Miller Peak, which is about eight miles southeast of Missoula. Ground and air resources are responding to the scene on Sunday evening, July 14, 2024, according to the Facebook post from the Lolo National Forest. The fire is estimated at 100 acres, as of 5:31 p.m. on Sunday. NonStop will update this article as more information becomes available. A soil carbon scheme has this year paid more than 800 farmers in the UK, France and Belgium for greener farming practices, up from 400 in 2022. In 2024, a 16% increase in the value of carbon to 33.05 has seen total farmer payments continue to grow quickly; 2023 farmer payments totalled 3 million. Farmer payments for 2024 are ongoing with payment cycles every four months, Soil Carbon explained today (15 July(). Across a 240,000 hectare area of farmland, a total carbon impact of 235,000 tonnes was secured comprising emissions reductions and carbon storage. Soil Capital is Europe's first certified initiative that monetises carbon sequestration associated with farms transitioning to more environmentally friendly practices. Chuck de Liedekerke, co-founder of Soil Capital, said: There are high expectations on farmers when it comes to reimagining resilient food systems, combatting climate change and restoring nature. "Were quickly growing a community of farmers being paid for improvements in soil health and conservation of our natural ecosystems a significant triple win for farmer livelihoods, climate and nature. Global companies such as Royal Canin, Roquette, Boortmalt and Cefetra purchase Soil Capital Certificates as part of their investment in strengthening and securing their agricultural supply chains and delivering their climate and sustainability goals. The Soil Capital programme utilises a methodology certified by a carbon indicator, aligned with corporate objectives to reduce Scope 3 carbon emissions. A grower who lost his entire strawberry harvest to an insect pest is establishing colonies of a predatory bug in the crop in a bid to find an effective biological control alternative to spraying with an insecticide. Western flower thrips (WFT) and several other thrips species are the nemesis of strawberry growers and no more so than at Bellis Brothers, near Wrexham, where thrips wiped out a crop worth 25,000 three years ago. Even when chemical controls are applied, farm manager Adrian Marks says the business will lose an average of 5-10% of its outdoor-grown strawberry fruit to thrips in any given year. Alternative and more environmentally friendly thrips controls are therefore needed, he says, particularly as WFT is widely resistant to insecticides, while resistance has also occurred in onion thrips. There are also concerns that other thrips species that damage strawberries could also build up resistance in the future. With funding from the Farming Connect Try Out Fund, Adrian is now working with experts from the agricultural consultancy ADAS to work out if a predatory bug, Orius laevigatus, could be a reliable weapon against future thrips invasions. Jude Bennison and Andy Gladman, research entomologists at ADAS, and adviser Chris Creed, joined Adrian at Bellis Brothers where other growers had an opportunity to see the trial in action. One of the obstacles to introducing Orius predators into the 60-day strawberry crops is the plants short flowering period which can prevent Orius colonies establishing and building up sufficient numbers before adult thrips fly in and attack during flowering. To help overcome this, alyssum, a potential trap plant for thrips and a banker plant for Orius, was planted as a companion crop in the strawberry crop. Alyssum was planted and Orius was released onto it several weeks before the strawberries flowered, aiming to provide the Orius with an early source of pollen to feed on to allow it to establish in sufficient numbers to control thrips as they fly in. The Orius for the trial were provided free of charge by Biobest UK Limited, a commercial biological control company," Ms Bennison explains. As the strawberries come into flower the hope is that the predators will move onto these and prevent fruit damage. Another biological control agent, a predatory mite, can be effective on strawberries but they only consume thrips larvae," says Ms Bennison. The mite is effective against WFT which produces large numbers of larvae in strawberry flowers, but the other species of thrips that fly in as adults do not seem to produce many larvae on strawberry, so Orius is a better option as it will prey on the adults as well as larvae." If the principle behind the trial can be proven, it could be linked to a bigger project and rolled out on a bigger scale, said Dr Gladman. At Bellis Brothers, four acres of strawberries are grown on tabletops with a sequential planting system extending the fruiting period for up to eight weeks. Because the fruit is grown outdoors for pick-your-own (PYO), it is more of a challenge to use Orius than in polytunnel or glasshouse crops as it needs warm temperatures to lay eggs and develop. The cool, wet weather during May and early June this year wasnt ideal for Orius. Adrian says his goal is to manage pests and diseases without relying on chemicals and the negative implications of these for the environment and beneficial organisms. We hope that these entomologists can work their magic so that we have proven biological controls that can be effective on outdoor-grown strawberries, he said. It is why we applied to take part in this trial." Mr Creed also recommends encouraging wild predators, which can be more tolerant to pesticides within integrated pest management (IPM) programmes than commercially available predators. This could mean introducing or allowing the growth of other companion plants such as nettles in the hedgerows which provide habitat and food for predators. Regular crop inspections should be carried out throughout the growing season, he advised. Either monitor the crops yourself or use an agronomist. There should be a lot of crop walking and checking and making key decisions," said Mr Creed. Many horticulture businesses are moving towards IPM, only using chemical controls when absolutely necessary. Farming Connect horticulture sector officer Hannah Norman said the results of the trial at Bellis Brothers will be shared with other growers once the project concludes. A nuclear power plant project in Suffolk has pledged to boost the region's farmers by locally sourcing 80 percent of the food it provides to its site workforce. Sizewell C, which is being built over a 12-year period near Leiston, said its ambition would create significant opportunities for local food producers and suppliers. The new target represents a substantial regional investment: at peak construction, therell be around 7,900 workers on site, and its estimated the cumulative food value will amount to just under 60m. The announcement comes as Sizewell C outlines a series of other catering commitments, including a pledge to offer varied and affordable meals on-site. Another commitment will see the project engage in a socially and environmentally focused food waste policy. Damian Leydon, Sizewell C site delivery director, called the 80% food target 'ambitious', one which represents a 'huge opportunity' for nearby farmers. He said: Suffolk is well known for being a foodie county, and its a no-brainer for us to tap into and support local suppliers and local produce. Weve got a clear plan in place and were looking forward to working with the many excellent suppliers and producers in the region to deliver quality catering for Sizewell C. Produce to be sourced will include apples, pears, strawberries, carrots, potatoes, onions, eggs, bacon, sausages, pork, sugar, coffee and bakery. The food will also meet best practice food standards, covering key certifications and schemes, such as British Lion Mark (eggs), Marine Stewardship Council (fish), and British Red Tractor (meat and poultry), and will include Fairtrade wherever possible. The planned power station achieved development consent earlier this year and has been awarded a Nuclear Site Licence. A Final Investment Decision on the plant is expected later this year. The European Commission has approved a landmark decision permitting regional cumulation between Sri Lanka and Indonesia for selected textile and apparel products. This move, based on a joint request by the two countries, will enable them to export these products to the 27-member countries of the European Union under the EU Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) scheme, potentially increasing Sri Lankas apparel exports to the EU market. After thorough examination, the European Commission determined that the conditions for granting cumulation between the two countries from two regional groups were met. The decision, effective from August 8, 2024, allows Sri Lanka to cumulate origin for certain materials from HS Chapters 51 to 55, 58, and 60 originating in Indonesia. Sri Lanka can then produce textile products of HS Chapters 61 to 63 under regional cumulation, provided both countries remain in the GSP scheme. European Commission has approved regional cumulation between Sri Lanka and Indonesia for specific textile products, allowing them to export to the EU under the GSP scheme. This decision will boost Sri Lanka's apparel exports by enabling the use of Indonesian materials. This enhances Sri Lanka's competitiveness, creates jobs, and fosters economic growth. This decision not only strengthens trade relations with the European Union but also underscores the commitment of both countries to adhere to rigorous origin rules and administrative cooperation, Sri Lankas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. The approval of regional cumulation will enable Indonesia to export fabrics to Sri Lanka for re-processing into apparel products, which Sri Lanka will then export to the EU market. Leveraging Indonesia's strong textile production capabilities, Sri Lanka can secure a steady supply of high-quality materials. This arrangement is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Sri Lankan apparel in the global market, create employment opportunities, and bolster economic growth, offering a mutually beneficial outcome for both countries. Sri Lanka's export-oriented apparel industry, a key driver of the national economy, has significantly contributed to the country's economic growth over nearly three decades. In 2022, the apparel industry accounted for approximately 43 per cent of Sri Lanka's total export value, earning USD 5,591 million, a 10 per cent increase from 2021. The European Union stands as one of the three largest buyers of Sri Lankan apparel by volume and value. The industry employs nearly 350,000 workers directly and twice as many indirectly. Despite its substantial contributions, Sri Lankas apparel sector has a limited domestic fabric supply, with only six companies engaged in fabric production. Consequently, the industry relies heavily on imported fabrics, amounting to USD 2,080.81 million in 2022, with imports from five tariff lines excluded from the joint request constituting 59 per cent of total fabric imports. In contrast, Indonesia is a major textile producer with robust output in cotton, man-made fibres, and synthetics. The European Commissions decision follows a concerted effort by the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), the Department of Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Sri Lankan Embassy in Brussels, in collaboration with the Indonesian Government and EU authorities, over several years. The implementation of this decision will require additional administrative measures from Sri Lanka and will be monitored by the European Commission to ensure proper management. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD) US container import volume declined by 2.1 per cent month on month (MoM) in June this year to 2,297,979 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), but increased by 10.4 per cent year on year (YoY), according to Descartes, a Canadian multinational company specialising in software for logistics, supply chain management and cloud-based services for logistics businesses. This was the second smallest May-to-June decrease in the previous six years, ignoring import volume performance during the 2020 pandemic. US container import volume fell by 2.1 per cent month on month (MoM) in June to 2,297,979 TEUs, but rose by 10.4 per cent YoY, Descartes said. Port transit delays at most US West Coast ports improved, while East and Gulf Coast ports saw marginal hikes. The risk of global supply chain disruptions remains high due to conflicts and stalled labour negotiations. Port transit delays at most US West Coast ports improved, while East and Gulf Coast ports experienced marginal increases. Julys update of logistics metrics monitored by Descartes reinforces the strength of imports since the beginning of this year. Despite strong US container imports, the risk of global supply chain disruptions remains high as the Middle East conflict and news of stalled labour negotiations at US South Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports threaten the stability of global trade, Descartes said in a note. For the top 10 US ports, container import volume in June decreased by 59,625 TEUs, or 2.9 per cent MoM. The ports of Los Angeles (up by 33,253 TEUs) and Charleston (up by 14,552 TEUs) experienced the greatest MoM container volume increases. The ports of New York/New Jersey (down by 59,933 TEUs) and Norfolk (down by 28,738 TEUs) posted the highest MoM volume declines. Container imports from China remained flat MoM in June, but saw a 13.8-per cent YoY growth. For the top 10 countries of origin, US container import volume in June declined by 5,182 TEUs, or 0.3 per cent MoM. South Korea and Taiwan experienced the most growth, increasing by 4,672 TEUs and 3,952 TEUs, respectively. Imports from Germany (down by 8,845 TEUs) and Vietnam (down by 3,298 TEUs) experienced the greatest volume decreases in the month. In June, container import volume share at West Coast ports grew MoM as East and Gulf Coast ports receded. The total container import volume at the top East and Gulf Coast ports decreased to 41.4 per cent (down 0.7 per cent) of total container import volume, and the top West Coast ports increased to 44.6 per cent (up 2.5 per cent). Compared to smaller ports, share at the top 10 ports in June this year fell slightly to 86.1 per cent (down 0.6 per cent). The attacks and ongoing threats on shipping in the Red Sea by the Houthis from Yemen continue to force shippers to divert cargo that would traditionally move through the Suez Canal to longer and more expensive shipping lanes. Shipping concerns will likely increase if the Middle East is further destabilized, Descartes added. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Evolva Holding SA / Key word(s): Annual Results Evolva Holding SA: Approval of temporary exemption from certain conditions for maintaining listing pursuant to art. 7 Listing Rules; IFRS financial statements for 2023 and half-year 2024 to be publish 15-Jul-2024 / 07:00 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. PRESS RELEASE | AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO ART. 53 LR Approval of temporary exemption from certain conditions for maintaining listing pursuant to art. 7 Listing Rules; IFRS financial statements for 2023 and half-year 2024 to be published by 31 October 2024 Reinach, Switzerland, 15 July 2024 - On 12 July 2024, Evolva Holding SA (SIX: EVE) ("Evolva") received from SIX Exchange Regulation AG ("SER") a temporary exemption from certain conditions for maintaining listing pursuant to art. 7 Listing Rules. Evolva had applied for these exemptions in order to have sufficient time to comply with the listing requirements after the shareholders at the annual general meeting ("AGM") on 12 April 2024 resolved to revoke the liquidation and delisting of the company. Evolva announced today that by decision dated 12 July 2024, the Regulatory Board and SER granted Evolva certain temporary exemptions from publicity obligations for maintaining its listing on SIX Swiss Exchange. Evolva submitted the request to extend the deadline for publishing and submitting IFRS financial statements for 2023 as well as the half-year 2024 until 31 October 2024 after SER had required, following the AGM's resolution to revoke the liquidation and delisting of the company, that the IFRS annual report 2023 be submitted by 31 July 2024. By decision of 25 March 2024, the company had been exempted by SER until 11 June 2024 from the duty to publish and submit an IFRS annual report 2023. The fact that Evolva, after the sale on 28 December 2023 of all shares in the fully-owned operating company Evolva AG to Danstar Ferment AG (an affiliate of Lallemand Inc.), no longer has any operating assets (nor any affiliates or employees) does not relieve it, in the Regulatory Board's view, of the duty to publish and submit an IFRS annual report for the year 2023 following the AGM's resolution to revoke the liquidation and delisting of the company. After the latest approval of Evolva's request for extension of the publication deadline, the company will publish IFRS financial statements for 2023 together with half-year 2024 financial statements on the same day on or before 31 October 2024. Since Evolva no longer has any employees, it will have to rely on external resources to prepare and audit the IFRS financial statements by the end of October 2024. In the meantime, Evolva refers to the (audited) interim liquidation financial statements and the interim liquidation report 2023 approved by the AGM for further information about the financials of the company (available under link ). The content and duration of the exemptions granted are contained in the following part of the Regulatory Board/SER decision, which has been reproduced verbatim (unofficial English translation). The exemptions come into force as of the release of this ad hoc announcement. Section I of the decision reads as follows: The request for exemption from certain conditions for maintaining listing until Thursday, 31 October 2024 and thus the postponement of the publication of the annual report 2023 and the half-year report 2024 as well as the submission of these reports to SIX Exchange Regulation AG until Thursday, 31 October 2024 at the latest is approved subject to the following reservation (lit. a) and the following condition (lit. b): a. SIX Exchange Regulation AG will temporarily suspend trading in Evolva securities on 1 November 2024 if Evolva does not publish and submit its annual report 2023 and half-year report 2024 to SIX Exchange Regulation AG by Thursday, 31 October 2024, 23:59 at the latest in accordance with the provisions on ad hoc publicity (Art. 53 Listing Rules in connection with the Directive on Ad hoc Publicity). b. Evolva must publish a media release regarding this decision by Monday, 15 July 2024, 07:30, in accordance with the provisions on ad hoc publicity (Art. 53 Listing Rules in connection with the Directive on Ad hoc Publicity). This media release must: - contain the full wording of Section I of this decision in a prominent position; - mention the reasons for the postponement of the publication and submission of the annual report 2023 and half-year report 2024. Contact Evolva Doris Rudischhauser Investor Relations and Corporate Communications +41 79 410 81 88 investors@evolvaholding.com Disclaimer This announcement is not an offer of securities into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered, pledged, sold, delivered or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. Further, the securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of Canada, Australia or Japan or under the applicable securities laws of any other jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of such laws. This press release contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like believe, assume, expect or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments. Dixon to lead Rivulis' continued growth and international market penetration, as the Company transforms global irrigation to address climate change, water and food security Richard Klapholz to step down in September 2024 after more than a decade of service KFAR SABA, Israel, July 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rivulis Pte. Ltd. ("Rivulis"), a global leader in advanced irrigation and climate solutions, today announced Joshua (Josh) Dixon as incoming Chief Executive Officer (CEO). With over 25 years of industrial experience, Dixon is a proven leader and strategist who has guided market-leading public and private companies through periods of rapid commercial growth and strategic business development in highly competitive global marketplaces. During the transition, Dixon will work alongside outgoing CEO Richard Klapholz, whose deep institutional knowledge and steady hand have guided the Company over the past decade. Dixon begins as CEO effective September 16, 2024. Dixon is the former president of Valley Irrigation, an international subsidiary of publicly traded Valmont Industries, Inc., and he spent more than nine years with the Company. He previously held business development and operational, commercial, and industrial manufacturing roles at Belden, Danaher Sensors and Controls, and General Electric. "Josh's extensive experience in global agribusiness - and his engineer's keen eye - will be pivotal as Rivulis continues to drive innovation and expand global market reach," said Gregory Curl, Chairman of the Rivulis Board. "In the face of escalating challenges stemming from climate change and resource management, conserving water resources is not only a core aspect of our business, but also essential to sustaining agriculture and ensuring food security worldwide. On behalf of the Board, I'd like to extend our deepest gratitude to Richard Klapholz for his decade of visionary leadership, which transformed the Company and solidified its position as a global leader." "I am honored to join Rivulis at such a pivotal moment in its journey and to build on the incredible foundation established by my predecessor," said Dixon. "Throughout my career, I have gravitated towards companies that deliver positive benefits as an inherent part of product excellence and operational rigor. The Company's 'embrace the planet, feed the world, change the life of every farmer' vision speaks to exactly that - running the business well and delivering modern, end-to-end irrigation and climate solutions that will create a climate-resilient and food-secure future for us all." "We are thrilled to welcome Josh Dixon as the new CEO of Rivulis," said Richard Klapholz, outgoing CEO of Rivulis. "Given Josh's extensive knowledge of the agribusiness industry and his proven leadership capabilities, I am confident he will be an excellent guide to drive Rivulis' growth as a global irrigation and climate leader." During his tenure at Valmont Industries, Dixon held various roles within the global irrigation vertical, and his contributions earned him recognition as an honorary consul to the Republic of Kazakhstan government in Nebraska and Kansas. He has also held board roles with the United Way of the Midlands, Wayne State University, and SkillsUSA. Dixon holds an engineering degree from Michigan State University and an MBA from Purdue University. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. About Rivulis Rivulis is a global?irrigation and climate solutions leader empowering farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices through micro irrigation and climate-resilient models.? Rivulis offers the most innovative?irrigation solutions?for seasonal, permanent, and protected crop environments, through its multiple product and service portfolio brands: Rivulis, NaanDanJain, Jain, Eurodrip and Manna. With 80 years of field-trusted innovation, Rivulis has 21 large-scale manufacturing sites in 15 countries and 3,000 employees located in 35 countries, three R&D Centers (Israel, California, and Greece) and multiple?Irrigation Project?Design Centers around the globe. Leading the mass adoption of micro irrigation globally, Rivulis is committed to increasing accessibility to all farmers everywhere through simple, affordable, and smart technology covering the full cycle from design to harvest. To learn more, visit?www.rivulis.com. Media Contact: Adi Mannor-Kiraly Chief Sustainability and Communications Officer Rivulis Pte. Ltd. adi.mannor@rivulis.com T: +972-73-7800-234 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2460704/Rivulis_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/rivulis-appoints-irrigation-industry-veteran-joshua-dixon-as-ceo-302196625.html On July 5th, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris opened its doors to a cultural event of international scale: REVIVING CRAFT, Contemporary Art and Design from China. This exceptional showcase presents to the Parisian public the avant-garde creations of 40 artists and 20 institutions, highlighting China's intangible cultural heritage and fostering a rich and innovative intercultural dialogue. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240715512556/en/ exhibition zone of TEARTURE (Photo: Business Wire) At the heart of this celebration of Chinese design and craftsmanship, TEARTURE, a flagship brand of high-end furniture in precious wood, unveils its bold vision of contemporary Chinese design. Skillfully merging ancestral know-how and modern aesthetics, TEARTURE pushes the boundaries of art furniture. The exhibition, a collaboration between Sun Media Group and China National Brand Network, is structured around the five elements metal, wood, water, fire, and earth weaving a subtle link between traditional Chinese philosophy and cutting-edge design. TEARTURE presents unique pieces, true bridges between tradition and innovation: "The Chinese Circle Chair": a bold sculptural reinterpretation of the iconic Ming chair. "Spring Is Born from Everything": a reinvented cabinet celebrating renewal and vitality. "The Xipi Lacquer Desk": a sleek creation combining functionality and refinement. "The Screen of Celestial Books": a fascinating work deconstructing and reimagining over 1000 oracle bone characters, a millennial heritage from China's Bronze Age. These creations embody TEARTURE's philosophy: a harmonious fusion between excellent craftsmanship and contemporary design. Each piece incorporates ancestral techniques such as Dongyang wood carving, bamboo weaving, or traditional lacquer, sublimated by a resolutely modern approach. Wu Tengfei, master craftsman and founder of TEARTURE, constantly pushes the limits of his art and creativity to offer a new perspective on Chinese design. His approach, deeply rooted in tradition while embracing innovation, paves the way for a unique expression of Chinese cultural heritage on the international stage. The REVIVING CRAFT exhibition marks a crucial step in the influence of contemporary Chinese design. TEARTURE, at the forefront of this movement, invites the world to discover the richness and creativity of today's Chinese furniture, carrying a millennial heritage and resolutely turned towards the future! View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240715512556/en/ Contacts: contact@pweplus.com Final stage of Lagoa Salgada EIA application before entering the RECAPE process, has been submitted for review to APA, the Portuguese environmental agency. The 60 day RECAPE review, aims to verify that the execution of the project complies with the criteria established in the Environmental Impact Declaration. Once verified, and subject to APA approval, the project is expected to receive its environmental title. Ascendant Resources Inc. (TSX:ASND)(OTCQX:ASDRF)(FRA:2D9) ("Ascendant" or the "Company") is pleased to announce, the successful submission of additional and revised information as part of the final stage in the Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") process for its Lagoa Salgada project, through its Portuguese subsidiary, Redcorp - Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda ("Redcorp"). This final submission is in response to a request from Agencia Portuguesa do Ambiente ("APA"), the Portuguese environmental regulatory body, and is subject to no additional requests prior to approval of the EIA. EIA Delivery Timeline: Submission of Additional Material: As anticipated, APA requested further information, which has been compiled and submitted by Ascendant's technical team and environmental consultants. Pre-Phase Review Timetable: The 90-working day review period was paused upon APA's request for additional information and has now resumed with the submission of the requested data. Declaration of Conformity: Ascendant expects to receive a "declaration of conformity" for the EIA within the next 20 working days. Public Consultation: Following the declaration, there will be a period of public consultation and a review by APA's Evaluation Committee. Final Technical Statement: The results from the public consultation and the Evaluation Committee's review will form the basis for the Committee's "Final Technical Statement," allowing APA to prepare the Environmental Impact Declaration ("DIA") and grant the project its DIA. Completion of Pre-Phase: This will complete the 'Pre-Phase' stage of the EIA application process. The project will then move to the second stage, "RECAPE," expected to take 60 working days for its review once delivered to APA. Subject to APA's approval, the project will receive its Environmental Title. Upon approval of the EIA, the project will enter the RECAPE phase - Environmental Compliance Report of the Execution Project ("RECAPE"). The RECAPE phase aims to verify that the execution of the project complies with the criteria established in the Environmental Impact Declaration ("DIA"); complying with the terms and conditions set forth therein would position the project to be ready for the execution of a formal construction decision once all criteria are determined and approved. While in this phase, the Company may be authorized to initiate select minor early works on the Project. This phase and receipt of the RECAPE, expected during Q4, 2024 would allow the Company to begin construction of the Lagoa Salgada Project. Mark Brennan, Chairman of Ascendant stated, "APA's request for additional information and revisions is a standard part of the EIA approval process in Portugal. I commend our technical team and external consultants for their comprehensive and high-quality responses to APA's requests." In addition, he stated, "We continue to work extremely closely with the regulators, the community and various Portuguese government departments to advance our Lagoa Salgada project. The efficiency of the process is a testament to the government of Portugal and our status as a PIN Project. The approval of the EIA, is another milestone that would establish the Lagoa Salgada Project's position as one of the most advanced projects on the Iberian Pyrite Belt today." About Ascendant Resources Inc. Ascendant Resources is a Toronto-based mining company focused on the exploration and development of the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project located on the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal. The Lagoa Salgada project is a high-grade polymetallic project, demonstrating a typical mineralization endowment of zinc, copper, lead, tin, silver, and gold. Extensive exploration upside potential lies both near deposit and at prospective step-out targets across the large 7,209-hectare property concession. Located just 80km from Lisbon and surrounded by exceptional infrastructure, Lagoa Salgada offers a low-cost entry to a significant exploration and development opportunity, already showing its mineable scale and cashflow generation potential. Ascendant currently holds an 80% interest in the Lagoa Salgada project through its position in Redcorp - Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda, ("Redcorp"). The Company's common shares are principally listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "ASND". For more information on Ascendant, please visit our website at http://www.ascendantresources.com. Additional information relating to the Company is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . For further information, contact: Mark Brennan Executive Chairman, Founder Mike McAllister Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: +1-647-805-5662 mmcallister@ascendantresources.com Forward Looking Information This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business, the Lagoa Salgada project and the potential approval of the EIA, receipt of the DIA and other permitting processes including moving into the RECAPE phase. In making the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, Ascendant has made certain assumptions, including, but not limited to potential programs or involvement with University of Lisbon. Although Ascendant believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Ascendant disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the risks described under the heading "Risks Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated April 3, 2024 and under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and other risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The risk factors referred to above are not an exhaustive list of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking information. The Company's statements containing forward-looking information are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, one should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. SOURCE: Ascendant Resources, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com HYCU R-Cloud Continues to Drive Recognition for Its Innovative Approach to Modern And SaaS Data Protection Boston, Massachusetts, July 15, 2024, a leader for modern data protection for on-prem, cloud services and SaaS, and one of the fastest growing companies in the industry, announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named HYCU R-Cloudas a finalist for the 2024 CRN Tech Innovator Awards. HYCU is being recognized for R-Cloud in the Data Protection, Management, and Resiliency category. This annual award showcases innovative vendors in the IT channel across 36 distinct technology categories ranging from cloud to storage to networking to security. The 2024 winners were selected by a panel of CRN editors who reviewed hundreds of vendor entries and solution provider testimonials. Standout innovators were selected as finalists based on a number of criteria, including key capabilities, uniqueness, technological ingenuity, and ability to address customer and partner needs. HYCU R-Cloud, is a single, integrated SaaS platform that offers enterprise class automated backup, granular recovery, data migration, and disaster recovery across on-premises, multi-cloud platforms, cloud services, and SaaS applications. Delivered as a true cloud-native SaaS solution, HYCU R-Cloud is built on an agentless architecture, eliminating unnecessary additional hardware or software. A key component of R-Cloud is HYCU R-Graphthat provides data estate discovery and visualization, supporting more than 70 data sources. In January 2024, HYCU made HYCU R-Cloud easy to extend to new data sources to protect at scale and to help cover new data sources efficiently and easily through the HYCU Generative AI Initiative. This Initiative helped to seamlessly integrate generative AI technology, including Anthropics' AI assistant Claude with R-Cloud, redefining the development process of data protection integrations and creating an easy-to-use way to create SaaS integrations. This innovation helps partners to develop and reduce the time to build new data protection modules from weeks to hours. This is a stark contrast in the time it may take legacy data protection providers to build and add new protection capabilities to data sources. "We are pleased to recognize the commitment to continuous innovation among this year's CRN Tech Innovator Award finalists. Each of these vendors delivers cutting-edge technology that meets evolving customer needs and creates new opportunities for solution providers and the broader IT channel ecosystem," said Jennifer Follett, VP, U.S. Content, and Executive Editor, CRN, The Channel company. "We look forward to future innovations from the recipients and to seeing how their solution provider partners use these offerings as the foundation of new, inventive solutions." "As we know, the proliferation of SaaS application use and the need for modern data protection to make critical SaaS application data available and recoverable, has never been higher," said Simon Taylor, Founder and CEO, HYCU. "We developed HYCU R-Cloud to address the data protection challenges of existing on-premises infrastructure to the emerging needs of Cloud Services and Platforms and SaaS application data. None of what we have accomplished would have been possible without a team of engineers that are immersed in multi-platform, database, and SaaS application backup, restoration, and availability. Thank you to CRN's editors for the selection, we are excited to see R-Cloud gain the recognition it so thoroughly deserves." The Tech Innovator Awards Finalists can be viewed online at crn.com/techinnovators. Winners will be announced on crn.com on August 7, 2024 and will be featured in the August issue of CRN. For more information on HYCU, visit:www.hycu.com, follow us on X, connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. ### About HYCU HYCU is the fastest-growing leader in the multi-cloud and SaaS data protection as a service industry. By bringing true SaaS-based data backup and recovery to on-premises, cloud-native and SaaS environments, the company provides unparalleled data protection, migration, disaster recovery, and ransomware protection to thousands of companies worldwide. As an award-winning and recognized visionary in the industry, HYCU solutions eliminate complexity, risk, and the high cost of legacy-based solutions, providing data protection simplicity to make the world safer. With an industry leading NPS score of 91, customers experience frictionless, cost-effective data protection, anywhere, everywhere. HYCU has raised $140M in VC funding to date and is based in Boston, Mass. Learn more at www.hycu.com. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. thechannelcompany.com Follow The Channel Company:LinkedIn, Facebook , and X 2024 The Channel Company, Inc. The Channel Company logo is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Attachment WESTFORD, Mass., July 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to SkyQuest, the global 3D Printing Market size was valued at USD 16.64 Billion in 2022 and is poised to grow from USD 20.65 Billion in 2023 to USD 110.29 Billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 23.3% during the forecast period (2024-2031). 3D printing refers to the use of printing technology to create 3-dimensional products/objects. The growing use of additive manufacturing around the world and advancements in 3D printing technology are projected to bolster 3D printing market development in the future. The market is still relatively new and investing in almost any segment would pay off big time for 3D printing providers. The global 3D printing market is segmented into offerings, technology, process, application, material, vertical, and region. Download a detailed overview: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/3d-printing-market 3D Printing Market Overview: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $ 20.65 billion Estimated Value by 2031 $ 110.29 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 23.3% Forecast Period 2024-2031 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Offerings, Technology, Process, Application, Material and Vertical Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Use of sustainable 3D printing materials and filaments Key Market Drivers Use of advanced manufacturing practices and advancements in 3D printing technologies Segments covered in 3D Printing Market are as follows: Offering Hardware, Software, and Services Technology Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser, Sintering (SLS), Poly-jet Printing/Multi-jet Printing (MJP), Electron Beam Melting (EBM), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Other Process Powder Bed Fusion, Vat Photopolymerization, Binder Jetting, Material Extrusion, Material Jetting, Other Application Prototyping, Tooling, Functional Part Manufacturing Material Polymer, Metal, Ceramic Vertical Automotive, Aerospace & Defense, Healthcare, Architecture & Construction, Consumer Products, Education, Industrial, Energy, Printed Electronics, Others Request Free Customization of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/3d-printing-market Development of New 3D printing Hardware Components to Be Prime Focus of Companies 3D printing companies should target the development of novel 3D printers and other hardware components that can make 3D printing more affordable. Multiple unique hardware components are required to make 3D printing possible, and this is why companies are targeting the development of these components to maximize their business scope. Making affordable 3D printers and 3D printing filaments will be the prime focus of all 3D printing market players in the future. The need for advanced software to 3D print complex components is also increasing at a robust pace. 3D printing providers should also focus on the development of new software for 3D printing to maximize their business scope. New companies can specifically target this segment as software development requires less capital compared to hardware development. Simple Operation of Stereolithography Technology Allows It Dominate the Market Stereolithography has been used in printing for a long time and it is still a preferred technology owing to its simple operating mechanism. The technology creates 3D printed objects by layering different layers of material on top of one another. Photochemical processes are used in stereolithography to enable 3D printing. Using this technology allows 3D printing companies to get a smoother finish and acquire high precision in their products. However, advancements in 3D printing technologies could dethrone stereolithography technology's dominance in the future. View report summary and Table of Contents (TOC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/3d-printing-market Prototyping to be a Popular Application for 3D printing Owing to its High Accuracy of Replicating the Original Intended Model 3D printing companies should focus on development of solutions that help perfect prototyping for different industry verticals. Lower production times and costs as compared to other prototyping techniques and practices. Easy manufacturing of complex parts and components. Owing to these key benefits 3D printing is mostly used for prototyping applications. However, the demand for 3D printing for functional part manufacturing is slated to increase at a notable pace over the coming years. Growing use of advanced manufacturing practices and advancements in 3D printing technology are setting the tone for market expansion. New companies have a great chance of winning in this market by targeting the software and prototyping segments in the future. Related Report: Industrial 3D Printing Market 3D Printing Material Market Medical 3D Printing Market Digital Twin Market 3D Printing Construction Market About Us: SkyQuest is an IP focused Research and Investment Bank and Accelerator of Technology and assets. We provide access to technologies, markets and finance across sectors viz. Life Sciences, CleanTech, AgriTech, NanoTech and Information & Communication Technology. We work closely with innovators, inventors, innovation seekers, entrepreneurs, companies and investors alike in leveraging external sources of R&D. Moreover, we help them in optimizing the economic potential of their intellectual assets. Our experiences with innovation management and commercialization has expanded our reach across North America, Europe, ASEAN and Asia Pacific. Contact: Mr. Jagraj Singh SkyQuest Technology 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Visit Our Website: https://www.skyquestt.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2446095/SkyQuest_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/3d-printing-market-to-transcend-usd-110-29-billion-valuation-by-2031--use-of-additive-manufacturing-to-bolster-market-development--skyquest-technology-302196661.html An AR-15 is displayed on a countertop at the McBrides Guns Inc. store in Austin, Texas, in August of last year. Brandon Bell/TNS The gun that was fired at former President Donald Trump was an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle. Californias assault weapons law generally prohibits the sale of such rifles if they have common features favored by buyers. Specifically, if an AR-15-style rifle has a detachable magazine, which enables swift reloading, it cant have any of a number of attachments that can give it added functions or make it easier to handle, such as a forward grip or folding stock. Those with attached magazines are banned if they can carry more than 10 cartridges. The state has prohibited sale and possession of those weapons since 1989, but some Republican-appointed judges have opposed the ban, and its fate is uncertain. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The FBI said the weapon found next to the body of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks on Sunday night was an AR-15-style rifle, legally purchased by Crooks father. Firing from a rooftop around 150 yards away at a campaign rally in Butler County, Penn., Crooks wounded Trump in one ear and killed a bystander before being shot dead by police. His motives remain unclear. This type of weapon has been used in a majority of U.S. mass shootings in recent years. Manufacture and sales of semiautomatics were banned nationwide in 1994 under a law written by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., but Congress refused to renew the law after it expired in 2004, and Feinstein was unable to revive it before her death last September. The weapons remain illegal in California and eight other states, including Illinois, the site of next months Democratic National Convention, but not in Wisconsin, home to this weeks Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Legal challenges to the bans have mounted since the Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that any government restriction on firearms must be consistent with this nations historical tradition of firearms regulation, dating back to the nations founding. Last October, U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego ruled that Californias assault weapons law failed to meet that standard. He said no such bans existed in the nations early years and that many more people are killed with knives than with rifles. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The States attempt to ban these popular firearms creates the extreme policy that a handful of criminals can dictate the conduct and infringe on the freedom of law-abiding citizens, the judge wrote. He likened AR-15s to the Bowie Knife, which was commonly carried by citizens and soldiers in the 1800s dangerous, but useful. Before Benitezs ruling could take effect, a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to allow the state to continue to enforce its law while it appeals the decision. The majority consisted of Judges William Fletcher, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, and Mark Bennett, a Trump appointee, while the dissent came from Judge Consuelo Callahan, appointed by President George W. Bush. The issue could return soon to the Supreme Court, whose 6-3 majority of Republican appointees has revived challenges to other California gun laws. Last month, the same majority overturned a nationwide ban on bump stocks, the attachments that convert semiautomatics into rapid-fire weapons by repeatedly bumping the trigger against the shooters finger. The ban, which President Joe Biden later continued, was first imposed by the Trump administration in response to the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, where a gunman using bump stocks fired 1,000 rounds in 11 minutes at a crowd attending a music festival, killing 60 people and wounding around 500 before taking his own life. The Supreme Court ruling did not affect similar bans in California, 16 other states and the District of Columbia. Trump, meanwhile, has promised to remove restrictions on firearms if he returns to the White House. Advertisement Article continues below this ad $0.000892 per share to be paid on or about July 19, 2024 CBA Florida, Inc. (www.cbafloridainc.com) ("CBAI" or the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has approved a liquidating cash distribution of approximately $1.135 million, or $0.000892 per share, to shareholders of record as of June 26, 2024. The distribution will be paid on or about July 19, 2024. As previously disclosed, in connection with the effectiveness of the Company's articles of dissolution, CBAI closed its stock transfer books and discontinued recording transfers of common stock, effective as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 26, 2020. As a result, the common stock, and stock certificates evidencing the shares of common stock, have not been assignable or transferable on the Company's books, other than transfers by will, intestate succession or operation of law. For those shareholders receiving a distribution of $0.01 or less, they will receive a credit to their account at Direct Transfer, LLC ("Direct Transfer"). Those shareholders that receive a credit in lieu of a cash distribution can request their funds from Direct Transfer via an ACH transfer. Any shareholder questions regarding the liquidating distribution may be addressed to the payment agent at Direct Transfer who can be reached via phone at (919) 744-2722 or e-mail at transfer@issuerdirect.com. The liquidating distribution will be the final distribution made by the Company and represents the remaining cash held by CBAI post wind-down of the corporate entity. About CBA Florida, Inc. CBA Florida, Inc., formerly Cord Blood America, Inc., does not currently have any active business operations and consists of the cash and liabilities remaining post-closing of the sale of substantially all of the Company's assets. Forward-Looking Statements Some statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. The Company uses words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "future," "intend," "plan," and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based largely on the Company's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, risks and uncertainties associated with its continuing limited operations, as well as liabilities and third-party claims currently existing or which may arise in the future. The Company encourages you to review other factors that may affect its future results in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this press release will in fact occur. The Company does not undertake, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, events, or circumstances after the date of such statement. Investor Contact: Anthony Snow asnow@cbafloridainc.com SOURCE: CBA Florida, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com The injectable drug delivery method is an important tool used by medical professionals to provide a drug dose to a patient directly through his body, thereby reducing the threat of overdose, and streamlining drug release. Such a system leverages a faster and more controlled drug release into the bloodstream. WILMINGTON, Del., July 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The projected size of the global injectable drug delivery system market is likely to reach USD 1.9 trillion by 2034. This advancement of the industry is estimated to reach this value at a promising CAGR of 9.8% through the forecasted period, which lifted the valuation from the USD 689.5 billion mark, measured in 2023. The spurring incidences of patients affected due to chronic diseases are likely to affect the size of the competitive space. With the rising prevalence of diseases, the demand for relevant drugs, medicines, and medical assistance is expected to proliferate in the forecast period. The cases of patients infected due to several infectious diseases like malaria and influenza are increasing. To cater to the effective medication demand, medical professionals are investing more in the development of appropriate drugs and suitable drug delivery methods and systems. Along with such infectious diseases, chronic illnesses like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary disorders, and many more are expected to spread rapidly. This accelerated prevalence of diseases is expected to drive the demand for the appropriate drug delivery system. This demand is likely to drive the demand for the competitive space. The consumer inclination is observed to have risen toward minimally invasive therapies and treatments. As a result, more attention is being given to the rising necessity of a relevant system, which elaborates the spurring demand for an injectable drug delivery system. Unlock Growth Potential in Your Industry - Get Your Sample PDF Report Now! https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1336 Medical professionals are keen on increasing the user-friendliness of treatments to provide better comfort to patients. As a result, the demand for injectable drug delivery systems is expected to rise, creating several prospects for key players in the competitive space. The rising technological advancements are another driving force, proliferating the progress of the ecosystem. Key players are integrating cutting-edge tools, including AI, IoT, cloud computing, and many more, which elevate the dosage, and timing of drug delivery, and more. Along with streamlining drug dosage, drug formulation can also be augmented. This helps medical professionals provide personalized treatments and therapies to patients, depending on the individual's requirements. With the use of such systems, the precision of the dosage provided increases. As a result, this factor drives the global injectable drug delivery market size. Key Findings from the Market Report The competitive landscape of the global injectable drug delivery market is segmented into different categories based on key parameters. Based on the product type, conventional injection devices will gain more attention due to the growing number of surgeries across the world. Based on therapeutic applications, the prevalence of chronic diseases will drive the demand for cancer therapies. As a result, the category is likely to gain more traction in the competitive space. The usage pattern might vary, depending on an individual's response to different diseases. As vaccination has increased worldwide, the demand for immunization might also surge, driving the category. Due to the better availability of medical assistance, hospitals, and clinics are expected to gain more attention in the competitive space. Injectable Drug Delivery Market Report Scope: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period? 2024-2034 Base Year? 2020-2022 Size in 2023 US$ 689.5 Bn Forecast (Value) in 2034 US$ 1.9 Trn Growth Rate (CAGR) 9.8 % No. of Pages 263 Pages Segments covered By Product Type, By Therapeutic Application, By Usage Pattern, By End-user, By Region Regional Profile Owing to the robustness of the healthcare infrastructure, North America might lead the global injectable drug delivery market. The growing demand for minimally invasive treatments in Asia-Pacific might fuel the demand for such treatments, creating prospects for key players in the realm. Technological advancements might spur research and development in Europe. This is a key contributing factor to the development of the ecosystem. Competitive Landscape Owing to strategies like product innovation and differentiation, key players are likely to expand in the industry. Becton, Dickinson, and Company is a key player that offers products like PosiFlush pre-filled saline syringes, Power Midline catheters, and many more. Pfizer, Inc. is another important marketer, offering ACCURETIC, ADENOSINE, and AMINOCAPROIC ACID. Eli Lilly and Company offers diversified products, including Dulaglutide, Insulin Lispro, and Insulin Glargine I.P solution for injection. Key Developments in the Injectable Drug Delivery Market In September 2023, Pfizer, Inc. introduced ABRYSVO for RSV, aiming to diversify its product portfolio, which was recommended by CDC Advisory Committee. In June 2024, Becton, Dickinson, and Company acquired Edwards Lifesciences' Critical Care Product Group. The transaction cost about USD 4.2 billion. Key Players Becton, Dickinson, and Company (BD) Pfizer, Inc. Eli Lilly and Company Baxter International, Inc. Terumo Corporation B. Braun Melsungen AG Ypsomed AG Gerresheimer AG SCHOTT Pharma Hi-Tech Syringes Market Segmentation Product Type Devices Conventional Injection Devices Self-injection Devices Others Formulations Conventional Drug Delivery Formulations Novel Drug Delivery Formulations Long Lasting Injection Formulations Therapeutic Application Autoimmune Disease Hormone Disease Orphan Disease Cancer Cardiovascular Disease Infectious Disease Others Usage Pattern Curative Care Immunization Others End User Hospitals and Clinics Ambulatory Surgical Centers Home Care Settings Others Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Drive Your Growth Strategy: Purchase the Report for Key Insights! https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=1336